After months of deliberation and preparation, Indonesia is finally set to enact a social media ban for underaged users, following in the footsteps of Australia that became the world-first country to do so. The new policy, which will take effect from March 2026, is designed to protect the younger vulnerable population from harmful online content, but the public is also concerned about its implications for the adults and their freedom of expression given the country’s current state of law enforcement.

China Shenhua Energy Company, one of the world’s largest coal producers, sold 37 million tons of coal last month, down 3.6% year-on-year, confirming softening demand across China, the largest importer of the commodity.

Defying doubts about his credentials in macro-economic management, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa claimed of involvement in policy making of the previous administrations of Jokowi and SBY in his early days after being appointed minister of finance. Yet, he openly complained about the signature Omnibus Law from Jokowi administration causing lower tax collections from coal miners. 

The prolonged delay in operating Indonesia’s National Data Center (Pusat Data Nasional, PDN) is no longer a technical footnote in the country’s digital transformation agenda. It has evolved into a policy failure with tangible security, fiscal, and governance consequences. What was meant to be the backbone of Indonesia’s data sovereignty is now an idle infrastructure—one that exposes the state to precisely the risks it was designed to mitigate.

Indonesia’s threat to take over part of PT Weda Bay Nickel’s operations if the company refuses to pay environmental penalties may look like a routine act of law enforcement. In reality, it could become one of the most consequential stress tests yet for Indonesia’s investment narrative—particularly its relationship with Chinese capital in the strategic nickel sector.

The government has appointed Lt General (hon, ret) Untung Budiharto as new president director (CEO) of Aneka Tambang (ANTM), a state mining company with interest in nickel and gold. This strengthens the military’s grip in the country’s mining industry. 

PT Toba Pulp Lestari Tbk (INRU), previously linked to the family of Sukanto Tanoto (RGE Group), has temporarily halted its pulp mill operation, harvesting and wood transportation in North Sumatra province after the Ministry of Forestry ordered suspension of forest product activities in its licensed areas across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, following the Sumatra’s flood disaster.

No exponential growth in sales. Net profit actually declined 18.3% in the first nine months of 2025. Yet, Multipolar Technology (MLPT), controlled by Lippo Group, was once worth Rp483 trillion or US$29 billion, bigger than telco giant Telkom (TLKM). That was early October.

Shares of Jaya Sukses Makmur Sentosa Tbk (RISE), a small property developer based in Surabaya, East Java, ended higher by 5.23% to Rp9,550 last Friday (Dec 12), making it one of the most expensive stocks in the country.

Indonesia’s plan to develop its first geothermal-based green data center, led by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), has been framed as a milestone in aligning digital growth with the energy transition. But, why is an energy state-owned enterprise (SOE) leading a project that, in many countries, would naturally be driven by a national digital or telecommunications champion like Telkom?