President Prabowo Subianto’s recent statement that foreign ownership in Indonesia’s media sector will remain restricted has been framed as a firm stand for national sovereignty. At a glance, the policy appears reassuring: in an era of intensifying geopolitical rivalry and information warfare, limiting foreign control over domestic media seems both prudent and necessary. But beneath this assertion lies a more uncomfortable question—if not foreign investors, then who actually controls Indonesia’s narrative?

Grab’s US$600 million acquisition of Foodpanda’s Taiwan business may look like a bold step toward becoming a pan-Asian platform. But behind the headlines of expansion lies a quieter, more consequential question: who will ultimately pay for this ambition?

We’re living in a post-truth world. Trump’s claim of ‘productive talks’ with Iran to ‘de-escalate’ the Middle East conflicts was enough to drag down crude oil price by more than 10% Monday (Mar 23). Objective facts regarding the ‘talks’, which were dismissed by Iran, were less influential.

For more than a decade, the defining metric of Big Tech competition was simple: users. Platforms fought aggressively to acquire, retain and monetize as many users as possible. From Facebook’s early expansion to TikTok’s meteoric rise, scale was everything. But today, the battleground is shifting. The fiercest competition is no longer about users—it is about creators.

Race to expand internet access is entering a new phase—one that is no longer confined to towers and fiber optics on the ground. With Telkom Group partnering with Airbus-backed AALTO to develop high-altitude platform systems (HAPS), or “flying BTS”, the country is now looking to the stratosphere. But this ambition arrives at a time when Elon Musk’s Starlink is already reshaping connectivity across remote regions. The question is no longer just about access. It is about control.

Recent remarks by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on the growing dominance of Chinese e-commerce platforms have reignited a familiar debate: Is Indonesia losing control of its digital economy? While the concern appears to be framed as a defense of local businesses, the forces driving this narrative are far more complex—and far less spontaneous—than they seem.

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia (GIAA) recorded net loss of US$322.5 million last year, skyrocketed 341% from US$72.7 million in 2024. Massive capital injection from Danantara (sovereign wealth fund?) turned the airline’s equity to positive, but operations were under substantial pressure.

Barito Renewables (BREN) undeservedly led Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) for quite sometime before losing significantly last week. Still, at the last quoted price the geothermal power producer remains among the most expensive stocks in the market.

Minister of state secretary Prasetyo Hadi said on Tuesday (Mar 17) that free ‘nutritious’ meal (MBG) and the Red-and-White Village Cooperative (KDMP) programs will not be adjusted if the government should take measures preventing budget deficit for crossing the lawful cap (3% GDP). Pretty much in contrast to suggestions from economists.