Double down on MBG: Subsidized housing for SPPG employees

Apr 23, 2026 | Market, Politics

Following the controversy over the electric motorcycle procurement, reports surfaced that the Ministry of Housing and Settlement (PKP) planned to allocate a quota of 1,000 subsidized housing units for SPPG employees, specifically SPPI graduates. Although both BGN and...

From assistant to observer: When AI starts watching your screen

Apr 23, 2026 | Market

When OpenAI quietly introduced its new “Chronicle” feature inside Codex, the headline sounded deceptively simple: an AI that can “see” your screen to better assist you. But beneath that promise lies a far more consequential shift—one that could redefine the...

Not coordinated—but converging: An early warning from Samarinda to Ternate

Apr 23, 2026 | Politics

Two provinces, two protests, one uneasy question: coincidence—or a signal? Within days, thousands rallied in East Kalimantan while students filled the streets in North Maluku. In Samarinda, anger focused on alleged nepotism and spending decisions under Rudy...

State, mosque, and mass organization: Too much power for one man?

Apr 23, 2026 | Politics

Rumors circulating among alumni networks of the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII) suggest that Nasaruddin Umar is being quietly considered as a potential candidate for the next chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). If true, the implications go far beyond...

Waskita yet to see the light

Apr 23, 2026 | Market

Waskita Karya (WSKT), the troubled state EPC firm, booked net loss of Rp678 billion in the first quarter of 2026. It fell 45.5% from the corresponding period last year, but mostly due to non-cash gain from debt restructuring of Rp411 billion. Sales revenues did...

Rupiah undervalued?

Apr 23, 2026 | Market

Rupiah opened lower at Rp17,220 this morning even after Bank Indonesia declared the currency is undervalued, which prompted the central bank to splash billions of US dollars of the country’s foreign exchange reserves in recent months to defend rupiah. Rupiah has only...

Layoffs in 2026

Apr 23, 2026 | Market

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia (GIAA) dismissed 128 workers in the first three months of the year after letting go 309 people last year. Waskita Beton Precast (WSBP) was more aggressive, cutting 25% of its workforce in the first quarter alone. WSBP, subsidiary of the...

Garuda ‘improved’ in Q1, but still in red

Apr 23, 2026 | Market

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia (GIAA) booked net loss of US$46.48 million in the first quarter of 2026, dropped by 39% from the corresponding period last year. Full impact of higher aviation fuel price and disruption of tourism industry, however, will only be seen in...

Supply chain disruption for petrochemicals

Apr 23, 2026 | Industries, Market

PT Lotte Chemical Indonesia (LCI), which operates the second largest petrochemical centre in the country, has secured a naphtha supply from Malaysia to ensure the continuity of production amid disruption of global supply chain due to conflicts in the Middle East....

A missing link in the Chromebook case

Apr 22, 2026 | Law, Market

In the latest hearing in the Chromebook case, held on Monday (20/04), three Google executives testified as defense witnesses for Nadiem Makarim, the former Minister of Education. They denied any connection between Google’s investment in GoTo and discussions with the...