Barring any last-minute political twists, President Prabowo Subianto 's administration appears poised to crown Indonesia's second president and Prabowo's former father-in-law Soeharto as a national hero. The move would mark a dramatic turn in the country's reckoning with its authoritarian past, as no previous president had dared to officially honor the man whose 32-year rule was synonymous with repression, corruption, and nepotism.

President Prabowo Subianto appears to have found in Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa a trusted figure capable of managing Indonesia's state finances with both discipline and political loyalty. In just a few months on the job, Purbaya has shown a willingness to take on elite power brokers, both within the government and from circles close to former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, without losing sight of President Prabowo's populist agenda.

Timor-Leste formally joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the group's summit in Kuala Lumpur, after a long wait, thanks in no small measure to the tireless support of Indonesia, which once brutally occupied the tiny territory.

The proposal to establish a family office, a private investment entity, from National Economic Council (DEN) head Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has recently returned to the public spotlight after Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa rejected the use of the state budget (APBN) to fund the venture. Purbaya said the family office project must be developed entirely through DEN's own resources, emphasizing that the Finance Ministry had no role in designing or planning the project. Luhut responded by pointing to a misperception regarding the proposal, clarifying that the planned project had nothing to do with the state budget. Details of the initiative remain vague, however, so it is uncertain how the new entity will be structured and financed.

The House of Representatives' recess budget has nearly doubled this year, despite mass protests over what the public views as lawmakers' excessive housing allowance amid economic hardships and ongoing calls for budget efficiency. Such budgetary controversies will likely persist, given Indonesia's long-standing tradition of poor accountability in public spending.

The appointment of Gen. (ret) Glenny H. Kairupan as President Director and CEO of Indonesia's flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has stirred public debate about whether friendship can lift a troubled airline. Glenny, who took part in combat missions with President Prabowo Subianto , replaces another of Prabowo's close associates, Wamildan Tsani.

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has confirmed that Chinese J-10 fighter jets are set to soar across Indonesia's airspace, ending months of speculation. While this procurement follows Indonesia's recent acquisitions of Rafale jets from France and fighter aircraft from Turkey, the Beijing deal has drawn particular attention for its speed and opaque timing.