INDONESIA VIETNAM

Jun 18 2026CRIME

From Startup Hero to Courtroom Drama: The Education Minister’s Business Past Resurfaces

Indonesia’s tech scene once celebrated Nadiem Makarim as a game-changer. He built Gojek, a ride-hailing giant, and later joined the government as education minister. Now, his business success is under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. A court case could land him 18 years behind bars if prosec

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Jun 09 2026POLITICS

Police Officers Can Join Civil Roles in Indonesia

Indonesia’s parliament has approved new rules that let police officers take jobs in government ministries. The change follows a similar update to the military law that last year opened more civilian posts for soldiers. The move is part of President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to use security force

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Jun 07 2026FINANCE

Keep the Money Close: Indonesia’s Push to Steady Its Currency

Indonesia’s leaders are scrambling after the rupiah hit record lows and local stocks tanked faster than anywhere else last week. The finance team and central bank aren’t just watching—they’re rolling out a plan to stop the slide. On Saturday, officials laid out two big moves: make sure there’s enoug

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Jun 05 2026FINANCE

Indonesia’s Bond Market Beats the Rupiah Drop

Indonesia’s finance chief says investors are still confident, even as the currency and shares fall. He highlighted that government bonds attracted money in the first half of the year, showing steady demand for debt. The minister noted that during June’s early weeks, buyers poured funds into the n

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May 26 2026CRYPTO

Indonesia cracks down on crypto prediction platforms like Polymarket

Indonesia has taken a firm stand against online prediction markets, specifically targeting Polymarket, which lets users bet on events like elections and sports using cryptocurrency. The government argues that these platforms operate like online gambling, which is illegal in the country. Instead of f

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May 18 2026SCIENCE

Turning farming scraps into useful products in Indonesia

Indonesia throws away huge amounts of plant waste from farms every year. Instead of burning this waste or letting it rot, experts think it could be turned into something useful. Most research in the country focuses on burning the waste for fuel, which is low down on the recycling ladder. Very little

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May 11 2026FINANCE

Vietnam’s Financial Growth Gets a US$25 Million Boost

Vietnam’s small and medium-sized businesses just got a major financial lifeline. A Hanoi-based non-bank lender called EVF secured a US$25 million loan from an international fund to expand its services. The money comes from the OPEC Fund for International Development, a group that typically supports

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May 06 2026POLITICS

Vietnam Tightens Rules on Online Piracy to Dodge US Tariffs

Vietnam is stepping up its fight against digital piracy and fake goods, aiming to spot more violations before the United States threatens new trade barriers. The government announced a plan that should raise detection rates by 20% in the next month, with customs officials expected to halt more shipm

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Apr 27 2026POLITICS

Labor Leader Becomes Indonesia’s New Environment Minister

Indonesia has chosen a former labour union head to lead its environment ministry. The new minister, Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat, once fought against the former president in the 1990s and served a prison term for stirring protests. He also opposed the current president during the last election. Before h

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Apr 04 2026HEALTH

Vietnam’s Health Shift: From Poverty to New Challenges

Vietnam has moved fast from a war‑torn, poor nation to a growing middle‑income country. This change has flipped the kinds of illnesses people face. In the past, many sick people suffered from lack of food and clean water. Now, even though better jobs and nutrition help fight those old probl

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