Andika Pratama, Effendi Rusli, Pekanbaru – Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) detected 2,610 hotspots across Sumatra as of Sunday morning, as haze from forest and land fires worsened air quality and disrupted daily activities in several areas.

Antara, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported 696 hotspots have emerged in South Kalimantan Province, based on updated data on Sunday, August 23, with the majority noted high risks of wildfire and fire intensity.

Antara, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that around 3 million people have been exposed to smoke from wildfires, urging residents to mask up and regularly monitor air quality to reduce health risks.

Antara, Jakarta – The chief economist at Trimegah Sekuritas Indonesia, Fakhrul Fulvian, believes that wildfire amidst the intensifying El Nino conditions could result in far broader economic impact beyond a mere scorched land or forest.

Andriadi Perdana Putra, Theressia Silalahi, Pontianak, W. Kalimantan – President Prabowo Subianto ordered the deployment of additional troops, helicopters, and weather-modification operations on Saturday as Indonesia stepped up efforts to contain forest and land fires in Kalimantan that have caused widespread haze and disrupted flights.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Executive Student Council of Cenderawasih University (BEM Uncen) says it has evidence that police fired at protesters during clashes between security personnel and students at a demonstration against the New York Agreement in Perumnas III Waena, Heram district, Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday (15/08/2026).

Chairul Fikri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Mixed Marriage Organization (PerCa Indonesia) has urged the government to ensure that proposed changes to the country's citizenship law are fair, transparent and non-discriminatory, particularly when introducing limited dual citizenship.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said about 85,000 hectares of company concession areas across the country have been affected by forest and land fires, with fires reported in concession areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Jayapura, Jubi – The headquarters of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Puncak Jaya regency, Central Papua, was reportedly attacked by the Indonesian military between August 16 and 19, 2026.

The information was conveyed by TPNPB-OPM (Free Papua Movement) spokesperson Sebby Sambom in a written statement on Thursday (20/08/2026).

Gembong Hanung and Markus Makur, Jakarta/East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara – As thousands are still taking shelter in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), President Prabowo Subianto has faced pressure to roll out robust recovery efforts as the region is standing on shaky ground from the initial earthquake.

Annisa Lisya Bazlina, Jakarta – Sarawak has ordered schools in several districts to close for two days as worsening haze affects air quality across the state. The move is aimed at protecting students from unhealthy air pollution.

Heru Andriyanto, Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesia is set to shoulder its largest debt interest bill on record in 2027, with payments projected to consume about 19% of state revenue and exceed spending on social protection or the entire government payroll.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Muslim Students' Action Union (KAMMI) rejects the planned protest by the United Pati People's Alliance (AMPB) at the Parliament (DPR/MPR) Building on August 27, 2026, to maintain public order and the integrity of national unity.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The manufacturing sector remains the largest contributor to Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP). However, the Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI) noted a decline in its contribution.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) Rector Akhmad Sodiq and several others in an operation conducted in Jakarta and Purwokerto, Central Java, on Thursday night.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia and China have agreed to strengthen defense industry cooperation as part of efforts to develop Indonesia's long-term defense capabilities, said Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on Friday.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's current account deficit widened sharply to $12.5 billion in the second quarter of 2026 from $3.6 billion in the previous quarter, according to data released by Bank Indonesia on Friday.

The latest deficit was equivalent to 3.3% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has urged President Prabowo Subianto to exercise greater caution in his public statements and conduct, warning that remarks about women and girls could reinforce gender stereotypes and confine them to their personal lives.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia' Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is pushing regional governments to promote the Geothermal Working Areas (WKP) development in their respective regions to drive investment and prevent local dissent over the projects.

Kate Lamb – An 84-year-old woman has been discovered alive in the flattened remains of her home three days after a powerful earthquake hit eastern Indonesia, authorities have confirmed.

The 7.7-magnitude quake struck off Indonesia's Flores island on Saturday morning, killing at least 73 people, injuring more than 900 people and displacing nearly 60,000 others.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia has around 1,800 metric tons of gold sitting idle, with much of it held privately rather than invested through the financial system.

Peh Ko Hsu and Siwage Dharma Negara – Indonesia has managed to surpass targets for renewable energy. The problem, however, is that green sources of energy continue to exist with their brown counterparts.

Johnny Blades – Papua New Guinea's foreign minister says he expects the issue of West Papua will be discussed at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting in Palau.

This comes as the issue of human rights abuses and conflict in Indonesian-ruled Papua region, often known internationally as West Papua, appeared to have slipped off the regional agenda.

The Australian chapter of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) held its first public meeting on Monday 17th August at Parliament House in Canberra.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Indonesia is seeing a sharp increase in respiratory illnesses as a prolonged dry season fuels widespread land and forest fires, with health facilities in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra reporting thousands of additional cases in recent weeks amid worsening air quality.

Kota Kinabalu – Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to exchange information in monitoring hotspots to prevent transboundary haze amid the current El Nino hitting the region, says Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.

Resti Salmayenti, Dominick Spracklen and Joseph Holden (The Conversation) – Peatland fires in Indonesia pose a major threat to habitats, wildlife and people. That risk is exacerbated by the country's periodic El Nino warming phases, which bring prolonged drought.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia corrected Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar's claim that Indonesia has reached the highest peak of socio-religious harmony in history.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Indonesian police on Wednesday maintained that former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Febrie Adriansyah committed corruption while handling cases involving state-owned insurers and later attempted to launder the proceeds.

Indah Ayu Pujiastuti, Jakarta – Indonesia's textile industry is operating well below capacity, with utilization in the upstream sector at only around 45% and the midstream sector at about 60%, as manufacturers grapple with import competition and weak incentives to invest in new machinery.

Jayapura – The Papua Foundation for Justice and Human Integrity (YKKMP) has written to Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM RI) over the alleged shooting of three civilians in Ainot village, Aifat district, Maybrat regency, Southwest Papua on August 13, 2026.

Petir Garda Bhwana, Jakarta – The commemoration of Indonesia's 81st Independence Day took a different form in Pati, Central Java, as farmers who have spent more than two decades defending the Kendeng Mountains against karst mining held a "People's Ceremony" at Selo Montro Hill on Monday, August 17, 2026.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – It had been 648 days since Nur Hidayati, an Indonesian environmental activist fondly known as Yaya or Mbak Yaya, died of cancer.

Rukka Sombolinggi, secretary-general of Indonesia's largest Indigenous organization, AMAN, had counted every one of those days.

Andrew Mathieson – Police have been accused of instigating violent clashes with anguished West Papuan demonstrators over marking a dark day of their homeland's incorporation into Indonesian sovereignty.

Laurensius Teddy Saputro, Jakarta – Before being stopped at Dukuh Atas in Central Jakarta, students from the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) encountered several obstacles while preparing to hold a protest on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Economists say the government's macroeconomic assumptions for next year cast doubt on a 2027 budget plan that comes with relatively cautious goals for state revenue and expenditure.

Manokwari, Jubi – Residents in Tomu district, Teluk Bintuni regency, Southwest Papua, have traditionally relied on rainwater to meet their daily needs. But after months of prolonged drought, many have been forced to use murky river water instead.

Tomu district comprises seven villages: Tomu, Totitra, Ayot, Ekam, Adu, Rejo Sari and Wanagir.

Hundreds of residents of Maybrat Regency, South West Papua, took to the streets on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in a peaceful demonstration held as a form of protest as well as a presentation of aspirations related to the shooting incident of civilians that occurred on August 13, 2026.

Hayat Indriyatno – An Indigenous community on Indonesia's Seram Island is preserving a centuries-old coming-of-age ritual while helping protect the endangered salmon-crested cockatoo, a new study has found.

Responding to the Minister of Religious Affairs' claim that Indonesia had reached the peak of socio-religious harmony in Indonesia's history while reciting prayers for the 81st Indonesian Independence Day event, Amnesty International Indonesia Deputy Director Wirya Adiwena said:

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Student protesters from the Student Executive Board of the University of Indonesia (BEM UI) alliance were blocked on their way to the HI Roundabout in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. A command vehicle carrying protesters was forced to turn back where they came by the police.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Officers from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police apprehended dozens of people shortly before a student protest at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Central Jakarta. Police arrested them at various locations surrounding the protest site.

Fahri Ali, Jakarta – Around 600 to 700 University of Indonesia (UI) students took to the streets on Tuesday, traveling from the university's Depok campus, just south of Jakarta, to join a protest at Jakarta's Hotel Indonesia Roundabout.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has issued guidelines for the implementation of the Kredit Perempuan Prasejahtera (KPPS), a credit program for women from economically vulnerable families, with a flat interest rate of 8 percent a year.

Merauke, Jubi – Several former terrorism convicts in Merauke Regency are working to rebuild their lives in the community after completing their legal proceedings, including plans to establish an educational institution.

Laurensius Teddy Saputro, Jakarta – University of Indonesia (UI) students took to the streets on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, a day after Indonesia marked its 81st Independence Day, marching toward the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Central Jakarta with eight demands. Their march was halted by a police barricade in the Dukuh Atas area.

Banda Aceh – The Head of the Banda Aceh Inspectorate, identified as FD (58) and a student with the initials AM (22) have been named suspects in a case of same sex relations or gay sex. The alleged same sex relations took place in an office.

Student protesters say that as many as 24 bus drivers were threatened and intimidated so they would not transport University of Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM UI) protesters to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Tuesday August 18.

Reza Hery Pamungkas, Jakarta – Police detained at least 21 people allegedly attempting to provoke clashes during a student protest in central Jakarta on Tuesday, as officers blocked University of Indonesia (UI) students from entering the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout.

Petir Garda Bhwana, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) is scheduled to hold a protest at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout (HI Roundabout) in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, to raise concerns over social, economic, and government policies as well as national sovereignty.