Jayapura – The Papuan Student Alliance or AMP, which is located at the Kamasan dormitory in Yogyakarta, Central Java, was sent four packages containing a chicken carcass, chicken droppings, garbage and provocative messages.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) is suspected of attacking civilians in Lambera Village, Yugumoak District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua. The police claimed that three civilians died in the attack that occurred on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. local time.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Papua – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) attacked Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) personnel at Aminggaru Airport in Ilaga, Omukia District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia has suffered a sharp decline in its global competitiveness, falling 13 spots to 40th place in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) released by the IMD World Competitiveness Center (WCC) recently. The country now trails regional neighbor Malaysia, which surged 11 places to rank 23rd globally.

Widy Wicaksono, Kendal, Central Java – Indonesia has officially opened its largest integrated solar cell and module factory to support its push for renewable energy. The plant, run by Trina Mas Agra Indonesia (TMAI), is located in the Kendal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and is a joint project between China-based Trina Solar Co.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Consulate General in New York has secured the return of three smuggled cultural artifacts from US authorities, including items from the Asmat, Dayak, and Batak ethnic groups, a Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The rupiah closed lower today, June 19, 2025, trading at Rp16,406 per US dollar. This weakening occurred as the dollar strengthened following the U.S. central bank's (the Federal Reserve or The Fed) decision to maintain its benchmark interest rate.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Raja Ampat islands, which have long been known as the center of the world's marine biodiversity, are now facing a serious threat due to nickel mining activities.

Two international organisations are leading a call for the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to elevate the membership status of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) at their upcoming summit in Honiara in September.

Hundreds of ethnic Timorese who fled to the Indonesian territory of West Timor decades ago to escape Timor-Leste's violent struggle for independence have called for land ownership from the government and rejected a resettlement plan.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Indonesian police name 44 suspects after raiding a conventional gambling site in Kosambi, Bandung, and arresting 63 people. The raid occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at karaoke and billiard entertainment venues that provided casino gambling facilities.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) has extended the grace period for credit card bill payments until Wednesday, December 31, 2025. This prolongs a relief policy previously set to expire on Monday, June 30, 2025.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government recently denied dishing out raw food instead of hot meals in Indonesia's colossal school-feeding program, as the country spent trillions of rupiah so far.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The installation of a stairlift, or a device to facilitate going up and down the stairs at Borobudur Temple in Indonesia some time ago was carried out without impact analysis and clear procedures. However, Borobudur Temple is a World Heritage site strictly regulated by UNESCO.

Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia held a demonstration in front of the US Embassy building in Jakarta on Thursday June 19 rejecting the genocide against the people of Gaza in Palestine.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – State-owned electricity company PLN reported Rp545.4 trillion ($33.33 billion) in revenue for 2024, marking an 11.9 percent increase from the previous year. The company also posted a net profit of Rp17.76 trillion, down 19.5 percent from Rp22.07 trillion in 2023.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), a major nickel processing hub, has pledged to improve its environmental compliance and adopt more sustainable business practices following a warning from Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.

Maria Siow – Indonesia's recent signing of several defence acquisition agreements has shed light on its desire to accelerate military modernisation, but its ability to finance and maintain new systems amid economic challenges has come under scrutiny by observers.

Olivia Subandi, Jakarta – Indonesia has joined 23 countries in a joint statement strongly condemning Israel's attacks on Iran that have been ongoing since June 13, 2025. The statement, initiated by Egypt, marks a strong regional solidarity amidst unprecedented escalation of Middle East conflict.

Kuala Lumpur – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday said ASEAN remains committed to supporting Timor-Leste's full membership in the regional grouping, while acknowledging that the process of meeting key requirements is complex and gradual.

Lusa – The President of Timor-Leste, Jos Ramos-Horta, began a private visit to Malaysia on Tuesday, from where he will travel to Monaco for a working visit to promote regional cooperation and strengthen international partnerships.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has uncovered illegal mining activity on Citlim Island, located in Karimun Regency, Riau Islands Province (Kepri). According to the agency, Citlim Island covers an area of just 22.94 square kilometers.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) revealed that it has purchased Government Bonds (SBN) worth Rp124.33 trillion throughout the current year, 2025. This was stated by BI Governor Perry Warjiyo during a virtual press conference to announce the results of the BI Board of Governors Meeting on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Agencies, Jakarta – Several flights to Bali were cancelled or delayed and the airport in Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara province was closed due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, officials said on Wednesday.

Jakarta – The revelation of extortion of foreign workers at the Manpower Ministry shows the poor support for the investment climate in Indonesia. Those recruiting staff are usually foreign companies investing capital in a number of sectors. Government officials should be supporting these investments, not turning it into a cash cow.

Indonesia, West Papua – Human rights organisations have condemned the trial process against Mr Rife Kerebea (see photo on top, source: Suara Papua) as unfair. Mr Kerebea was arbitrarily arrested and processed for the alleged murder of 13 gold miners in Seradala District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Vinnilya Huanggrio, Muhammad Farhan, Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The government's plan to shrink the size of subsidized landed houses has drawn sharp criticism from urban planners, lawmakers, and civil society, with opponents warning that the policy risks undermining citizens' dignity and violating housing regulations.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Government borrowing surged to Rp 349.3 trillion ($21.4 billion) in the first five months of 2025, marking a 164 percent increase from Rp 132.2 trillion in the same period last year. The spike reflects intensifying fiscal pressure as the government tries to maintain budgetary health under growing spending demands.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.5 percent following its June 17 18 Board of Governors Meeting, maintaining the Deposit Facility rate at 4.75 percent and the Lending Facility rate at 6.25 percent.

Haura Hamidah, Jakarta – One of the clusters in Indonesia's Thousand Islands, Pari Island, is now under serious scrutiny due to the activities of PT Central Pondok Sejahtera (CPS) suspected of damaging the mangrove and coastal ecosystem in the area.

Agencies, Jakarta – Three Australians were arrested in Indonesia over the murder of a male compatriot in Bali and face the death penalty, police said Wednesday, after a days-long manhunt.

Authorities had been searching for several suspects over the shooting of Zivan Radmanovic, a 32-year-old Australian national, on Saturday.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Labor Party and the Workers' Union Coalition are planning to stage a rally to protest the war and genocide in Palestine on Friday, June 18, 2025. Protesters will move from the United Nations' office, then proceed with a long march to the United States Embassy, and end at the Egyptian Embassy in Jakarta.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Wali Nanggroe of Aceh Malik Mahmud Al Haythar hopes for the endorsement of regulations regarding the raising of the Aceh flag. He expressed this after the central government of Indonesia returned four islands that were previously disputed with North Sumatra to Aceh.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – A spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom, reported a shootout between his group and the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Kampung Kulapa, Intan Jaya, Papua, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. He claimed that five civilians were shot by military personnel during the incident.

Indonesia, West Papua – In the early hours of 18 June 2025, the Indonesian military (TNI) launched a coordinated armed assault on the villages of Bulapa and Yoparu in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Former senior Supreme Court official Zarof Ricar was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Wednesday for accepting bribes in exchange for helping secure an acquittal in a high-profile murder case and amassing an enormous fortune from unexplained sources during his tenure on the bench.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday sentenced Meirizka Widjaja to three years in prison for bribing judges to secure the acquittal of her son, Ronald Tannur, in a controversial murder case.

Klas Lundstrom – Prabowo Subianto first made his name as an Indonesian military leader trying to crush East Timor's push for independence. Today he is president – and his government is fighting another colonial war in West Papua.

Surabaya – Three students in Blitar, East Java, were arrested during a visit by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to the area on Wednesday June 18. The three are members of the Blitar Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) branch leadership.

Elly Burhaini Faizal, Jakarta – The government is planning to implement DNA-based testing as the primary cervical cancer screening method for women between 30 and 69 years old as a measure to achieve its target to eliminate the disease by 2030.

Arlina Arshad, Jakarta – The recently concluded Leaders Retreat has opened a fresh chapter in bilateral ties between Singapore and Indonesia, with climate action and the green economy at the heart of their future cooperation.

Jakarta – There's no denying that soccer is the most popular and passionately supported sport in the country. It captures national pride like no other, with emotions running high every time the Garuda squad plays.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – The number of student applicants for public schools in Jakarta for the 2025/2026 academic year soared to 277,231 as of the 8:00 a.m. cut-off on Wednesday, June 18, according to the Jakarta Education Agency.

Testriono and Firda Amalia Putri – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has risen to become one of the most popular politicians in Indonesia after short videos of his antics went viral online, garnering 'likes' from social media users within and beyond his constituency.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has called on the public to interpret the dark history of human rights violations including the mass rapes of 1998 with maturity and a non-emotional approach.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo has ruled that the four islands previously disputed between Aceh and North Sumatra fall under Aceh's jurisdiction. The decision was made based on a review of official government administrative documents.

Jeff Hutton – Indonesia's state-owned power utility has backed away from promises to rapidly expand its use of renewable energy, opting to focus instead on building more power stations that burn fossil fuels.

Raden Putri Alpadillah Ginanjar, Jakarta – Minister of Culture Fadli Zon's recent remarks, in which he dismissed the mass rapes that occurred during the May 1998 riots as nothing more than rumors, have sparked widespread public outrage.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The government plans to push up the poverty line in a move that would bring Indonesia's measure closer to that of the World Bank, even though that could be politically risky, as it would categorize more people as poor.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Iran wants Indonesia and other Muslim nations to stop buying Israeli goods in hopes of putting pressure on the Zionist regime, according to its diplomat.