Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – A celebratory and hopeful tone has been raised over the United States' decision to lower Indonesia's trade tariff to 19 percent, but analysts have warned that the country may still face tricky situations ahead as nonaligned Jakarta works to rebalance ties with other key economic partners.

Jakarta – When news broke that a young diplomat at the Foreign Ministry died under mysterious circumstances on July 8, media outlets began to dig deeper into his personal and professional past, and when a revelation surfaced that he once served as a witness in a human trafficking case, many found justification to suspect foul play.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) reports that the fish population around the island of Java is dwindling due to a high amount of waste damaging the marine ecosystem. The Director General of Marine Management at the KKP, A. Koswara, stated that waste is currently one of the biggest threats to marine health.

Raden Putri Alpadillah Ginanjar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto, with the approval of the House of Representatives (DPR), granted amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto and terminated the legal proceedings against Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom Lembong.

Jakarta – Bali is always the face of Indonesia. In international forums held there, the government often shows off renewable energy projects as a realization of its commitment to the global climate movement. And now, Bali will become the right place to see if the government's noble promise to promote the energy transition is anything more than a promise.

Ichsan Ali, Bogor, West Java – President Prabowo Subianto has called for the accelerated construction of international airports across Indonesia to spur economic growth and boost regional tourism, according to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) announced that Indonesia is preparing a new regulatory framework to support the planned expansion of the Whoosh high-speed rail line connecting Jakarta, Bandung, and eventually Surabaya.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday granted legal clemency to former trade minister Tom Lembong and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto, in a move that appears to have been arranged behind closed doors and has taken many by surprise.

Yogyakarta – Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta has proposed the establishment of an ASEAN Community Peace and Reconciliation Study Center by involving universities and civil society organizations across the region.

Hanoi – General Phan V?n Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence, hosted a welcome ceremony for Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Efforts to realize net-zero emissions (NZE) in the mining sector are still progressing rather slowly. This contrasts with the oil and gas sector, which has already begun decarbonization initiatives by implementing technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in its operations.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's daily crude oil production has surpassed the government's official target for the first time in 17 years, marking a significant milestone in the country's effort to revive its oil industry, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Wednesday.

Yovanda Noni, Jakarta – The massive influx of trucks from China into the Indonesian market has triggered unhealthy competition in the commercial vehicle sector, particularly for mining operations. In addition to putting pressure on local industries, the presence of trucks from China also poses a potential threat to Indonesia's net-zero emission (NZE) target for 2026.

Anwar Siswadi (Kontributor), Bandung – The head of the Sukabumi Geophysical Station at the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Agung Sabtaji, reported a recent increase in tectonic earthquake activity across West Java.

On average, the province experiences around 510 earthquakes annually.

Jakarta – Employers have called on the government to ramp up support for domestic firms to stay afloat and remain competitive, as widespread layoffs reflect investor concerns over an uncertain economic outlook.

Jaja Suteja, Muhammad Firman, Jakarta – Former Religious Affairs Minister and a key figure in the United Development Party (PPP) Suryadharma Ali, passed away early Thursday at Mayapada Hospital in South Jakarta. He was 68.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 3 July 2025, the Military Court III-19 Jayapura found Navy Officer Agung Suyono guilty (see photo on top: source: Suara Papua) of murdering Mrs Kesya Irene Yola Lestaluhu at the Saoka Beach, Sorong, Papua Barat Daya Province on 12 January 2025.

Maria Monica Wihardja and Siwage Dharma Negara – Indonesia's recent trade agreement with the US has drawn significant scrutiny. While President Prabowo Subianto's administration touts the agreement as a diplomatic success, because it lowers the tariffs for Indonesia's exports to the US from 32 to 19 per cent, the economic returns appear limited and potentially costly.

Mila Novita, Jakarta – Bali is seen as a tropical vacation spot with beaches, waterfalls, and temples for soul-searching. However, some tourists feel that the tropical paradise is not as beautiful as it appears on social media. They reveal Bali's dark side, which social media users and influencers often overlook.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) has restored access to previously blocked inactive or dormant accounts. The earlier suspension of transactions on these accounts had sparked public debate.

On 17 July 2025, two Papuan students, Mr Oknis Faluk and Mr Higit Pahabol, were arbitrarily arrested by plain clothes police officers upon disembarking at Jayapura Port, Papua Province.

Yosea Iskandar, Jakarta – In a world increasingly shaped by data, trust has become both our greatest asset and our most fragile resource.

A global rights group has once again branded civic space in Indonesia as "obstructed" due to widespread state intimidation, legal manipulation, and violent crackdowns on dissent in the country.

Dozens of activists have been attacked, intimidated, or arrested during President Prabowo Subianto's nine-month administration, Civicus Monitor said in a July 30 statement,

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia has launched a sweeping and militarized crackdown on illegal forest use, reclaiming millions of hectares of land – but civil society groups warn the campaign is displacing Indigenous peoples while sparing corporate offenders and entrenching land inequality.

Jakarta – Over the last few weeks, the nation has witnessed how the weaponization of law operates in a country that claims to champion rule of law as a foundational element of democracy. Such an irony seems to be easily normalized in a political system where interests justify means.

Jakarta – Malaysia and Indonesia reached several important agreements at the 13th Annual Consultation, including border issues, economic cooperation and the implementation of new energy projects, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Nabila Cahyarani Kusworo, Jakarta – Public discourse has recently picked up on two popular acronyms that reflect a growing mismatch between high mall foot traffic and sluggish sales. Rohana (rombongan hanya nanya), or "groups that only ask," and Rojali (rombongan jarang beli), or "groups that rarely buy."

Sonya Andomo, Jakarta – The Nexus 3 Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on environmental issues, stated that Indonesia is the country with the highest microplastic waste production from food waste.

Rachel Caroline L. Toruan, Jakarta – The New York Times recently released a list of the 100 best films of the 21st Century. Among these top 100 films, there is one that depicts the story of Indonesia and successfully claims the 82nd spot. The film is Jagal: The Act of Killing released in 2012.

Neil Tobing, Jakarta – What if public opinion was one day shaped by algorithms no one can audit? What if the truth itself became obscured by machine-generated content that merely looks convincing?

Artificial intelligence has transcended its technical origins to become a force reshaping behavior, perception and the very foundations of public discourse.

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) should be more cautious in its handling of the case relating to alleged corruption over the purchase of Chromebook laptops at the Ministry of Education and Culture from 2019 to 2022. It must not ignore the integrity of the investigation process and the protection of citizens from arbitrary action by law enforcement officers.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – CIVICUS Monitor, an international research collaboration dedicated to tracking civil liberties across 197 countries, has added Indonesia to its watchlist.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia is sitting on a vast reserve of untapped oil and gas resources, with only a fraction of its 128 sedimentary basins currently being explored and developed, according to the Geological Agency.

Dandi Bajuddin, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI), Hariyanto Suwarno, stated that as many as 251 Indonesian migrant workers are suspected to have become victims of human trafficking.

Indonesia, West Papua – Groundbreaking satellite data analysis and interactive mapping tools have revealed the unprecedented scale of deforestation and ecosystem destruction across West Papua, with the National Strategic Projects driving 24% of the forest loss in 2024.

Jakarta – The proposed revisions to the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) currently being discussed by the government and the House of Representatives ignore the most essential aspect we need for positive law, namely the protection of people's rights. The provisions in the draft of the revised KUHAP focus more on giving law enforcers greater powers to punish citizens.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environmental (Walhi) has recorded that 8,644 hotspots have been detected throughout the West Kalimantan region (Kalbar) throughout May to the end of July 2025, mostly in areas where there are palm oil and industrial plantations.

Yovanda Noni, Jakarta – Indonesia's efforts to achieve net zero emissions (NZE) by 2060 face major hurdles, particularly in the mining sector, where fossil fuel-powered vehicles continue to dominate operations.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) has urged the Surabaya administration in East Java to shut down the Benowo Waste-to-Energy Power Plant, accusing the facility of contributing significantly to the "alarming" levels of air pollution across the city.

A man has died after being fatally struck by a rooster's blade at a cockfight in Bali, marking the second deadly incident linked to such events on the Indonesian island in recent weeks and prompting renewed scrutiny of the practice.

Johannesburg – Indonesia is added to CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist amid widespread state intimidation, legal manipulation, and violent crackdowns on dissent, pushing civic space to a precarious point. Nine months into President Prabowo Subianto's administration, dozens of activists have been attacked, intimidated or arrested.

Yovanda Noni, Jakarta – Indonesia is accelerating the realization of net zero emission (NZE) targets across various sectors, including mining. Achieving this requires strategic steps from both the government and mining industry players.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – A total of 200,000 accounts were removed from the list of social aid or bansos recipients from Indonesia's Ministry of Social Affairs. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf stated that these individuals were proven to be involved in online gambling based on the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) investigation.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Joko Pramono, Jakarta – Police have ruled out foul play in the death of Arya Daru Pangayunan, a 39-year-old diplomat with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, whose body was found under suspicious circumstances at his rented room in Menteng, Central Jakarta, earlier this month.

On 9 July 2024, Indonesian military personnel reportedly opened fire at indigenous Papuan, Mr Eran Gwijangge, in Yuguru Village, Mebarok District, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Sumatra is currently in the throes of a severe land fire crisis, with an alarming surge in incidents across several provinces on the island as the dry season intensifies.

On 11 July 2025, at 3:00 am, police officers arbitrarily detained eight indigenous Papuans in the Yahukimo Regency at two different locations along Seredalah Road. All suspects were detained at the Yahukimo Police headquarters (see photo on top, source: Jubi).

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Indonesia's cocoa industry is in dire need of rejuvenation and replanting to take advantage of a global supply dearth keeping prices at a new, elevated equilibrium.

Most plantations in the country are close to exceeding the cacao plant's productive age of 25 years, according to Soetanto Abdoellah, chairman of the Indonesian Cocoa Board.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating alleged graft in the then-education, culture, research and technology ministry's procurement of the Google Cloud service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – A Chinese company has invested $100 million to build a coconut processing plant in Indonesia, Investment Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani announced on Tuesday. The investment supports the government's efforts to boost local industrialization and reduce the country's dependence on raw coconut exports.