Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin is moving to reinforce bilateral ties with the United States government to deepen future military cooperation.
The initiative was highlighted when Sjafrie hosted United States Ambassador to ASEAN Kevin Kim at the Ministry of Defense office in Central Jakarta on Monday, August 10.
Surabaya, East Java/Kuala Lumpur – Dozens of schools were shuttered for a second day Tuesday to protect against the spreading haze from wildfires at the start of a long and intense dry season worsened by El Nino.
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya – Indonesia made history on Friday by starting the construction of the first of two Scorpene Evolved submarines with a steel cutting ceremony to become the first ASEAN country to build a submarine from scratch domestically.
Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has required meals served under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program to be consumed within four hours of being prepared as part of efforts to ensure food safety and quality.
Jeff Neilson – Drive almost anywhere in rural Indonesia now and it's hard to miss them: prominent red-and-white buildings, based on a uniform 30 by 20 metre layout, all with the same centrally-designed features and deposited on whatever land the village administration was willing to hand over.
Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has called on law enforcement to release two Cimahi residents detained for uploading social media content regarding President Prabowo Subianto's remarks on Iran's alleged nuclear arms.
Sumitro Djojohadikusumo once rebelled against Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, believing the central government was treating provinces outside of Java unfairly. Now, his son – President Prabowo Subianto – is instead centralizing regional policies and budgets, leaving regency, city, and provincial governments in dire straits.
Norman Joshua – In a press conference on July 27, 2026, Minister of the State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi announced the unexpected resignation of Bank Indonesia (BI) governor Perry Warjiyo. This development could not come at a worse time, with the Rupiah facing significant challenges as Asia's worst-performing currency this year.
On 4 August 2026, a mass food poisoning incident linked to meals distributed under President Prabowo's flagtship Free Nutritious Meals (Makan Bergizi Gratis, MBG) programme affected hundreds of residents in Depapre District and surrounding coastal areas of Jayapura Regency, Papua province.
Jayapura, Jubi – The documentary 'Pig Feast' (Pesta Babi) – Colonialism in Our Time has received both the 2026 Udin Award and 2026 Tasrif Award from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia during the organisation's 32nd anniversary celebration at the Press Council Hall in Jakarta on Friday evening (7 August 2026).
Wamena, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and Indigenous communities from the Lapago customary region marked the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples at the KNPB Balim secretariat in Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Highlands Province, on Sunday (9 August 2026).
Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – Growth in bank lending to Indonesia's property sector slowed to its weakest level in more than four years in June, reflecting sluggish demand for housing and continued weakness in several property segments.
Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan journalist Angela Flassy has received the 2026 SK Trimurti Award from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia for her more than two decades of work promoting independent journalism, human rights and the voices of marginalised communities in Papua.
Sorong, Jubi – The Independent Indigenous Peoples Alliance of Papua (MAI-P) in Sorong City, Southwest Papua Province, has rejected the government's National Strategic Projects (PSN), the Sorong Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the creation of new autonomous regions (DOB), transmigration programs and the expansion of investment, saying these initiatives could further restrict Indigenous
Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has picked seasoned economist Destry Damayanti as the sole candidate to lead Bank Indonesia (BI).
Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The presence of the Republic of Indonesia in the Land of Papua is considered to have caused the indigenous Papuan people to continue to experience suffering on their own ancestral land.
Antara, Jakarta – Forest and land fires plagued over a dozen regencies and cities across 10 Indonesian provinces in early August 2026, as reported by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Monday, August 10.
Indonesia's Supreme Court on August 5 upheld the acquittal of Misran Toni, an Indigenous Dayak farmer known as Imis, who was participating in a coal mining protest and charged with stabbing other protesters in East Kalimantan.
Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The death of a National Health Insurance (JKN) patient after waiting hours for a hospital bed, coupled with insensitive social media remarks by healthcare workers responding to his earlier complaint, has intensified scrutiny of Indonesia's strained healthcare system and professional ethics.
On 3 August 2026, Indonesian police forces repeatedly blocked and dispersed a peaceful demonstration organised by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) at several locations in Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province.
Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – An Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO) survey indicates that the level of public dissatisfaction with President Prabowo Subianto's performance has reached 35 percent. Nevertheless, the majority of survey respondents still view Prabowo's performance positively.
Ariel Bogle and Aqwam F Hanifan – From her home in West Java, Adira (*) often starts the day with a Facebook post about coffee and the busy day ahead. Then she gets to work.
Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto holds the view that individuals who have never experienced hardship or suffering cannot become leaders. In his opinion, character formation requires overcoming obstacles and hurdles.
Jayapura, Jubi – The 2026 Papua Film Festival is seeking to build collective awareness among Papuans through documentary filmmaking. Organised by Papuan Voices, the festival opened on Friday (7 August 2026) at Liborang Dormitory in Padang Bulan, Jayapura City, Papua Province, and will run until Sunday (9 August 2026).
Reza Hery Pamungkas, Jakarta – Indonesian police have detained nine social media account owners accused of spreading hoaxes and provocative online content, including recycled videos portraying anti-government protests.
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, Jakarta – On 23 July, at the National Awakening Party's anniversary gala in Jakarta, President Prabowo Subianto told the crowd that critical journalists, analysts and NGOs were modern-day londo ireng – "black Dutchmen," a colonial-era slur for Indonesians who fought alongside Dutch forces against their own countrymen – and asked pointedly who was paying th
Reiner Brabar, Sorong – A documentary film about South Papua has received recognition from the world press. "Pesta Babi" (Pig Feast), the title of a documentary film that records the struggle of indigenous peoples to defend their land and living space, has won the 2026 Suardi Tasrif Award from the Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).
Responding to the arrest of two people because of social media posts and comments related to the President's statement on Iran's nuclear program, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said:
Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesia has reduced unemployment to its lowest level in more than three decades, but experts say the country's next labor market challenge is creating higher-quality jobs and ensuring university graduates possess the skills employers need.
Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesian government is offering tax breaks and subsidizing internship wages to help companies avoid layoffs amid mounting pressure on several industries, Chief of Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Thursday.
Isabel Esterman, Tanggamus, Indonesia – For more than a decade and a half, forest ranger Wandi Harmoko has walked the ridges and valleys of Batutegi, a landscape in southern Sumatra.
Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto claims to lead based on facts. He states that he acknowledges existing facts, even those that are unpleasant to hear.
Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Presidential Palace has responded to the arrest of two individuals who uploaded content featuring statements by President Prabowo Subianto. The two individuals were named suspects after sharing a clip concerning Prabowo and Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A wildfire that reached the edge of an orangutan rehabilitation center in western Borneo is highlighting how Indonesia's intensifying fire season threatens not just forests and wildlife, but also the conservation work taking place within them.
Jayanty Nada Shofa, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) faces mounting pressure to secure new funding for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meals program after the Constitutional Court ruled that it can no longer rely on the national education budget beginning in the 2028 fiscal year.
Cristina Siregar, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy expanded 5.29 percent in the second quarter of 2026, but the strong headline figure masks growing vulnerabilities in the country's economic foundation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has warned.
Wamena, Jubi – A prolonged drought that has affected Kuyawage District in Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Highlands Province, since June 2026 is continuing, leaving residents facing a growing food shortage after crops failed across the region.
Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves slipped to $145.3 billion at the end of July, as Bank Indonesia continued efforts to stabilize the rupiah amid renewed global financial market uncertainty.
The reserves declined by $300 million from $145.6 billion in June, according to Bank Indonesia.
Malang, East Java – The authorities battled Friday to contain a wildfire that has swept through Mount Bromo National Park in Java, destroying more than 120 hectares as the country braces itself for an extreme El Nino-fueled dry season.
Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesia's Deputy Home Affairs Minister, Ribka Haluk, says the suspected food poisoning incident involving children and adults who consumed meals under the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in Depapre District, Jayapura Regency, should serve as a catalyst for a comprehensive review of how the program is implemented.
Antara, Jakarta – The military air chiefs of Indonesia and Australia conducted a joint formation flight over Darwin on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, demonstrating defense ties during Exercise Pitch Black 2026.
Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has called for the suspension and comprehensive evaluation of Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program following a series of suspected mass food poisoning cases involving hundreds of students and teachers in several regions.
Antara, Jakarta – Transactions made through Indonesia's national QR code payment system, known as QRIS, more than doubled in the first half of 2026, underscoring the country's rapid shift toward cashless payments, Bank Indonesia said on Thursday.
Jakarta – Social Affairs Ministry has temporarily suspended welfare payments to about 1.49 million beneficiary households suspected of making online gambling transactions, pending verification of the findings, a minister said on Wednesday.
Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is investigating a 69-page academic paper that lists President Prabowo Subianto as one of its authors and argues that the country's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program should receive the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
Timor-Leste has approved a national plan to combat online scam networks, organized cybercrime and human trafficking, following exposure of several suspected digital fraud operations in the Catholic-majority Southeast Asian nation.
The Integrated National Plan for 2026-2031 was adopted on Aug. 5, state news agency Tatoli reported.
Elita Pertiwi and Raden Muhamad Purnagunawan – As one of the largest cities in the world, Jakarta needs a massive urban cleaning force to keep the city relatively clean. For many young Indonesians, including highly skilled university graduates, that is the kind of job opportunity they are willing to fight for.
Andrew Mathieson – West Papuan independence separatists killed three Indigenous Papuans depicted in an execution-style video that has gone viral on social media across the occupied territory as a warning to "traitors" to their cause.
Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Indonesia may be heading toward its worst wildfire season in years as fire activity surges ahead of peak burning months, fueled by a prolonged dry spell expected to intensify under a strong El Nino.
We, the people of Indonesia, should be prepared to face the impact of the forest and land fires (wildfires) currently spreading around different regions. Not only do they cause damage to the environment and adversely affect public health, the annual disasters also heighten the risk of an economic shock.