Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Sugiono has been appointed secretary-general of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), assuming a dual role in both government and party leadership. The appointment, signed by party chairman and President Prabowo Subianto, took effect immediately on August 1.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Official statistics showed Friday that the trade gap between Indonesia and the United States continued to widen to $8.57 billion in the first half of 2025, ahead of Washington's new tariffs.

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.

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – Indonesia's plan for the military to produce medicines for public use has sparked alarm among health experts, who question whether the armed forces possess the required expertise and safety protocols.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has found a surge in unauthorized utilization of small islands, especially in Riau and the Riau Islands. According to the Director General of Marine Management at the KKP, A. Koswara, on Friday, August 1, these practices are most common in mining areas.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta boasted about Dili's economic strength, including its investments and low foreign debt, during a trip to Jakarta on Friday, as the half-island nation is set to join ASEAN in about two months.

Muhadi Sugiono, Yogyakarta – Under President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesian diplomacy has taken a distinctive turn. Rather than relying solely on his foreign ministry, Prabowo has been personally performing diplomatic roles on the international stage. In the nine months since his inauguration, he has visited 26 countries for bilateral and multilateral meetings.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded a $10.69 billion trade deficit with China in the first half of 2025, the largest among its trading partners with which it posted a negative trade balance, according to figures released by the central Statistics Agency (BPS) on Friday.

Jakarta – Anti-corruption activists through to academics have strongly criticised Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's granting of amnesty and abolition to two defendants in alleged corruption cases, namely Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto and the Trade Minister for the period August 2015 to July 2016, Thomas Trikasih Lembong (To

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.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – According to the 2024 Asia Scam Report compiled by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), 65 percent of Indonesians experience scam attempts every week. These scams take various forms, from fake job offers to investment fraud.

Ilham Oktafian, Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – The sudden emergence of One Piece pirate flags flying alongside Indonesia's national flag across several regions has sparked political controversy just weeks ahead of the country's 80th Independence Day celebration on August 17.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to pursue Harun Masiku in connection with the bribery case involving Wahyu Setiawan, the former Commissioner of the General Election Commission (KPU) for the 2017-2022 period.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – The CEO of Jakarta-owned food enterprise, Food Station Tjipinang Jaya, has been named a suspect in a rice mislabeling and adulteration case, along with two of his subordinates, police confirmed on Wednesday.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Representatives announced its approval of granting abolition to former Trade Minister in President Jokowi's cabinet, Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom Lembong, and amnesty to the General Secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Hasto Kristiyanto.

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.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Badung, Bali – Megawati Soekarnoputri has officially been reappointed as the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) for the 2025-2030 term, cementing her leadership for another five years.

The confirmation was made during the party's sixth national congress held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) on Friday.

Hanif Abdul Halim, Yogyakarta – Arecent White House press release, "Fact Sheet: The United States and Indonesia Reach Historic Trade Deal," highlights a significant development regarding cross-border data transfer.

On 28 July 2025, employees of the palm oil company PT Putera Manunggal Perkasa (PT PMP) in Kais, Sorong Selatan Regency, staged a peaceful protest (see photo on top, source: Jubi) demanding clarity over their employment status and labour rights following a management transition.

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.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Several political analysts believe that President Prabowo Subianto's decision to grant abolition to Tom Lembong and amnesty to Hasto Kristiyanto reflects an attempt to embrace all political factions, including his oppositions.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office claims to have been unaware of the House of Representatives' approval of President Prabowo Subianto's proposal to grant amnesty to former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom Lembong.

Mr Samson Same, a displaced Papuan man from Kisor Village, died in custody on 9 July 2025 at the Class IIB Sorong Prison (see photo, source: Jubi), Papua Barat Daya Province.

Indonesia – Amnesty International Indonesia released a troubling report on 14 July 2025, documenting attacks against at least 104 human rights defenders across 54 separate cases during the first six months of the year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.