Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia's trade surplus with the United States will likely shrink under a new trade deal that cuts tariffs on Indonesian goods while eliminating duties on American exports, according to economist Eko Listiyanto.

Antara, Jakarta – The Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of the Republic of Indonesia, Commissioner General Marthinus Hukom, has forbidden his members from arresting drug users.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – Indonesia's 80th Independence Day celebration will take place in Jakarta this year, not at the new presidential palace in the future capital city of Nusantara (IKN) in East Kalimantan, a senior official confirmed on Wednesday.

Yohannes Tohap, Jakarta – More than 6 million Jakarta residents have been affected by acute respiratory infections linked to worsening air pollution in the capital, according to Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq on Wednesday.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto defends the deal reached with U.S. President Donald Trump to lower the import tariffs from 32 percent to 19 percent. According to him, there's nothing wrong with purchasing aircraft for Indonesian airlines.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Indonesia's textile industry has welcomed the United States' decision to lower additional import tariffs on Indonesian textile products from a planned 32 percent to 19 percent, a move seen as strengthening the country's competitiveness in the American market.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Human rights group Amnesty International Indonesia has documented what it calls a "massive" wave of attacks on human rights defenders in the first half of 2025, warning of deteriorating civic space and the government's persistent failure to protect those speaking out.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto announced Wednesday that Indonesia's latest trade agreement with the US marked a new era of mutual benefit as Washington slashed its looming tariffs on Jakarta to 19 percent.

Jakarta – For the public prosecutors, the four-month trial of Thomas Trikasih Lembong, or Tom Lembong, seems to be an irrelevance. The testimony of witnesses in the case relating to alleged corruption over sugar imports has not influenced their charges against the defendant. The prosecution of the 2015-2016 Trade Minister has been highly irregular from the start.

Jakarta – The tragic sinking of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya in the Bali Strait earlier this month, with at least 18 confirmed deaths and 17 people still missing, is a brutal reminder that sea transportation safety in Indonesia remains a matter of chance.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said Indonesians suffer losses amounting to Rp99.35 trillion due to adulterated rice circulating in the markets. This was revealed by Amran during a working meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission IV, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Jakarta – Indonesia said on Wednesday it had reached a trade deal with the United States after an "extraordinary struggle" in negotiations which resulted in a reduction of proposed US tariff rates on the Southeast Asian country's exports to 19 percent from 32 percent.

Jakarta – Bank Indonesia on Wednesday cut key interest rates for the third time this year and left the door open for more as it looks to boost growth in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

The central bank lowered the seven-day reverse purchase rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 percent. Its two other main rates were lowered by a similar amount.

Islamabad – Indonesia's Defence Minister Lt Gen (retired) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin expressed his country's desire to boost defence ties and explore possible collaboration in defence production as he met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The government's plan to raise online motorcycle taxi (ojol) fares by 8 to 15 percent is drawing concerns from driver groups and ride-hailing companies, who warn the move could backfire by reducing customer demand and ultimately hurting drivers' incomes.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Indonesia has seen several airports on Java Island temporarily cease domestic operations after years of subdued performance, which experts attribute to poor planning and inadequate infrastructure.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – Three former officials and a consultant at Indonesia's Education Ministry have been named suspects in a corruption case over a Chromebook procurement project that allegedly caused Rp 1.98 trillion ($122 million) in state losses, the Attorney General's Office said Tuesday.

Antara, Mentawai, West Sumatra – Ten people are missing after a boat carrying local councilors and government employees capsized in the Sipora Strait, off the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra, during bad weather.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) claimed to have returned state losses from the investigation into corruption cases amounting to 50 percent of the total budget. KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo stated that the recovery took place over the last three years.

Jakarta – Rescuers found alive on Tuesday 11 people missing at sea who had survived a boat capsize in bad weather by swimming for at least six hours to the nearest island, officials said.

Sora Park, Caroline Fisher and Lilik Mardjianto, 360info/Canberra – Indonesians are increasingly losing trust in the news with more than 60 percent reporting they do not trust or feel ambivalent to the news they read or watch. Further, social media use continues to grow while there has been a rapid shift away from television, print and online sources.

Jakarta – Corruption and political dynasties are two sides of the same coin. Bobby Nasution, son-in-law of former president Joko Widodo, is the latest example of this. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plans to question the North Sumatra Governor in relation to alleged bribery in infrastructure projects that has embroiled his subordinate.

Ilham Oktafian, Chairul Fikri, Jakarta – Calls are growing for a full and transparent investigation into the mysterious death of a 39-year-old Indonesian diplomat, Arya Daru Pangayunan, who was found dead in his boarding room in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on July 8.

Jakarta – The fact that the name of incumbent Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto, a political heavyweight with vast connections, was mentioned as one of potential candidates for ambassador to the United States, led many to believe that the administration of President Prabowo Subianto would soon correct past mistakes.

Usman Hamid – The recent move by Indonesia's Attorney General's Office (AGO) to sign a wiretapping pact with four local major telecommunications operators has put around 350 million cellular users at much greater risk of being watched by the government.

Musmaulana – The North Maluku Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has condemned the actions and methods used by intelligence officers suspected of being from the North Maluku Regional Police (Polda) paramilitary Mobile Brigade (Brimob).

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Health policy observer and Director of the Postgraduate Program at YARSI University, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, welcomed the Indonesian government's decision to permit foreign hospitals to open branches in the country.

However, he stressed that the policy must be carefully implemented to truly enhance public health outcomes.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar said Indonesia has become the largest contributor to the mortality rate of Hajj pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. He mentioned that the number of Indonesians who passed away in Saudi Arabia reached 447.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition has strongly condemned the legislation process related to changes or revisions to the Criminal Procedure Code (RKUHAP) which are still considered problematic, both in terms of substance and the process its preparation.

Raja Ampat – The recent brouhaha over nickel mining operations in Southwest Papua's Raja Ampat regency, a UNESCO Global Geopark known as the "world's last paradise", exposed the stark contrast between tourism and mining, and that the two industries should not exist in such close proximity.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Sukma N Loppies, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia issued a report on Monday July 14 which details attacks on human rights defenders that have occurred on a massive scale in the first half of 2025.

Marchio Gorbiano, Jakarta – The government's plans to issue new history books have sparked fears that mention of deadly riots in 1998 targeting mostly ethnic Chinese in the country will be scrubbed from the text.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's external debt stood at $435.6 billion as of May 2025, marking a 6.8 percent increase from the same period last year, according to Bank Indonesia. However, the growth pace has moderated compared to previous months.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) warned that US plans to impose a 32 percent tariff on Indonesian goods could trigger mass layoffs, rupiah volatility, and other major economic challenges if Jakarta fails to secure a deal with Washington.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – French President Emmanuel Macron recently told his military men to partner with Indonesia, a day prior to President Prabowo Subianto's debut at the Bastille Day parade.

Antara, Paris – President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Paris on Sunday evening to attend France's Bastille Day military parade as an official guest of honour, following an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Industrial estate managers say United States import tariffs and anti-China trade policies are a burden on their business, forcing them to resort to operational and regulatory measures, as well as diversification, to ensure their global competitiveness.

Adrian Perkasa (The Conversation) – The government's plan to rewrite its official national history was initially met with positive responses, particularly for its goal of better serving the younger generations.

Rizky Hidayatullah, Jakarta – The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is coordinating intensively regarding the salvage operation of the wreckage of the Tunu Pratama Jaya passenger motor vessel, which sank in the Bali Strait.

This effort is part of the ongoing phase of the search operation for victims who remain missing following the maritime accident.

More than 100 human rights defenders experienced various forms of attacks in the first half of 2025 said Amnesty International Indonesia today in Jakarta. Between January and June 2025, Amnesty International noted that at least 104 human rights defenders became victims of attacks recorded in 54 cases.

Brussels – EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday announced a "political agreement" to conclude a long-awaited free trade deal, as US leader Donald Trump upends global commerce.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Yahukimo regency District Police (Polres) in Papua Highlands province released four activists from the Yahukimo regional West Papua National Committee (KNPB) on Monday afternoon July 14. The four KNPB activists underwent questioning and had been detained at the Yahukimo District Police (Polres) station since Sunday July 13.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar stated that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto asked his officials not to believe in capitalism during a meeting.

Max Lane – ASEAN faces an intriguing test of its own decision-making procedures, as consensus might be elusive given the apparent obstruction of one member to the full accession of its eleventh member.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that wildfires swept through Sumatra overnight, until Monday morning, July 14, 2025.

Heru Andriyanto, Brussels – The European Union has granted multi-entry visa privileges to Indonesian nationals visiting the region for a second time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto in Brussels on Sunday.

Idil Syawfi, Parahyangan (Catholic University Bandung) – In recent years, Indonesia has seen a nominal increase in its defense budget, but the rise is negligible in a context that is seeing the start of a new global arms race.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Indonesia currently has a fund to aid victims, a source of state compensation for victims of sexual violence. This fund is regulated in Government Regulation Number 29 of 2025 concerning the Victim Assistance Fund for Sexual Violence Crime (DBK-TPKS) signed by President Prabowo Subianto.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan criticized the absence of the Indonesian President in United Nations (UN) forums in recent years. Anies voiced this during his inaugural national leadership meeting of the people's organization Gerakan Rakyat.

Martin Bagya Kertiyasa, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Brussels on Saturday for high-level talks with European Union leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as Indonesia pushes to finalize a landmark trade deal aimed at eliminating tariffs on its exports to the bloc.