Jakarta – Even as Indonesia's lead negotiator intensified lobbying efforts for a lowering of America's reciprocal tariffs this week, analysts remain sceptical that talks will make headway even if Jakarta attempts to leverage the nation's rich mineral resources as a bargaining chip.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The government has begun rolling out free health screenings for approximately 53 million students nationwide, as part of a broader initiative to provide screenings for all citizens to promote early disease detection and improve public health.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's ambition to elevate Indonesia's global influence, partly through extensive international travel, mirrors the approach of the second president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid. However, Prabowo should consider that Gus Dur's significant diplomatic achievements abroad ultimately had limited impact domestically.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has yet to declare whether the Independence Day ceremony on August 17 will again be held at Garuda Palace in Nusantara Capital City (IKN) or remain at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana outlined several challenges facing the implementation of the free nutritious meals program in eastern Indonesia, particularly in Papua.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The United Nations Special Rapporteur for the rights of indigenous peoples, Albert Kwokwo Barume, visited Poco Leok, Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT), Indonesia, on July 7, 2025.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Humanitarian activist from Wamena, Papua, Yefta Lengka, has questioned Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's ability to resolve the ongoing violent conflict in Papua.

Yefta, who assists refugees in Nduga, said Gibran lacks the necessary experience to mediate the protracted violence between the Indonesian military and pro-independence groups.

Jakarta – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has affirmed his readiness to oversee development and address ongoing human rights issues in Papua, as he prepares to lead the Special Autonomy Acceleration Board in accordance with existing legal mandates.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, has proposed an additional budget of Rp118 trillion for next year's free nutritious meals (MBG) program. This is in addition to the agency's indicative budget of Rp217 trillion already allocated for 2026.

On March 23 a fast breaking gathering and discussion was held on "The International and National Situation". The event was initiated by the Socialist Union (Perserikatan Sosialis, PS) and the People's Liberation Party (Partai Pembebasan Rakyat, PPR).

Kiki Safitri, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – National Police Chief (Kapolri) General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has received the highest award from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the world's largest labour organisation headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

Erfan Maruf, Samarinda – Kalimantan Island holds a vital role as the national energy hub. According to data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, in 2024, Kalimantan contributed 688 million tons of coal production, accounting for 82 percent of the country's total coal output.

Andika Pratama, Antara, Palembang – South Sumatra has banned coal trucks from using a crucial bridge following a partial collapse that shows the strain Indonesia's booming coal industry places on local infrastructure.

Jamaah, Jakarta – The National Food Task Force under the National Police (Polri) is investigating alleged fraud involving premium rice in the market, amid suspicions that producers have mislabeled lower-quality rice and sold it above government price caps.

Jakarta – The head of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) representative for Papua, Frits Ramandey, said Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka should halt the military deployment in resolving armed conflicts in Papua. The military approach will not solve the human rights issues in Papua.

Larius Kogoya, Jayapura, Jubi – The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, is being urged to establish an institution to handle alleged human rights violations in Papua, such as a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR) and a Human Rights Court.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The textile and garment industry is bracing for sharp declines in orders and potential mass layoffs following the United States' decision to impose a 32 percent import tariff.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir has announced that national flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia will increase its planned order of Boeing aircraft to 79 planes as part of ongoing import tariff negotiations with the United States.

Jakarta – Concessions we offered to the United States to avoid steep US import tariffs have yielded nothing but embarrassment.

In an open letter addressed to President Prabowo Subianto on Monday, US President Donald Trump doubled down on his threat to impose a 32 percent duty on Indonesian exports.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya voices concerns about the recent surge in layoffs in the creative industry and agencies. According to him, artificial intelligence (AI) use – to some extent – is one of the contributing factors to this phenomenon.

Adi Warsidi, Jakarta – The Indonesian government officially inaugurated the construction of the Memorial Living Park built on the former site of the Rumoh Geudong Static Post during the military operation area (DOM) in Gampong Bili, Glumpang Tiga District, Pidie Regency, Aceh, on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto is optimistic that Indonesia can achieve 100 percent renewable energy in the next 10 years. He is also confident that 100 percent renewable energy can be achieved sooner than the initial projection of 2040.

Muhammad Awaludin, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara – A key witness has revealed details of a drug-fueled pool party involving two police officers that led to the mysterious death of Brigadier Nurhadi on the tourist island of Gili Trawangan in West Nusa Tenggara.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The ambitious expansion of Jakarta's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system will require at least Rp 50 trillion (approximately $3 billion), according to the operator PT MRT Jakarta.

Nadirsyah Hosen – In Indonesia's villages and small towns, a growing phenomenon is reshaping the public soundscape. Known as sound horeg – a colloquial term for ultra-loud mobile sound systems – these setups often feature towering stacks of homemade speakers, roaring subwoofers, and music blasted well into the night.

Zulfhakar, Jakarta – Indonesian prosecutors on Thursday named reclusive oil tycoon Muhammad Riza Chalid a suspect in a massive corruption case that allegedly cost the state Rp 285 trillion ($17.5 billion), marking one of the country's largest graft scandals to date.

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – The Nusantara Indigenous Community Alliance (AMAN), Greenpeace Indonesia, the People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka) and the Papua-Merauke Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) have issued a joint statement titled "Papua is not empty land, and stop the theft of indigenous territories in Papua, stop the National Strategic Projects".

Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Deputy Chairperson Johanis Tanak has reminded government officials not to send pornographic WhatsApp messages because they will be caught if their phones are tapped. Tanak said the technology his agency has is more advanced than that of officials.

Muhibar Sobary Ardan, Samarinda, Indonesia – The prosecution of a former head of mining in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province could reveal wider misuse of environmental restoration funds across the country's coal heartland, a prominent environmental lawyer said in June.

Muhammad Farhan, Jakarta – The US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) has expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government for refraining from imposing retaliatory tariffs in response to Washington's recent trade measures, which include a 32 percent tariff affecting Indonesia.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Minister of Housing and Settlements Maruarar Sirait on Thursday officially scrapped a controversial plan to reduce the minimum size of subsidized homes to just 18 square meters, following strong public criticism and backlash from lawmakers.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – A letter from US President Donald Trump to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on tariffs and trade deficits offers a glimpse into how Washington views its economic ties with Indonesia. Yet beyond its substance, the letter, sent on official White House letterhead, reads more like a social media post than a diplomatic note.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warns of unusually heavy rainfall during what is typically the dry season, with weather anomalies expected to bring extreme rain across parts of the country from July to September.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump's decision to maintain a steep 32 percent tariff on Indonesian exports came as a surprise to Jakarta, despite extensive efforts by the Indonesian government to ease trade tensions.

Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has said he is ready to work from Papua if ordered by President Prabowo Subianto, following reports that he would be tasked with overseeing development in Indonesia's easternmost province.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Minister of Culture Fadli Zon announced that the draft of the rewritten Indonesian history, prepared by the Ministry of Culture's team, will be published on July 20, 2025. Alongside the history draft, the ministry will also reveal the list of writers and editors involved in the project.

Hotria Mariana, Aditya Mulyawan – Thousands of women from various civil society organisations and communities gathered for a peaceful demonstration titled "One Million Women for Gaza" in Jakarta on Sunday July 6. The action marked a new phase in the solidarity movement for Palestine, focusing on a strategy to boycott products affiliated with Israeli Zionism.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesian state-run energy firm Pertamina had inked several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with its American counterparts, like the Texas-based oil giant ExxonMobil, as a sweetener in the ongoing tariff talks.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Cartenz Peace Task Force has handed over two members of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) as suspects of illegal ammunition trading to the Wamena District Attorney. The two individuals are La Ode Sultan Zaldi Saim and Praedy Wanimbo alias Kenyam.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's textile industry faces potential job cuts as looming US import tariffs raise fears of widespread layoffs in the labor-intensive sector.

US President Donald Trump is set to implement new import tariffs starting August 1, 2025, including a 32 percent tariff on Indonesian products, in addition to an existing 10 percent baseline tariff.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) will once again be led by an army general following the honorable discharge of Lieutenant General Novi Helmy Prasetya, who will return to military service, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin confirmed on Wednesday.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The Public Works Ministry has requested an additional Rp 12.5 trillion ($768.9 million) for its 2025 budget, raising the total to Rp 86.3 trillion ($5.3 billion), citing a presidential mandate to develop a new network of state-funded boarding schools for underprivileged children.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Former Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday in connection with mining management and licensing practices in eastern Indonesia. However, Arifin dismissed suggestions that he is implicated in a corruption case.

Rabul Sawal, Indonesia, Maluku, Indonesia – Just four months after Mongabay reported on a dramatic surge in diagnoses of respiratory illness near Indonesia's second-largest nickel industrial estate, new data indicate that up to half the local population may have been exposed to unsafe levels of mercury – and one in three to harmful arsenic.

Jakarta – News has recently resurfaced about Indonesian islands being sold or offered by foreign entities, despite clear regulations prohibiting the sale of land, including islands, to foreigners. This isn't a new issue; these incidents reoccur every few years, even though existing laws only permit investors to manage islands, not to buy them outright.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – United States President Donald Trump has sent a letter to President Prabowo Subianto pushing for progress in trade talks, warning that Washington will impose a 32 percent tariff on all Indonesian exports starting next month unless Jakarta works out a trade and investment deal with Washington.

Deni Ghifari, Raja Ampat – Raja Ampat, home to 75 percent of the world's coral species and a popular diving spot known to be "the last paradise" became the subject of a global conversation in late May when the environmental group Greenpeace managed to draw the public's attention toward an imminent threat to its marine biodiversity from nickel mining.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – U.S. President Donald Trump has offered Indonesia a chance to avoid the planned 32 percent import tariff, provided that President Prabowo Subianto's administration meets certain conditions.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) has cast doubts on Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's ability to resolve issues in the Papuan region.

Fauziah Herlina Azhar, Jakarta – The residents of Neighborhood Unit (RT) 2 and RT 5, Community Unit (RW) 03, in Kalibaru Subdistrict, opposed the construction of a church on Palautan Eres Street, Cilodong Subdistrict, Depok, Indonesia, on Saturday, July 5, 2025.