Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has declared August 18, 2025, a national holiday to celebrate the 80th Indonesian Independence Day, which falls on August 17. Deputy State Secretary Minister Juri Ardiantoro stated that the holiday is a "gift for the public."

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.

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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 – 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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Muhammad Firman, Widi Agustian, Jakarta – Indonesia is mourning the passing of Kwik Kian Gie, a respected economist and former senior minister, who died Monday evening at Medistra Hospital in South Jakarta. He was 90.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – The United States will not impose its new reciprocal tariff of 19 percent on Indonesian goods starting Aug. 1, as the two countries have yet to finalize a bilateral trade agreement, according to Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – A proposal by Indonesia's anti-money laundering watchdog to block dormant bank accounts has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, who warn that the policy could cause confusion and unrest among the public despite its good intentions.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – Indonesia will reduce oil and gas imports from several countries in the Middle East and Asia as part of a new $15 billion energy import agreement with the United States, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Monday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia recently inked the contract to acquire 48 of Turkish-made KAAN fighter jets as the Southeast Asian nation sought to modernize its air fleet.

Jakarta – Indonesia's commercial vehicle market remained weak in the first half of 2025, with all major brands reporting a drop in sales, according to the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo).

Delfi Neski, Jakarta – The West Sumatra Regional Police have arrested nine individuals suspected of vandalizing a Christian prayer house in Padang Sarai Subdistrict, Koto Tangah District, Padang City, West Sumatra, on Sunday.

In addition to damaging the prayer house, the suspects also reportedly committed acts of violence against children who were present at the scene.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded Rp 942.9 trillion (approx. $57.38 billion) in total investment realization during the first half of 2025, with domestic investment surpassing foreign direct investment (FDI), according to the Investment Ministry.