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.

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.

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.

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.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) rejected Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's assignment to handle development and human rights issues in Papua.

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.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Chairperson of the House of Representatives Commission III, Habiburokhman, stated that parliament is planning to draft a special law dedicated to wiretapping.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – The National Police announced on Saturday that 26 premium rice brands are under investigation for alleged mislabeling and price gouging, following a report from Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Algi M Gifari, Jakarta – Indonesia is set to launch its ambitious Sekolah Rakyat (People's Schools) program on Monday, offering free boarding school education to children from the nation's poorest households

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has denied a statement by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) claiming that four of its members pledged allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The government will remove social aid recipients found to have misused their funds for online gambling or terrorism financing, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said on Friday, following a shocking revelation by the country's financial intelligence agency.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – Lawmakers and the Indonesian government have agreed that sexual violence cases cannot be resolved outside the court through restorative justice mechanisms. The new rule is stipulated in the Draft Law on the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP).

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Discussions are ongoing in the House of Representatives (DPR) regarding the revision of Law No. 8 of 1981 concerning Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the DPR Law Commission held its inaugural working meeting with the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of State Secretariat.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Batam – PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) is now supplying raw materials to PT Solder Tin Andalan Indonesia (STANIA), a solder manufacturing company owned by Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo, the younger brother of President Prabowo Subianto. The factory was inaugurated on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Batam City, Riau Islands Province.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The latest survey conducted by Bank Indonesia (BI) reveals that the Job Availability Index (IKLK) for June 2025 has fallen into a pessimistic zone, with a score below 100. The decline has continued since May 2025.

According to BI, the IKLK stood at 95.7 in May, already reflecting pessimism. In April, the index was still at 106.1.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Bulungan, North Kalimantan – Four policemen, including a mid-ranking officer heading an anti-narcotics unit, have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a cross-border drug syndicate operating near the Indonesian-Malaysian border, authorities said on Thursday.

Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had a blunt message for local government officials this week: be careful what you do on your phones – especially if it involves sensitive or inappropriate content.

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.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office searched the office of tech giant GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO) in Jakarta as part of its investigation into alleged corruption in the procurement of Chromebook laptops by the (then) Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry.

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.

Kornelis K, Tegar Nurfitra, Kupang – The governments of Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province and Timor-Leste have discussed the plan to form a technical team to advance economic cooperation and support development for their communities.

ASEAN member states have agreed to expedited completion of the documentation process, ensuring that Timor-Leste can take its place as a full member of the Southeast Asian bloc in October, reports Malaysian news agency Bernama.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for the Renewal of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) has compiled a counter draft of the Draft KUHAP (RUU KUHAP) as a form of resistance to the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government's version of the RUU KUHAP.

Jakarta – The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) is in the final stage of its investigation into the alleged monopoly over the setting of online lending interest rates by digital finance companies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 – Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi declined to comment on the position of Bulog's Director, which a senior military officer has once again filled. "Later," he shortly said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Central Jakarta on Friday, July 11, 2025.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.