Alexandra Stevenson and Hasya Nindita – For more than a decade, Rudi Hendri sold locally made clothes from a stall inside Jakarta's labyrinthine Tanah Abang market. Then three years ago, a businessman from China and his translator showed up with a proposition and changed everything.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Suroto, Chairperson of the Association of Strategic Socio-Economic Cadres (AKSES), criticized the 19 percent reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States on Indonesian exports. He argued that the agreement does little to strengthen Indonesia's economic position.

Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka are scheduled to attend the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Congress, which will be held in Solo, Central Java, on Sunday, July 20.

Resty Woro Yuniar – President Prabowo Subianto's decision to assign Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka responsibility for Papua has fuelled speculation that he is being politically sidelined under the guise of a development mission to Indonesia's most restive region.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – The Ministry of Immigration and Correction has canceled the launch of the new red and white Indonesian passport design, which was initially scheduled for the 80th Independence Day celebration on August 17, 2025.

The decision follows Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 on budget efficiency across ministries and institutions.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – Following two consecutive accidents involving foreign hikers on Mount Rinjani's Pelawangan route towards Lake Segara Anak, Coordinating Minister of Politics and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan has called for a comprehensive evaluation and improvement of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) at Rinjani National Park.

Jakarta – Indonesia is still negotiating details of its recently-reached trade deal with the United States after Washington lowered tariff rates on the Southeast Asian country, and is pursuing exemptions for its exports of palm oil and nickel, an official said on Friday.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – U.S. President Donald Trump has lowered import tariffs on Indonesian products to 19 percent from the previous 32 percent. In return, Indonesia will grant zero percent tariffs on U.S. imports entering the country.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Deputy State Secretary Minister Juri Ardiantoro has responded to protests regarding the special treatment given to President Prabowo Subianto's cat, Bobby Kertanegara. This preferential treatment occurred when Bobby attended the Cat Lovers Social Day 2025 event on July 12, 2025.

Fahri Ali, Depok – For Dwi, Wednesday morning began like any other. As she stepped out to feed her goats in Depok, West Java, she expected the familiar sounds of bleating from the cage next to her home. Instead, she was greeted by a chilling scene: pools of blood and scattered internal organs where her livestock once stood.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday announced the detention of four suspects in an alleged bribery and extortion scheme involving foreign worker permit services at the Manpower Ministry.

Paul Gregoire – The 5 July 2025 inauguration of the West Papuan Legislative Council in West Papua's Jayapura City "marked the rebirth of the West Papuan state", remarked United Liberation Movement West Papua president Benny Wenda in a 10 July 2025 statement, adding that the globe "should respect" that it has "fulfilled all international requirements to be recognised as a government-

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman stated that Indonesia will import wheat from the United States as a result of the reciprocal trade tariff reduction agreement. "Wheat is the biggest one," said Amran to journalists at the RRI building on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Health Ministry has warned of a sharp rise in the number of smokers, including among children, as the country struggles to curb smoking rates despite having regulations in place.

Hariz Baharudin, Singapore – The trade deal announced on July 15 lowering US tariffs on Indonesian goods is seen by some as a diplomatic win for President Prabowo Subianto, though others warn that he may have overpromised and burdened Indonesia with costly commitments.

Abdi Ryanda Shakti, Jakarta – Amnesty International Executive Director Usman Hamid has highlighted an alleged digital attack against democracy activist Neni Nur Hayati after she criticised the governor of West Java on social media. Amnesty International is a global movement that campaigns for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.

Indonesia, West Papua – On the night of 12 July 2025, joint security forces consisting of Navy's Marine Corps, Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), and the local police raided the secretariat of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, and arbitrarily arrested the four KNPB members, Mr Sinduk Enggalim, Mr Deko Kobak, Mr Hulu Amosoho,

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia will soon allow foreign hospitals to open branches and invest directly in the country, in a move aimed at improving healthcare quality and reducing the need for Indonesians to seek medical treatment abroad, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed on Thursday.

Indonesia, West Papua – A new documentary reveals the devastating impact of Indonesia's National Strategic Project (PSN) in Merauke, Papua Selatan Province, exposing how large-scale agricultural expansion under the guise of national food security results in the systematic violation of indigenous rights and environmental degradation.

Jakarta – While the world is racing to mobilize the green economy, Indonesia is heading in the opposite direction. The promise to reduce carbon emissions is only a commitment that sounds good but that is far from reality.

Jakarta – It is not an exaggeration to call the political agreement on the long-sought free trade pact between Indonesia and the European Union on Sunday a diplomatic victory for President Prabowo Subianto. He successfully pushed the EU to accelerate negotiations and open its market to Indonesian products it had previously criticized, such as palm oil and "dirty" nickel.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The President Director of Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN), Arief Setiawan Handoko, stated that the import of Indonesia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) is not urgent. According to him, the national gas production of 6,600 MMSCFD still meets domestic demand.

Sora Park, Caroline Fisher and Lilik Mardjianto (University of 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 move away from television, print and online sources.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's freshly announced major energy purchase with the US can backfire on its government spending and oil trade deficit, according to an analyst.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.