Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Indonesia continues to import a variety of commodities from Iran, including dates and petroleum jelly. From January to April 2025, the total import value reached Rp73.2 billion.

Made Supriatma – After nearly a month of mounting controversy, a group calling itself the Forum of Retired TNI Soldiers (FPP) has submitted a letter to Indonesia's Parliament and People's Consultative Assembly, urging the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Jakarta – Culture Minister Fadli Zon is consistent when it comes to the mass rapes against ethnic Chinese citizens in the May 1998 riots. Over the years, he has denied there were crimes against humanity in the run up to the Reformasi era.

Jakarta – The mass rapes that occurred during the May 1998 riots, which ultimately led to the fall of then-authoritarian president Soeharto, are thoroughly documented and must not be removed from history for whatever reason.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) indicates it may summon former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, also known as Gus Yaqut, as it intensifies its investigation into suspected corruption tied to the allocation of Indonesia's 2024 special Hajj quota.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is forecast to only grow 4.5 percent year-on-year in 2025 if Israel doesn't stop exchanging strikes with Iran, which could lead to soaring oil prices, according to an analyst.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia has postponed the implementation of an excise tax on sugary packaged beverages (MBDK) to 2026, citing the need for further regulatory preparation and current economic considerations, officials announced Monday.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – A total of 39 Indonesian businesses have collectively invested Rp 2.24 trillion ($135.7 million) to import more than 20,000 live cattle from Australia in the first half of 2025, according to data released by the Agriculture Ministry.

Basudiwa Supraja, Jakarta – Former Education Minister and Gojek founder Nadiem Makarim appeared at the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in Jakarta on Monday to provide testimony in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in a multitrillion-rupiah school laptop procurement project during his tenure.

Reza Hery Pamungkas, Jakarta – Governor Pramono Anung on Sunday reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining Jakarta's status as Indonesia's economic powerhouse with global competitiveness, despite the government's ongoing plans to relocate the national capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan in the coming years.

Heru Andriyanto, Wahroni, Tangerang – The Indonesian government has strongly condemned a Canadian-based website for listing several islands within Indonesia's territory for sale, declaring the practice illegal and misleading.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Garda Indonesia, an online motorcycle taxi drivers association, alongside various alliances of online motorcycle taxi (online ojek or ojol) organizations and communities across Greater Jakarta or Jabodetabek, plans to hold another demonstration at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta in the near future.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto claims that Indonesia's economy is on the right track and promising. According to Prabowo, as stated by experts, Indonesia's economic growth in the first half of 2025 is over five percent.

Saint Petersburg, Russia – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday denied snubbing the G7 summit to visit Russia, in a speech at an economic forum alongside Vladimir Putin.

The former soldier declined an invitation to the G7 in Canada earlier this week in favor of talks with Putin in Saint Petersburg, a decision that raised concerns about Jakarta moving closer to Moscow.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – House Member on education commission, Ledia Hanifa Amaliah, found several schools facing challenges in managing waste from the free nutritious meal program.

She mentioned that the challenges arose due to the ineffective and slow waste management system, both at the schools and in the respective region.

Olivia Subandi, Jakarta – The Free Palestine Network (FPN) organized simultaneous demonstrations in eight cities across Indonesia on Friday, June 20, 2025, to urge the United States and its allies to halt the supply of weapons to Israel and end the genocide in Palestine.

Thomas Rizal, Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government has come under fire for its plans to shrink the already tiny proposed subsidized housing.

Jakarta – Jakarta turns 498 on Sunday and will be celebrating with fanfare: from cultural exhibitions at National Monument Square and a vibrant culinary showcase in the Glodok Chinatown area to the ever-anticipated Jakarta Fair in Kemayoran, dubbed the largest multiproduct expo in Southeast Asia.

Agencies, St Petersburg, Russia – President Prabowo Subianto met Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday and hailed growing ties with Moscow in a burgeoning relationship that has caused concern among some of Jakarta's Western allies.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is considering Chinese and Russian technology for its first nuclear power plants, as it looks to tap into a 24,000-ton uranium reserve in West Kalimantan to support its future energy needs, according to the 2025-2034 electricity plan (RUPTL).

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – Indonesia has received more than 1.7 million overseas job requests from partner countries as of May 2025, but has only managed to fill around 297,000 of those positions, leaving 1.4 million vacancies unfulfilled, according to Migrant Worker Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry stated that the country's competitiveness remains strong despite the announcement that Indonesia's competition level dropped 13 ranks in the World Competitiveness Ranking 2025 within a year.

Roy Adriansyah, Jakarta – Former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim has been summoned by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) for questioning on Monday, June 23, as part of a corruption probe into the Education Ministry's Rp 9.98 trillion ($615 million) Chromebook procurement project.

Jakarta – Saving Garuda Indonesia through funding from Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency, or Danantara, to the tune of Rp20 trillion carries with it major risks for the future. The government is gambling on retaining a state-owned airline that has really long been bankrupt for the sake of prestige.

Jakarta – Hundreds of people from the Free Palestine Network (FPN) held a demonstration in front of the United States Embassy in Jakarta on Friday afternoon June 20. This action was a form of protest against Washington's military support for Israeli aggression in the Palestinian territories.

Kiki Safitri, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – Deputy Social Affairs Minister (Wamensos) Agus Jabo Priyono has stressed that the involvement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in the People's School principals retreat is not a form of militarisation of education.

Antara, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati reaffirmed that Indonesia's state budget deficit will remain below 3 percent, in line with the mandate of the state budget law.

She conveyed this commitment during a meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), represented by First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath.

Jakarta – The government recently announced that Indonesia had substantially concluded the trade pact negotiations with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's first Russian state trip had led to the possibility of Moscow exporting more wheat while also introducing its meat to Jakarta.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara and its Russian counterpart RDIF recently announced that they would set up a joint investment platform worth 2 billion or approximately $2.3 billion.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Consulate General in New York has secured the return of three smuggled cultural artifacts from US authorities, including items from the Asmat, Dayak, and Batak ethnic groups, a Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia has suffered a sharp decline in its global competitiveness, falling 13 spots to 40th place in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) released by the IMD World Competitiveness Center (WCC) recently. The country now trails regional neighbor Malaysia, which surged 11 places to rank 23rd globally.

Olivia Subandi, Jakarta – Indonesia has joined 23 countries in a joint statement strongly condemning Israel's attacks on Iran that have been ongoing since June 13, 2025. The statement, initiated by Egypt, marks a strong regional solidarity amidst unprecedented escalation of Middle East conflict.

Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia held a demonstration in front of the US Embassy building in Jakarta on Thursday June 19 rejecting the genocide against the people of Gaza in Palestine.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government recently denied dishing out raw food instead of hot meals in Indonesia's colossal school-feeding program, as the country spent trillions of rupiah so far.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) has extended the grace period for credit card bill payments until Wednesday, December 31, 2025. This prolongs a relief policy previously set to expire on Monday, June 30, 2025.

Widy Wicaksono, Kendal, Central Java – Indonesia has officially opened its largest integrated solar cell and module factory to support its push for renewable energy. The plant, run by Trina Mas Agra Indonesia (TMAI), is located in the Kendal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and is a joint project between China-based Trina Solar Co.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Raja Ampat islands, which have long been known as the center of the world's marine biodiversity, are now facing a serious threat due to nickel mining activities.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), a major nickel processing hub, has pledged to improve its environmental compliance and adopt more sustainable business practices following a warning from Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The installation of a stairlift, or a device to facilitate going up and down the stairs at Borobudur Temple in Indonesia some time ago was carried out without impact analysis and clear procedures. However, Borobudur Temple is a World Heritage site strictly regulated by UNESCO.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Indonesian police name 44 suspects after raiding a conventional gambling site in Kosambi, Bandung, and arresting 63 people. The raid occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at karaoke and billiard entertainment venues that provided casino gambling facilities.

Maria Siow – Indonesia's recent signing of several defence acquisition agreements has shed light on its desire to accelerate military modernisation, but its ability to finance and maintain new systems amid economic challenges has come under scrutiny by observers.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The rupiah closed lower today, June 19, 2025, trading at Rp16,406 per US dollar. This weakening occurred as the dollar strengthened following the U.S. central bank's (the Federal Reserve or The Fed) decision to maintain its benchmark interest rate.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – State-owned electricity company PLN reported Rp545.4 trillion ($33.33 billion) in revenue for 2024, marking an 11.9 percent increase from the previous year. The company also posted a net profit of Rp17.76 trillion, down 19.5 percent from Rp22.07 trillion in 2023.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Former senior Supreme Court official Zarof Ricar was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Wednesday for accepting bribes in exchange for helping secure an acquittal in a high-profile murder case and amassing an enormous fortune from unexplained sources during his tenure on the bench.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Labor Party and the Workers' Union Coalition are planning to stage a rally to protest the war and genocide in Palestine on Friday, June 18, 2025. Protesters will move from the United Nations' office, then proceed with a long march to the United States Embassy, and end at the Egyptian Embassy in Jakarta.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) revealed that it has purchased Government Bonds (SBN) worth Rp124.33 trillion throughout the current year, 2025. This was stated by BI Governor Perry Warjiyo during a virtual press conference to announce the results of the BI Board of Governors Meeting on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Jakarta – The revelation of extortion of foreign workers at the Manpower Ministry shows the poor support for the investment climate in Indonesia. Those recruiting staff are usually foreign companies investing capital in a number of sectors. Government officials should be supporting these investments, not turning it into a cash cow.

Surabaya – Three students in Blitar, East Java, were arrested during a visit by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to the area on Wednesday June 18. The three are members of the Blitar Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII) branch leadership.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday sentenced Meirizka Widjaja to three years in prison for bribing judges to secure the acquittal of her son, Ronald Tannur, in a controversial murder case.