The latest raid in the waters off Batam in mid-May netted a record 2.1 tonnes of methamphetamine, a synthetic drug also known as meth. The amount can feed eight million addicts, with each gram typically consumed by four people.

Zacharias Wuragil, Jakarta – The Jakarta Department of Environment urges the public to monitor Jakarta's air quality and understand the necessary precautions based on official data before engaging in outdoor activities.

Stefanno Sulaiman and Dewi Kurniawati, Jakarta – Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara plans to sign an US$8 billion engineering, procurement and construction contract with US engineering firm KBR Inc to build 17 modular refineries, according to two sources familiar with the matter and an official economic ministry presentation seen by Reuters.

Ary Hermawan – Within Indonesia's largest mass Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), there is a deepening ideological and generational split over the elites' decision to defend controversial mining activities.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) is very responsive when it comes to matters concerning the interests of political parties. This swift action was most recently seen after the constitutional judges ruled that the central and regional elections must be held separately.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Tuesday that nearly 1,000 civil servants at the Finance Ministry have been laid off as part of the government's broader efforts to streamline spending and boost efficiency.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia attracted approximately Rp 950 trillion ($58.4 billion) in investment during the first half of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase from Rp 829.9 trillion recorded in the same period last year, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani announced on Tuesday.

Fersianus Waku, Jakarta – Dozens of University of Indonesia (UI) students and activists from the Civil Society Coalition for the Reform of the Criminal Procedural Code held a demonstration rejecting the Draft Law on the Criminal Procedure Code (RUU KUHAP) at the Pancasila Gate entrance to the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday July 22.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is accelerating the construction of suspension bridges to improve connectivity in remote and geographically challenging areas. The Public Works Ministry has allocated Rp 630 billion (approximately $38.7 million) for the construction of 63 suspension bridges across the country in 2026.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, along with the Head of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Taruna Ikrar, signed a memorandum of understanding in the pharmaceutical field.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives' Commission XI, Dolfie Othniel Frederic Palit, raised concerns over the education budget during a working meeting with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin reveals that Indonesia requires Rp70 trillion to achieve the demand of 70,000 specialist doctors in the next ten years. The budget is equivalent to the cost of scholarships for state-funded specialist medical education through the Endowment Fund for Education Agency (LPDP).

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that cardiac health services in Indonesia remain severely limited. Each year, he said, around 6,000 infants die from congenital heart defects.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia is testing whether one of the world's most powerful timber certifiers can deliver justice – or merely a reset – to forest communities harmed by industrial logging.

Michelle Gabriela, S. Dian Andryanto, Jakarta – Gajah Mada University (UGM) Student Executive Board Community of Students (BEM KM) Chairperson Tiyo Ardianto says that they have resigned from the Populist All Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM SI Kerakyatan) Alliance.

Ana Swanson – The Trump administration provided more details Tuesday of the trade deal it reached with Indonesia, saying that the Indonesian government had agreed to roll back multiple trade barriers that U.S. companies have complained about and make purchases of American oil, gas, airplanes and farm products.

Jakarta – Three people died and more than 500 others were rescued after a ferry caught fire off the northern coast of Sulawesi Island, emergency officials said Monday.

Passengers jumped overboard with lifejackets after the fire broke out on Sunday at the stern of the KM Barcelona 5, as it sailed to Manado, according to the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla).

Jakarta – A speedboat carrying 18 passengers capsized in the waters of Mentawai Islands regency, West Sumatra, on Monday, an incident that once again underscored Indonesia's ongoing struggles with maritime safety.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Indonesia is among the top countries globally in the number of artificial intelligence users but lags far behind in AI development, revealing a yawning digital talent gap.

Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Nezar Patria acknowledged that Indonesia is struggling to realize its full AI potential.

Jakarta – The Bali provincial administration plans to ban the production of small plastic packaging, or sachet, starting in 2026 as a response to suggestions from environmentalists after banning the production of under-1-liter bottled water.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to provide free medical treatment for the poor if the state budget allows. He emphasized, however, that the plan remains an aspiration due to current financial limitations.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto officially launched 80,081 rural cooperatives on Monday as Jakarta waged war against food cartels that had caused an annual state loss of up to Rp 100 trillion or $6.1 billion.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has introduced a new term to criticize those he sees as excessively greedy in the pursuit of profit. He called it serakahnomics.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday renewed his pledge to crack down on food cartels that distort national food distribution for profit, saying their actions cost Indonesia up to Rp 100 trillion ($6.1 billion) every year.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI) is calling on the government to swiftly regulate the pricing scheme for food and beverage deliveries via online motorcycle taxi (ojol) platforms. The demand follows concerns over the substantial deductions taken by platforms from drivers' earnings.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Executive Board of the All-Indonesian Student Association (BEM SI) has announced plans for a nationwide demonstration. Muzammil Ihsan, the Central Coordinator of BEM SI, stated that this action is a response to numerous government policies perceived as unfavorable to the people.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has voiced concern over deceptive practices by several entrepreneurs involved in rice adulteration, calling them serious violations that contribute to rising rice prices.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto remarked that there is a growing trend of people who believe they are highly intelligent. According to him, this sense of self-assuredness often leads individuals to comment on a wide range of issues.

Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – The number of investors in Indonesia's capital market rose to 17 million by the end of June 2025, up from 14.87 million at the end of 2024 and 12.17 million at the end of 2023, reflecting a 40 percent growth in just 18 months.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Daikin has begun mass distribution of its first locally manufactured residential air conditioners from its new West Java factory.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's oil lifting reached 578,000 barrels per day in the first half of 2025, which is about 95.5 percent of this year's target of 605,000 barrels per day, according to the country's upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas.

Rizky Hidayat, Banyuwangi, E – Java. The search operation for victims of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry that sank in the Bali Strait has officially ended on Monday, July 21, after a week-long extension.

Responding to President Prabowo Subianto's statement that the Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia) protests in February 2025 were financed by corruptors, Amnesty International Indonesia Deputy Director Wirya Adiwena said:

Antara, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto claimed that Indonesia's national development is currently on the right track. He also refuted the circulating narrative of a 'dark Indonesian economy,' highlighting that investment achievements have exceeded expectations, and both poverty and unemployment rates have declined.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto claimed that corruptors pay the masses for demonstrations under the titles 'Dark Indonesia' (Indonesia Gelap) and 'Let's Flee First' (Kabur Aja Dulu). These corruptors want Indonesia to remain in turmoil.

Shinta Maharani, Yogyakarta – The Student Executive Board of Diponegoro University (Undip) in Semarang announced its withdrawal from the All-Indonesian People's Student Executive Board (BEM SI) Alliance due to the presence of politicians, regional officials, police officers, and State Intelligence Agency (BIN) officials at the national conference held at Dharma Andalas University, P

Jakarta – As an oil trader who has done business under every regime, Mohammad Riza Chalid seemed to be above the law. His name has repeatedly been mentioned in connection with irregularities relating to Pertamina oil imports, but the tycoon, known as the Indonesian "gasoline godfather," has always avoided being questioned.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Tens of thousands of online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers from Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) are staging a demonstration today, Monday, July 21, 2025, in the Patung Kuda area, Central Jakarta.

The rally is organized by Garda Indonesia, an association representing ojol drivers.

Bukittinggi, West Sumatra – Authorities monitoring Mount Marapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, have reported a string of equipment thefts that have compromised early warning systems on parts of the mountain.

Solo – President Prabowo Subianto has again touched on the wave of demonstrations in early 2025. He accused the actions of being fabricated by those who wanted make Indonesia fail.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – As uncertainty clouds the status of Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Indonesia's NasDem Party proposes a temporary moratorium on the new capital city development.

Saan Mustopa, the NasDem Party deputy chair who submitted the proposal, urges the government to issue a moratorium on IKN if the project cannot yet be established as the new capital.

Jakarta – Minister of Culture Fadli Zon stated that Indonesia holds the potential to become the world's cultural capital through its diverse cultural expressions, including traditional cuisine, local arts, traditional games, and more recently, the increasingly popular pacu jalur rowing tradition.

Wijayanti Putri, Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Solo, Central Java – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto paid a visit to his predecessor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Sunday to personally report a diplomatic milestone: the conclusion of a decade-long free trade negotiation with the European Union.

Max Lane – Living in Australia, one sees almost every week a news report about some event or other in Bali, Indonesia's primary tourist destination. Bali is only 6 or 7 hours flight from cities like Sydney or Melbourne, in less than from Perth in West Australia. In 2023, 1.2 million Australians holidayed in Bali. Statistics point to similar mor more for 2024 and 2025 as well.

Effendi Rusli, Pekanbaru, Riau – Haze from forest and land fires in Riau province has crossed the border into Malaysia, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Pekanbaru.Bibin S, the on-duty forecaster at BMKG Sultan Syarif Kasim II Station in Pekanbaru, said on Saturday that the haze was detected moving northeast, crossing the border and reaching T

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Indonesian Communication and Digital (Komdigi) Minister Meutya Hafid has firmly denied any government plan to restrict internet-based voice and video call services, including Voice over IP (VoIP) like WhatsApp Call. According to Meutya, the circulating information on this matter is misleading.

Djibril Muhammad, Jakarta – Indonesia has certified more than 80,000 village-based cooperatives under the Merah Putih Cooperative program, a major step toward strengthening the grassroots economy ahead of their official launch by President Prabowo Subianto next week.

Wahyu Sahala Tua, Jakarta – Indonesia's homegrown electronics company Polytron has officially started mass production of its electric vehicles in Indonesia.

Ary Hermawan – On Friday, 18 July 2025, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced former trade minister Thomas Lembong to 4.5 years in prison for his role in a corruption case centering on the import of raw sugar in 2015.

Chandra Adi Nurwidya, Yudha Setiawan Pane, Vinnilya Huanggrio, Jakarta – Puspa, a young woman from Yogyakarta, thought she was on her way to a decent job in Thailand. Instead, she found herself trafficked and forced into an online scam syndicate in Cambodia, becoming a victim of cross-border job scams that continue to prey on Indonesians seeking work abroad.