Niniek Karmini

Indonesia has deployed hundreds of firefighters, disaster personnel, soldiers, police, volunteers and helicopters to combat wildfires in East Java and Sumatra. More than 740 hectares have burned in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, destroying grassland, vegetation and protected edelweiss flowers, while a separate peatland fire in Jambi has damaged oil palm plantations and produced hazardous haze. Dry conditions intensified by El Niño, strong winds, difficult terrain and limited water supplies are complicating firefighting, with August and September expected to bring the highest fire risk. Authorities have closed the national park indefinitely and urged the public to avoid activities that could ignite new blazes.

A fire engulfed the Mutiara Sentosa 2 passenger ferry off Indonesia’s Java coast while it was traveling from Surabaya to Makassar with 271 people aboard. Nearby vessels rescued 225 passengers and crew and recovered five bodies, while at least 41 people remained missing. Rough seas delayed some rescue efforts, and the Indonesian Navy deployed a warship. The cause of the fire was under investigation amid broader concerns about ferry safety enforcement in Indonesia.

Indonesia plans to convert open dumping at Bantargebang and 342 other disposal sites into controlled or sanitary landfill operations, requiring greater separation of organic waste, recyclables and residual trash. The reforms aim to reduce methane emissions and pollution, but threaten the livelihoods of roughly 600,000 waste pickers, including thousands working at Bantargebang. The landfill receives about 7,500 tons of waste daily, has reached dangerous proportions and was linked to a deadly collapse. Officials expect safer formal jobs and improved recycling and composting, while researchers and environmental advocates say substantial infrastructure, public education and long-term methane monitoring are needed.

Indonesia has received a cache of rare artifacts linked to Papuan communities after provenance research determined they had been illegally removed and trafficked to the United States. The FBI helped recover and return the objects, including ceremonial items and stone axe heads, which will be displayed at Indonesia’s National Museum. The handover follows the return of two eighth-century Buddhist sculptures and reflects expanding U.S.-Indonesian cooperation to trace and repatriate cultural property tied to theft and the antiquities trade.

FBI Director Kash Patel handed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto a collection of looted cultural artifacts from Papua during a meeting in Jakarta. The objects, associated with the Dani, Asmat and Lake Sentani communities, were repatriated after provenance research determined they had been smuggled to the United States and will be displayed at Indonesia's National Museum. The handover reflects growing U.S.–Indonesia cooperation on cultural-property restitution and follows the return of eighth-century Indonesian Buddhist sculptures connected to the late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. Indonesian officials say they intend to continue recovering cultural treasures taken through theft, illicit trafficking and colonial-era collecting.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jakarta for talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto aimed at strengthening strategic ties. Defence cooperation is expected to be central, with Indonesia showing advanced interest in acquiring India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system and both countries discussing maritime security. The leaders are also expected to announce agreements covering trade, investment, food and energy security, critical minerals, health and education. Modi’s visit may include the launch of the Indonesia Open Network digital commerce platform and an Indian-backed restoration project at the Prambanan temple before he travels to Australia.

An Indonesian military court convicted three navy marines and an air force officer over the hydrochloric-acid attack that severely injured human-rights activist Andrie Yunus in Jakarta. They received sentences ranging from 18 months to three years, with two defendants dismissed from the military. Rights groups criticized the relatively light punishment and the court’s failure to investigate possible organizers or financiers, while Komnas HAM found indications that the assault was coordinated and involved more people. A civilian court has ordered Jakarta Police to continue investigating, amid broader concerns about military impunity and unresolved attacks on Indonesian activists.

Indonesian prosecutors have requested an 18-year prison sentence, a fine and substantial asset recovery from former education minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Anwar Makarim over alleged corruption in a 2020–2022 Chromebook procurement program. They claim he influenced procurement policy to benefit Google’s investment in Gojek’s parent company, while prosecutors estimate state losses at about $125 million. Makarim denies wrongdoing, says procurement decisions were made by technical officials, and argues that the restitution demand exceeds his wealth. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks.

Indonesian police arrested 321 foreign nationals, including 228 Vietnamese and 57 Chinese citizens, during a raid on a Jakarta commercial building allegedly hosting more than 70 online gambling websites. Police said the operation involved organized customer service, telemarketing and financial administration teams targeting players outside Indonesia, and seized cash, computers, phones, passports and other equipment. At least 275 detainees have been named as suspects and could face up to nine years in prison and a fine of 2 billion rupiah for gambling, money-laundering and immigration offenses. Authorities are investigating organizers and financial backers while warning that criminal networks are relocating to Indonesia after enforcement actions in Cambodia and Myanmar.

A military court in Jakarta opened the trial of three navy marines and one air force officer accused of attacking human rights activist and lawyer Andrie Yunus with hydrochloric acid. Prosecutors characterize the alleged motive as a personal effort to deter criticism of the military, while Amnesty International Indonesia and other rights groups argue that the case may conceal broader institutional involvement and should have been heard in a civilian court. Yunus suffered severe burns and lasting damage to his right eye. The trial is being closely watched as a test of Indonesia’s military accountability reforms, with the next hearing scheduled for May 6.

A collision near Bekasi Timur station outside Jakarta killed at least 14 people and injured 84 after the long-distance Argo Bromo Anggrek train struck the rear car of a stopped commuter train. Rescue teams completed the evacuation, while all 240 passengers on the long-distance train were reported safe. Officials suspect a rail-system disruption after another commuter train hit a stalled taxi, but the National Transportation Safety Committee is investigating. The crash has renewed concerns about safety on Indonesia’s aging railway network.

A camera trap recorded a Sumatran orangutan using a human-made rope canopy bridge for the first documented crossing of a public road by the species. The bridge spans the Lagan–Pagindar road in Indonesia’s Pakpak Bharat district, which was upgraded in 2024 and split orangutan habitat between the Siranggas Wildlife Reserve and Sikulaping Protection Forest. TaHuKah and the Sumatran Orangutan Society installed five monitored bridges to reconnect the estimated 350 orangutans living in the area. Conservationists say restoring movement between isolated forests can reduce inbreeding and help prevent population collapse, although they waited two years for an orangutan to use the bridge.

Around 20,000 seafarers aboard hundreds of vessels have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for roughly eight weeks as fighting and restrictions effectively close the Strait of Hormuz. Crews, including thousands of Indian sailors, have witnessed drone and missile attacks, faced shortages of food and water, struggled to contact families and endured difficult crew rotations. Shipping companies are monitoring supplies and maintaining communications but largely avoid crossings without security clearance. The International Maritime Organization and other groups are calling for a safe commercial corridor, while continued attacks, mine threats and uncertainty threaten global energy shipments and could worsen an existing shortage of skilled seafarers.

Jakarta authorities have removed more than seven tons of invasive janitor fish from the capital’s waterways in a campaign aiming to collect at least 10 tons. The suckermouth catfish, introduced for aquariums and later released into polluted rivers, have flourished while native species declined and river embankments were damaged. Officials plan regular monitoring and are considering uses such as animal feed, fertilizer or charcoal, but heavy-metal contamination currently rules out consumption. The Indonesian Ulema Council has urged authorities to ensure the fish are killed before burial. Ecologists warn that without wastewater treatment and broader pollution reduction, removing the fish will not provide a lasting solution for the Ciliwung River.

Former Google executives denied that the company’s investment in Gojek was connected to Indonesia’s Education Ministry procurement of more than 1.2 million Chromebooks. Prosecutors allege that former education minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Anwar Makarim steered the 2020–2021 project toward Google, causing about $125 million in state losses and generating personal benefits through investments in Gojek’s parent company. Makarim denies wrongdoing, while his lawyers argue that he divested from the company and that technical officials—not the minister—made the procurement decisions. He faces possible life imprisonment, with a verdict potentially due this month.

Indonesia extradited Scottish national Steven Lyons from Bali to Spain via Amsterdam after arresting him at Ngurah Rai International Airport on an Interpol Red Notice. Spanish authorities want him to face charges connected to drug trafficking and money laundering, while Indonesian, Spanish and Scottish investigators allege he led a transnational criminal network operating between Spain and the United Kingdom. Authorities also suspect the network used shell companies across Europe and the Middle East to launder money. Lyons’s arrest followed related raids and arrests in several countries; two companions who traveled with him remain in Bali but are not currently subject to arrest warrants.

Indonesian authorities delayed the planned extradition of alleged Scottish crime boss Steven Lyons from Bali to Spain for a second consecutive day, returning him from the airport to police custody without giving a public reason. Lyons was detained after arriving from Singapore on an Interpol Red Notice issued at Spain’s request. Authorities are investigating two suspected associates who traveled with him and remain in Bali, as well as allegations that Lyons led a transnational network involved in narcotics trafficking and money laundering across Europe and the Middle East. The case involves Indonesian, Spanish and Scottish law-enforcement agencies and follows coordinated raids and arrests in several countries.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Molucca Sea near North Sulawesi and North Maluku, killing at least one person, injuring several others and damaging homes, a church and other buildings. Small tsunami waves were recorded in northern Sulawesi, the southern Philippines and nearby monitoring locations, but authorities lifted the warning after concluding that the threat had passed. Residents evacuated amid strong shaking, panic, power outages and hospital damage, while officials urged coastal communities to remain alert because numerous aftershocks, including one measuring 6.2, followed.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Molucca Sea, killing at least one 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi and damaging homes and buildings around Ternate and Bitung. The quake prompted tsunami warnings for Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia; waves of up to 30cm were recorded in Indonesia and 5cm in the southern Philippines before the warnings were lifted. Residents evacuated amid strong shaking, while officials cautioned that aftershocks remained possible.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Indonesia’s Molucca Sea killed at least one person, injured another and damaged homes and a church. Small tsunami waves were recorded in parts of Indonesia and the southern Philippines, but authorities said there was no threat to more distant areas. Officials warned coastal residents to stay away from beaches until an all-clear was issued, while assessments continued and aftershocks were monitored.

Steven Lyons, a 45-year-old Scottish man alleged to lead the Lyons Clan criminal syndicate, was arrested at Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport after arriving from Singapore. He was wanted in the UK and Spain over organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering, and was due to be extradited to Spain under an Interpol red notice. Authorities said he was assessing Indonesia’s drug market and that his network used shell companies across several countries. The arrest followed coordinated raids in Scotland and Spain that resulted in 13 other arrests, while two companions believed to be linked to the cartel remained in Bali.

Steven Lyons, a 45-year-old Scottish national alleged to lead a transnational criminal network, is being deported from Bali to Spain after his arrest at Ngurah Rai International Airport. Authorities say an Interpol Red Notice issued at Spain’s request connected him to allegations of organized crime, drug trafficking and money laundering, as well as a 2024 murder in Spain. The investigation involves Indonesian, Spanish and Scottish authorities, with Europol assistance and related arrests and raids across several countries. Lyons is accused of operating narcotics routes between Spain and the UK and using shell companies to launder money across Europe and the Middle East.

Michael Bambang Hartono, Indonesia’s richest man and co-owner of the Djarum tobacco empire, died in a Singapore hospital at 86. Alongside his brother Robert Budi Hartono, he expanded their inherited Central Java cigarette business into banking, property, technology, plantations, telecommunications, food, sports and football, including major stakes in Bank Central Asia and ownership of Como. Hartono was also a prominent bridge player who represented Indonesia at the 2018 Asian Games and won a bronze medal. The cause of death was not disclosed; he is survived by his wife and son.

Travel disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East have stranded more than 58,860 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims and about 1,600 Malaysian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Indonesia is negotiating with Saudi authorities and airlines over hotel and flight costs while urging roughly 60,000 additional travelers to postpone Umrah until April. Malaysia has opened a 24-hour assistance center, coordinated evacuations and temporarily resumed flights from Jeddah and Medina. Pilgrims from Egypt, the United States and elsewhere described canceled flights, costly delays, emotional strain and anxiety about returning home, while some canceled planned journeys altogether. Those who reached Saudi Arabia said they were trying to maintain their religious observance despite monitoring flight status and worrying about the escalating conflict.

Indonesia agreed to eliminate tariffs on 99 per cent of US goods while the United States will maintain a 19 per cent tariff on most Indonesian imports. The deal also addresses non-tariff barriers, critical-mineral exports and $38.4bn in related commercial agreements, including US agricultural purchases and cooperation in minerals, oil recovery and computer chips. During the same visit, President Prabowo Subianto reiterated Indonesia’s pledge to provide 8,000 troops, or more if necessary, for a proposed international stabilisation force in Gaza. The meeting also highlighted closer US engagement with Vietnam and Cambodia amid ongoing trade negotiations and strategic competition with China.

Indonesia’s military says it has prepared a composite brigade of up to 8,000 troops for a possible humanitarian and peacekeeping deployment to Gaza, with about 1,000 personnel potentially ready as an advance team by April and the remainder by June. The proposed mission would focus on civilian protection, medical services and reconstruction, and would exclude combat operations. Deployment still requires a decision from the Indonesian government and suitable international mechanisms. Indonesia would be the first country to formally commit troops to the Gaza security mission linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, although the country has not established diplomatic relations with Israel and continues to support Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution.

Indonesia has begun training a contingent of 5,000 to 8,000 troops for a proposed Gaza International Security Force, despite receiving few operational details. President Prabowo Subianto has also agreed to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, a decision criticized by Indonesian activists and commentators over its unclear mandate, potential $1 billion cost and perceived alignment with Washington. Indonesian officials say participation could help defend Palestinian interests and advance a two-state solution, while regional analysts view Indonesia as an acceptable and relatively balanced peacekeeping partner. Further commitments are expected at the Board of Peace’s inaugural meeting in Washington.

Indonesia and Australia signed a new bilateral security treaty in Jakarta to deepen cooperation between the neighboring countries. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a watershed moment, while Foreign Minister Penny Wong described it as the partnership's most important step in three decades. Analysts said the pact primarily represents a political commitment to consult on security issues rather than a mutual-defense guarantee, reflecting Indonesia's non-aligned status. The agreement builds on earlier security arrangements, including the 2006 Lombok Treaty, and is increasingly significant for Australia amid regional tensions with China. The treaty also forms part of a broader effort to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education and development despite past disputes over surveillance, executions of Australian drug smugglers and people smuggling.

Indonesian rescuers recovered a third body from a tour boat that sank on December 26 during a Christmas trip near Komodo National Park. The boat carried Spanish soccer coach Fernando Martín, his wife, their four children, four crew members and a local guide. Martín and one daughter died, while two of his sons remained missing; his wife, another child, the crew and guide were rescued. The recovery followed the discovery of wreckage near Pede beach, about 14 kilometers from the sinking site. The incident highlights recurring maritime accidents in Indonesia amid lax safety standards and overcrowding.

Nadiem Anwar Makarim, Gojek co-founder and Indonesia’s former education minister, has gone on trial over the alleged corrupt procurement of more than 1.2 million Google Chromebooks for schools in 2020–2021. Prosecutors say he steered the project toward Google despite concerns about the devices’ usefulness in areas with poor internet access, maintained indirect control of Gojek’s parent company, and benefited from roughly 809 billion rupiah in connection with the program. They allege the procurement caused state losses and helped prompt about $787 million in subsequent Google investment in PT AKAB. Makarim denies receiving funds or influencing the procurement, while his lawyers argue that the investment predated his ministerial tenure and that technical officials—not Makarim—made the procurement decisions. He faces possible life imprisonment if convicted.

Indonesia has begun enforcing its new 345-page penal code, replacing the Dutch-era law used for more than 80 years. The code introduces criminal penalties for sex outside marriage, cohabitation, insulting the president and state institutions, and certain religious or ideological offenses, while retaining the death penalty and abortion restrictions with limited exceptions. Government officials describe the reforms as a shift toward corrective, restorative and rehabilitative justice, including broader non-custodial sentences and a possible path from death sentences to life imprisonment. Human-rights groups argue that morality, blasphemy and speech provisions threaten privacy, civil liberties and legitimate dissent, although they welcomed the removal of a proposed ban on gay sex.

Indonesian rescuers recovered the body of a woman believed to be a member of the family of Valencia CF Women’s B coach Fernando Martín after a tour boat sank near Komodo National Park. Martín, his two sons and another daughter remain missing, while his wife Andrea, youngest daughter Mar and other survivors were rescued. Nearly 100 personnel, including police, navy, divers and local residents, continued searching the expanded area on the fourth day. Valencia CF, La Liga, Real Madrid and Barcelona expressed condolences, while authorities investigate the accident.

Floods and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia have killed more than 1,500 people, with nearly 900 still unaccounted for in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Roads, bridges, communications networks and villages were devastated, leaving some communities accessible only by helicopter. In Indonesia’s Aceh Tamiang district, more than 260,000 people fled, while survivors sheltering in makeshift camps reported shortages of clean water, food, medicine, sanitation and cooking equipment; some drank settled and boiled floodwater. Residents described homes being swept away and families clinging to rooftops before evacuation. Relief deliveries have begun but remain slowed by debris and damaged infrastructure. Survivors also blamed deforestation and alleged local corruption for worsening the catastrophe.

Floods and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 1,230 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, with more than 800 still missing. Indonesia has recorded 659 deaths and 475 missing people, while Sri Lanka has reported 390 deaths and 352 missing after Cyclone Ditwah. Thailand has recorded 181 deaths, with flooding affecting 3.9 million people and more than 1.5 million households. Rescue efforts are being hampered by washed-out roads, collapsed bridges and continuing rain, while authorities deploy helicopters and boats, restore utilities, distribute compensation and establish public kitchens.

Flash floods and landslides across Indonesia’s Sumatra island have killed at least 90 people, with dozens still missing. North Sumatra has recorded at least 48 deaths and 88 missing people, while West Sumatra has reported 22 deaths and 10 missing; additional fatalities occurred in Aceh. More than 17,000 homes in West Sumatra and over 3,200 buildings elsewhere have been submerged, displacing tens of thousands of residents. Destroyed roads and bridges, power and communications outages, mudslides, and a shortage of heavy equipment are severely obstructing rescue operations. Tropical Cyclone Senyar intensified rainfall, winds, and high waves, and authorities warn that unstable weather could persist while the system remains active.

Rescuers in Indonesia are searching rivers, mud and rubble for survivors and victims after flash floods and landslides on Sumatra killed at least 49 people and left 67 missing. North Sumatra was especially affected, with thousands of homes damaged and nearly 5,000 people evacuated. Authorities warn that the death toll may rise as remote areas remain inaccessible. More flooding and landslides have struck Aceh and West Sumatra, displacing tens of thousands and causing additional deaths. With extreme rainfall forecast to continue, officials plan to use cloud seeding to divert rain away from ongoing search-and-rescue operations.

The World Health Organization has declared Indonesia’s polio outbreak over after nearly three years of response efforts. The outbreak began in Aceh in 2022 amid low routine immunization, environmental risks and vaccine disinformation, then spread to several other provinces. Nearly 60 million additional vaccine doses were administered, and no poliovirus has been detected in children or the environment since the last confirmed case in South Papua in June 2024. Indonesian health officials, WHO and UNICEF credited health workers, parents and communities, while warning that gaps in routine immunization require continued surveillance and vaccination.

Indonesian authorities rescued all 178 climbers, porters, guides and tourists stranded at Mount Semeru’s Ranu Kumbolo camping area after the volcano erupted in East Java. Pyroclastic flows and hot ash traveled up to 13 kilometers down the slopes, covering nearby villages and prompting the highest alert level. Nearly 1,000 residents were evacuated, no deaths were reported, and officials warned that continuing seismic activity could lead to further eruptions and an expanded danger zone.

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupted, sending hot ash and volcanic material over nearby villages and prompting authorities to raise the alert level to its highest setting. Officials rescued 178 climbers and tourists stranded at the Ranu Kumbolo camping area, while nearly 1,000 residents from three villages in Lumajang district were moved to government shelters. No casualties were reported, but continued seismic activity could lead to further eruptions and an expanded danger zone.

Rescuers recovered five more bodies in landslides across Central Java, raising the confirmed death toll to 23, while 28 people remain missing. In Cilacap, 20 people have died and three are still missing; in Banjarnegara, 25 people remain unaccounted for after a landslide buried at least 54 homes and displaced nearly 1,000 residents. Authorities plan to relocate 296 households from a landslide-prone area and provide temporary monthly compensation.

Jordanian King Abdullah II and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed to strengthen military cooperation, economic ties and coordination over Gaza during Abdullah’s visit to Jakarta. Their longstanding personal relationship shaped the warm reception, while proposed cooperation includes intelligence sharing related to Gaza and Jordanian support for Indonesia’s humanitarian efforts. Abdullah is also scheduled to meet Danantara Indonesia about long-term investment opportunities, although bilateral investment and trade remain modest and have declined. The king will next travel to Pakistan for talks with its leaders.

A 17-year-old student suspected of bombing a high school mosque in Jakarta allegedly assembled seven simple explosive devices alone at home using online instructions; four detonated. Police said he was influenced by violent extremist and white supremacist content, but found no evidence of links to militant networks. The injured suspect may face charges of premeditated serious assault rather than prosecution under Indonesia’s anti-terrorism law. Ninety-six students were injured, more than half suffering hearing loss, while 11 remained hospitalized, including one in critical condition.

Indonesia awarded former dictator Suharto national hero status in a ceremony led by President Prabowo Subianto, prompting strong criticism from survivors, rights groups and advocates of transitional justice. Officials credited Suharto with supporting independence, reducing poverty and controlling inflation, while dismissing corruption and abuse allegations as unproven. Critics point to mass killings during his rise to power, deaths and disappearances in East Timor, Aceh and Papua, and the absence of accountability before his death in 2008. The decision has renewed a national debate over historical memory, state violence and the legacy of the 1998 reform movement.

Indonesian police are investigating whether a 17-year-old student suspected of carrying out explosions at a mosque in a Jakarta high school had links to hate groups or other individuals. The attack injured 54 people, with about 29 students still hospitalized, while the suspect is also receiving treatment. Police recovered explosive powder, writings and a toy gun marked with apparent white supremacist slogans and the names of convicted neo-Nazi attackers from Canada and Italy. Authorities have ruled out terrorism for now and are examining reports that bullying, online extremist material and a desire for revenge may have motivated an intended suicide attack.

A 17-year-old student has been identified as the suspect in explosions at a mosque inside SMA 72 high school in Jakarta, which injured at least 54 people, including approximately 33 still hospitalized. Most victims suffered burns, hearing loss and wounds from glass, nails and other blast fragments. Police recovered a toy submachine gun marked with white supremacist references, including the “14 words” slogan and a reference to Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant. Authorities are investigating whether bullying and a planned suicide attack were factors, but say it is too early to classify the incident as terrorism. The suspect and another student were undergoing surgery, while police and officials continued providing medical and psychological support to victims.

Indonesia plans to buy at least 42 Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C fighter jets in its first non-Western aircraft purchase. Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin confirmed the deal, while Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa approved a budget exceeding $9 billion. The acquisition forms part of President Prabowo Subianto’s military modernization program, alongside purchases of French Rafale and Turkish KAAN fighters. Analysts warn that the move could heighten regional sensitivities and indicate a shift in Indonesia’s security orientation as China’s influence in Southeast Asia grows.

Indonesia is preparing to acquire at least 42 Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C fighter jets, with a budget reportedly exceeding $9 billion. The purchase would be Indonesia’s first major non-Western aircraft deal and forms part of President Prabowo Subianto’s broader military modernization drive. Indonesia is also acquiring or considering French Rafale jets, Turkish KAAN fighters, submarines and surveillance radars. Defense analysts caution that the deal could signal a shift in Indonesia’s security orientation and heighten regional sensitivities, particularly over the South China Sea, despite Jakarta’s officially non-aligned position.

Indonesia has denied visas to Israel’s gymnastics delegation for the October world championships in Jakarta, citing its longstanding policy and domestic opposition linked to the Gaza war. The International Gymnastics Federation acknowledged the decision but did not threaten to remove the event, despite statutes allowing that response. Israel’s participation, including defending world champion Artem Dolgopyat, is now uncertain, while Indonesian officials say the federation has supported the government’s position. The dispute follows Indonesia’s loss of the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup over similar concerns about Israel.

Indonesia will deny visas to Israeli gymnasts seeking to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, reversing or superseding earlier assurances that they would be welcomed. Senior minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the decision follows President Prabowo Subianto’s directives and Indonesia’s opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Domestic politicians, Muslim organizations and social media users had called for the team’s exclusion, citing Palestinian solidarity and the humanitarian crisis. The decision continues Indonesia’s decades-long refusal to host Israeli sporting delegations and reflects a broader international backlash against Israel in sports and culture.

The death toll from the collapse of a prayer hall at Indonesia’s Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo has risen to 61, mostly boys aged 12 to 19. Rescuers recovered 12 bodies and at least seven body parts, while two students remained missing and no further survivors were expected. The building was reportedly undergoing an unauthorised expansion. Seventeen victims had been identified, and DNA samples from relatives were being used to identify the remaining bodies.

Rescuers in Sidoarjo, East Java, recovered 26 bodies over the weekend after a prayer hall at the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school collapsed during unauthorized construction, raising the confirmed death toll to 40. Twenty-three students were still reported missing, while 95 injured students had been released and eight remained hospitalized. Police and construction experts said the building failed while a third floor was being added without the required permit, prompting public anger and a criminal investigation into possible negligence.

Rescue crews in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, recovered the bodies of three boys from the rubble of the collapsed Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school, bringing the confirmed death toll to eight. About 105 students were injured and 55 remained unaccounted for. Authorities said the school collapsed while two additional concrete levels were being added without a permit, apparently overwhelming the old building’s foundation. Crews shifted from hand excavation to heavy equipment after detecting no further signs of life, with recovery expected to conclude by Saturday.

Rescuers in Sidoarjo, Indonesia, used hand tools and a narrow tunnel to reach students trapped beneath the rubble of al Khoziny Islamic boarding school’s collapsed prayer hall. Five students, including 16-year-old and 13-year-old boys, were rescued, while 59 people remained buried and the confirmed death toll stood at five. Heavy machinery was avoided because of the unstable debris. Authorities said the two-story building had been expanded by two additional unpermitted floors, which may have overwhelmed its foundation. More than 100 people were injured, many with head injuries and broken bones, as families waited for news of missing students.

A four-story prayer hall under construction at the al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed during afternoon prayers, killing at least one male student and injuring 83 others. Several students remained trapped beneath the rubble as rescuers used heavy equipment, oxygen and water to keep survivors alive. Authorities said the building had been expanded from two to four floors without a permit, and its original foundation apparently could not support the added concrete. Police and rescue teams began investigating while families awaited news of their children.

Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal programme is facing growing pressure after food-poisoning outbreaks affected at least 5,000 children, with government agencies reporting between 4,711 and 5,320 cases and watchdogs estimating the true figure may be higher. The incidents, concentrated in West Java, have prompted calls from civil-society groups and education monitors to suspend the scheme pending a thorough evaluation. Preliminary findings point to inadequate food storage, unsafe preparation practices, overcrowded kitchens and long delivery times. Authorities have suspended affected kitchens, formed local oversight task forces and declared a health emergency, while the government continues expanding a programme intended to serve tens of millions of children and pregnant women.

Nadiem Anwar Makarim, co-founder of Gojek and Indonesia’s former education minister, was arrested in Jakarta in an investigation into alleged corruption in a $563 million program to procure Google Chromebook laptops for schools. Prosecutors say the state may have lost about $115 million after Makarim allegedly favored Chromebooks despite ministry research questioning their suitability in areas with limited internet access. Makarim denies wrongdoing and says the program successfully delivered most of more than one million laptops to schools. Three other suspects were also detained.

Violent protests have spread across Indonesia over lawmakers’ monthly housing allowances, rising living costs, unemployment and broader frustration with political and economic conditions. At least six people have died, including 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan, whose reported death after being hit by a police vehicle intensified anger toward security forces. More than 1,200 people were detained in Jakarta, hundreds were injured and infrastructure damage reached an estimated 55 billion rupiah. President Prabowo Subianto ordered security forces to act firmly while promising to cut lawmakers’ perks, suspend overseas parliamentary trips, investigate officers linked to Kurniawan’s death and support his family. The unrest also threatens confidence in Prabowo’s ambitious economic growth plans, which exceed World Bank projections and face additional uncertainty from US tariffs.

Tensions escalated in Jakarta after 21-year-old delivery rider Affan Kurniawan was allegedly run over and killed by a Mobile Brigade armored vehicle during clashes between police and demonstrators protesting lawmakers' allowances. Protests continued outside the police compound, where crowds faced tear gas and some set fire to a police post and nearby vehicles. President Prabowo Subianto condemned the officers' alleged excessive actions, ordered a thorough investigation and urged calm. Seven police personnel connected to the incident were detained and questioned, although the vehicle's driver had not been identified. Thousands of motorcycle riders, activists and politicians attended Kurniawan's burial.

Thousands of Indonesian students clashed with riot police while attempting to reach Parliament in Jakarta to protest housing allowances of 50 million rupiah per month granted to 580 lawmakers. Police used tear gas, while protesters threw rocks and bottles and set fires near the heavily guarded compound. Authorities deployed more than 1,200 security personnel and blocked roads, causing severe traffic disruption. Demonstrators argue the benefit is unjust during economic hardship and is roughly 20 times the minimum wage in poorer areas, while House Speaker Puan Maharani defended it as an amount adjusted to current Jakarta prices.

Indonesia and the United States have begun the annual Super Garuda Shield exercises with 12 other countries, involving 6,500 troops in Jakarta and on Sumatra. The expanded 11-day drills are intended to improve interoperability, reinforce regional partnerships and deter the use of force, while concluding with a combined live-fire exercise on Sept. 4. China has criticized the exercise as an attempt to create an “Asian NATO.” Indonesia remains concerned about Chinese activity near its exclusive economic zone but is avoiding direct confrontation because of its extensive trade and investment ties with Beijing. Analysts say Jakarta is pursuing defense diversification and cooperation with Western militaries without formally aligning against China.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono called for an immediate Gaza ceasefire, the release of Hamas-held hostages and a negotiated two-state solution. Germany continues to support Israel’s fight against Hamas while urging stronger measures to ease Gaza’s humanitarian suffering; Indonesia remains a strong supporter of Palestine and does not recognize Israel. Their talks also focused on trade barriers, a prospective Germany-Indonesia economic partnership agreement, clean-energy cooperation and Indonesia’s regional mediation role.naq

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte met in Jakarta to deepen economic ties and finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The deal is intended to expand market access for Indonesian goods and services in Peru and Latin America as both countries seek new markets amid rising trade barriers. U.S. tariffs have raised Indonesia’s concerns, while Peru faces the lower baseline rate. Bilateral trade fell from $554.2 million in 2022 to $444.4 million in 2023, although Indonesia recorded a $290.4 million surplus driven by vehicle, footwear and biodiesel exports.

Indonesia will begin releasing 1,116 prisoners under President Prabowo Subianto’s clemency initiative, the first stage of a plan that could eventually affect 44,000 inmates. The initial group includes elderly, critically ill and mentally ill prisoners, people convicted of blasphemy or insulting the national leader, former Widodo allies Hasto Kristiyanto and Tom Lembong, and six Papuan independence activists convicted of treason. Parliament also approved ending criminal proceedings against Lembong. Authorities plan to submit a second list of 1,668 prisoners, while the government says the clemency program is intended to strengthen national unity and address overcrowding.

Taylor Kirby Whitemore, a 39-year-old American, has gone on trial in Jakarta after being arrested while preparing to leave Bali for Malaysia. Indonesian authorities allege that he misused a tourist visa to produce and sell pornographic videos featuring local women online. Prosecutors say he violated Indonesia’s Pornography and Immigration Laws, which could result in up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 500 million rupiah. His lawyer argues that the matter should be treated as an administrative visa violation leading to deportation rather than criminal prosecution. The trial is being held behind closed doors under Indonesia’s rules for pornography cases.

Indonesian police arrested 44 people suspected of starting forest and peat fires in Riau province, where blazes have caused severe haze and reduced visibility. Officials said the fires are often deliberately set by plantation owners or farmers to clear land, and suspects could face up to 10 years in prison under environmental protection laws. The government is also using cloud seeding to induce rain, while smoke continues to affect Indonesia and neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in Indonesia erupted for a second consecutive day, sending lava and ash as high as four kilometres after earlier blasts reached up to 18 kilometres. More than 10,000 people in villages across East Flores and Sikka districts were affected, with ash and rocks covering roads and rice fields, schools closed, and residents urged to wear masks and avoid outdoor activity. No casualties were reported from the latest eruption, but airports in Maumere and Larantuka remained closed and flights to and from Bali were disrupted. The volcano remains at Indonesia’s highest alert level, with a seven-kilometre exclusion zone, following a deadly eruption in November 2024.

Indonesian authorities arrested 285 people, including seven foreign nationals and 29 women, during a nationwide drug crackdown conducted across 20 provinces from April to June. They seized 683,885 grams of narcotics, including crystal methamphetamine, marijuana, ecstasy, THC, hashish and amphetamines, and confiscated more than 26 billion rupiah in assets linked to two syndicates’ money-laundering operations. Authorities also reported separate seizures of 2.7 tons of crystal methamphetamine and 1.2 tons of ketamine near Riau Island. Officials said drug cases and seizures rose in 2024, while Indonesia’s strict laws—including the death penalty—continue to target trafficking; about 530 people, mostly convicted of drug crimes, remain on death row.

Indonesia suspended the mining permits of four nickel companies in Raja Ampat after an environmental investigation found several violations. The region is a major diving and snorkelling destination, a UNESCO Global Geopark and a biodiversity hotspot. PT Gag Nikel, a subsidiary of state-owned PT Aneka Tambang, was allowed to continue operating on Gag Island because it lies outside the geopark, although President Prabowo Subianto ordered closer monitoring. Greenpeace says mining has already cleared more than 500 hectares across several islands and risks damaging coral reefs and marine ecosystems, highlighting the tension between Indonesia's drive to dominate global nickel supply and environmental protection.

Economic hardship, higher prices and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak have reduced spending and animal sacrifices for Eid al-Adha. In Jakarta, available sacrificial animals fell 57% year over year, while sellers reported sharply lower sales. Markets in New Delhi and Kashmir remained active, although prices were elevated. Indonesian officials hope the holiday and an additional public holiday will support household consumption and economic growth.

Ahead of Eid al-Adha, Indonesian cattle markets are seeing increased demand for sacrificial animals. Nina Herlina, a 54-year-old woman who took over her late husband’s cattle business after his death from COVID-19, has built a successful operation employing 25 men despite disease outbreaks, weather disruptions and the male-dominated nature of the trade. She encourages women to enter the profession, describing it as challenging but financially promising.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met in Jakarta to strengthen defense and trade cooperation. Indonesia is modernizing its armed forces and has ordered 42 Dassault Rafale fighter jets, two Scorpene Evolved submarines and 13 Thales radar systems from France, with further letters of intent on strategic weapons expected during Macron’s visit. The leaders also discussed wider regional ties, with Macron scheduled to meet the ASEAN secretary-general before traveling to Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue.