Personnel secure the vicinity of KLCC Park ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 25.

ASEAN and the political-security challenges in the region

These challenges highlight some shortcomings that have limited the progress of ASEAN political-security cooperation and community building.

2 months ago

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Old envoys for a young nation

Despite Indonesia being a younger nation, it can only come up with old people to occupy positions representing the country's most vital interests. ...

2 months ago

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Good journalism is still good business

News organizations will not go extinct as long as they continue to practice good journalism, defined as producing accurate, objective and credible content. ...

2 months ago

The Latest

A Palestinian mother and her daughter rush for cover during an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on July 4.

Academia

Another Gaza ceasefire deal. Will it hold?

The ceasefire deal offers a potential breakthrough but faces familiar obstacles, with both Israel and Hamas deeply divided on the path to lasting peace.

2 months ago

Indonesian Navy personnel prepares meal packages for the free nutritious meal program aboard the KRI Banda Aceh warship docked at the pier of the Military Naval Command (Kolinlamil) in North Jakarta on Jan. 23.

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Free meals and military might

The most contentious aspect of this nutritional initiative is the prominent role given to the military in its implementation.

2 months ago

A person receives a message from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) on Sept. 10, 2023, asking Indonesian citizens to be wary of online lending platforms.

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Gen Z’s dominance in the “pay later” era

With the ability to make immediate purchases and defer payment to a later date, individuals are more inclined to indulge in impulse buying and overspending beyond their means.

2 months ago

War wary: Demonstrators gather outside the Wilshire Federal Building during a rally opposing the United States' strikes on Iran on June 22 in Los Angeles, California, the United States. The US overnight dropped a series of bombs on several alleged nuclear facilities in Iran, joining Israel's ongoing strikes within the country. Iran responded with a barrage of missiles at Israel and promised retaliation against US interests in the region.

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The shadow of Fordow: Navigating nuclear stability in a multipolar world

Initiatives to stop nuclear proliferation are hampered by multipolar rivalries and escalating nuclear competition.

2 months ago

Seeking shelter: A police officer explains law enforcement protocols related to homelessness to individuals grappling with social issues at the Bina Insan Bangun Daya social shelter in Kedoya, West Jakarta on Jan. 23, 2024.

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Jakarta doesn’t need sweeps, but shelter and support

Jakarta's struggle with rural migration stems from its colonial past, when the city, established as an administrative center, attracted migrants without adequate planning for their integration.

2 months ago

Healthcare workers weigh a children on a scale at an integrated health post (Posyandu) in Ciamis regency, West Java, on Jan. 16, 2024. The government allocated Rp 187.5 trillion in the 2024 state budget for stunting prevention.

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From home to nation: Family foundational in Indonesia’s future

While population growth brings development potential, it also raises pressing questions about infrastructure, education, employment and resource equity.

2 months ago

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Insight: Rethinking work: Driving sustainable growth in the digital age

The digital age has redefined how we live, communicate and work, but perhaps nowhere is this shift more critical than in the field of medicine and public health. As healthcare systems integrate digital technologies, the traditional roles of medical professionals are being reshaped.

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Residents take tajil food distributed for breaking the fast by a committee from the Dharma Bhakti Temple in Petak Sembilan, Glodok, West Jakarta, on March 28, 2023. The Dharma Bhakti Temple distributes hundreds of tajil packages to Muslims during Ramadan. The charity is held annually as an expression of tolerance among religious followers.

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Navigating religious harmony in the age of social media

Nearly 30 percent of Indonesians, especially Gen Z and Millennial cohorts, now access religious knowledge primarily through digital platforms, including social media, streaming sermons and online preachers.

2 months ago

Going digital: An Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology official demonstrates the e-voting system in Jakarta on May 5, 2019.

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From ballot boxes to bits and bytes, e-voting is Indonesia's next democratic milestone

Digital systems can uphold the foundational principles of democratic voting, confidentiality, security and certainty, more reliably than manual systems.

2 months ago

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Will Google stay committed to Indonesia's publisher rights?

Only days after Google News Showcase was launched in Indonesia, Google abruptly terminated multi-year licensing agreements with 24 small and ethnic media outlets in Australia, two years before they were due to expire.

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A Muslim vendor sells Christmas decorations at a shopping mall in Jakarta on Dec. 11, 2024.

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Financing for development must account for women

Women’s options for improving their own economic circumstances are limited, not least because of limited access to finance.

2 months ago

Surfers carry their board past chairs and umbrellas along Kuta Beach near Denpasar, Bali, on March 14, 2023.

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Bali to Biarritz: Surf spot overcrowding and protecting the essence of catching a wave

Surf overtourism has led to conflicts over how beaches are used and concerns over social and environmental harms. But there are ways to address these issues.

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A participant takes the 2025 Computer-Based Written Exam for the National Selection Based on Test (UTBK-SNBT) at Diponegoro University (UNDIP), Tembalang, Semarang, Central Java, on April 30, 2025

Academia

Asian universities rise in global sustainability leadership rankings

Amid global SDG funding gaps, Asian universities are stepping up as leaders in sustainable finance, driving research and innovation to shape a more sustainable future.

2 months ago

President Prabowo Subianto (right) talks to his ministers during a limited cabinet meeting at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor regency, West Java, on June 23.

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Wanted: Minister of Indonesia. Apply via LinkedIn.

Indonesia has no shortage of talent. The real challenge is how to create more open, merit-based pathways into public leadership.

2 months ago

Iranians chant slogans and wave national flags as they celebrate a ceasefire between Iran and Israel at Enghlab Square in Tehran on June 24. A fragile ceasefire in the Iran-Israel war appeared to be holding on June 24, after 12 days of strikes that saw Israel and the United States pummel the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities.

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What Indonesia can learn from the Iran–Israel war

While Indonesia currently maintains peaceful relations with all nations, the classic Latin adage Si vis pacem, para bellum (If you want peace, prepare for war) must remain a guiding principle.

2 months ago

Relatives gather on April 17, 2024, around a bus carrying prisoners being released from Insein prison for the Buddhist New Year, in Yangon.

Academia

ASEAN’s silence on Myanmar’s political prisoners

The Myanmar junta continues to use imprisonment not as a tool of justice, but as an instrument of repression, while ASEAN remains silent.

2 months ago

A K9 robot takes part in a parade during the 79th anniversary of the National Police, also known as Bhayangkara Day, at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta, on Tuesday. This year’s celebration carries the theme “Police for the People”, reflecting the spirit of service and transformation within the National Police.

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Strengthening police as a civilian and democratic institution

The extensive authority held by the police is suspected to be a key factor triggering and enabling numerous complaints of alleged human rights violations.

2 months ago

A visitor checks on a model of a fighter jet created by a Russian manufacturer during a defense technology exhibition on April 21 at the BJ Habibie Science and Technology Complex in South Tangerang, Banten. Representatives from Russia, China, India and other countries participated in the exhibition that was organized by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Defense Ministry to showcase innovation and research in the defense sector.

Academia

Innovation paradox: When the loop fails before it begins

We praise experimentation but reward compliance, celebrate innovation but reject rebels and assemble platforms but silence feedback.

2 months ago

United States President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order imposing tariffs on imported goods during a “Make America Wealthy Again“ trade announcement event on April 2 in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC.

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Can Asia and Europe rescue the global economy?

Rather than looking for separate hedging strategies, Asia and Europe would benefit more from collaboration

2 months ago

Iranians chant slogans and wave national flags on June 24 as they celebrate a ceasefire between Iran and Israel at Enghlab Square in the capital Tehran.

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From Bandung to Tehran, Indonesia has a role to play

As the world’s largest Muslim-majority country and a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Indonesia has both moral authority and historical responsibility.

2 months ago

Doctors from Jember Pulmonary Hospital and Surabaya’s Dr. Soetomo General Regional Hospital perform their first joint neurosurgery on a patient with a brain aneurysm on May 27, 2023, at the lung hospital in Jember, East Java.

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Medical collegia, professionalism and the threat of an overreaching state

The autonomy of medical collegia is vital for maintaining professional standards to ensure the delivery of reliable, quality health services in Indonesia.

2 months ago

A customer uses a smartphone on May 6, 2024, to scan a Quick Response Indonesia Standard (QRIS) code to complete a digital transaction at Klojen Market in Malang, East Java.

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Strategic imperatives for restoring Indonesia’s global competitiveness

After previously receiving recognition for its consistent progress in global competitiveness, the country has now encountered a notable reversal.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (left) and United States President Donald Trump arrive for the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, on June 16, 2025.

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What Trump’s vision means for middle powers

Trump’s actions have caused many to question whether a new world order is emerging.

2 months ago

The smelter facility of PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI) is seen in North Morowali, Central Sulawesi.

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China-Indonesia: A future built on trust and cooperation

Over 75 years, China and Indonesia have meticulously built a resilient and dynamic partnership that exemplifies how two diverse nations can thrive together.

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A small fishing boat sails on the waters near the New Priok Container Terminal One (NPCT1) in Cilincing, Jakarta, on Aug. 20, 2024.

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A stabilizing force in turbulent times

Only consistent action on multiple fronts can maintain public trust and secure sustainable economic growth to benefit all of society.

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Police officers stand in formation during a roll call at National Monument Square in Central Jakarta on May 9, 2025, ahead of a two-week operation to curb thuggery and street brawls in the city.

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Happy birthday, Polri: Does the ideal police officer exist?

The 79th anniversary of the National Police offers a moment to reflect and introspect on the foundational values and principles of the policing institution as prescribed in the oaths officers take as members of Bhayangkara, or "vigilant quiescant" in Latin.

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