Two eighth-century Buddhist bronze statues depicting the four-armed Avalokiteshvara that were looted from Indonesia and trafficked to the United States by antiquity dealer Douglas Latchford. The US repatriated the sculptures to Indonesia in July 2026 after a US collector voluntarily surrendered 34 Cambodian and Southeast Asian items.`

US returns two 8th-century Buddhist statues looted from Indonesia

According to US authorities, the sculptures were looted from archaeological sites in Indonesia decades ago before being sold to Latchford who was based in Bangkok.

23 minutes ago

Archipelago premium

West Sumatra student detonates homemade bomb at school after alleged bullying

Padang Police chief Sr. Comr. Apri Wibowo said investigators believe the 17-year-old had assembled the explosives to target classmates he claimed had bullied him for years.

2 hours ago

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Climate crisis may pose challenges to TB elimination

Poor environmental and social conditions may drive up TB transmission in high-burden Asian countries, while climate change-driven disasters can also potentially disrupt testing and treatment, health experts said.

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Motorists line up for refueling on June 10 at a gas station in Radio Dalam, South Jakarta. The government increased non-subsidized Pertamax fuel by 32 percent to Rp 16,250 per liter that day, due to a weakening rupiah against US dollar.

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Drivers forced to queue overnight as fuel shortages grip Sumatra

Suprianto, a diesel truck driver from Pagar Marbau district, Deli Serdang regency, said he was forced to spend the night inside his truck at a fuel station on Jalan Galang in Lubuk Pakam while waiting for diesel supplies to arrive.

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Protesters from a coalition of university students hold a banner reading “Clean Up the Attorney General's Office“ during a demonstration outside the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta on July 10, 2026. The protesters called for an investigation into alleged corruption within the Attorney General's Office.

Politics premium

AGO begins probe into ex-top prosecutor

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has decided to press ahead with its investigation into its own former top prosecutor despite growing calls for the case to be handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) instead amid concerns over potential conflicts of interest.

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An LRT Jakarta train driver prepares to operate a train on July 14 at Rawamangun Station in East Jakarta. The 12.2-kilometer Pegangsaan Dua-Manggarai extension has reached around 95 percent completion and is expected to begin operations in August.

Jakarta premium

Jakarta to extend LRT to Dukuh Atas, eyes 2028 completion

The Jakarta administration plans to extend the Jakarta Light Rail Transit (LRT) line from Manggarai to Dukuh Atas after the Velodrome-Manggarai section opens next month, with Governor Pramono Anung targeting completion by 2028 to strengthen the capital's integrated public transport network.

18 hours ago

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf delivers his address on Jan. 31, 2026, at the 100th anniversary of the Islamic group according to the Gregorian calendar in Jakarta.

Politics premium

Yahya announces bid for second term as NU chairman

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf has confirmed that he will seek reelection in the upcoming leadership contest in August, saying he wants to complete reforms launched during his first term at the helm of the country’s largest Islamic organization.

19 hours ago

Better together: Students of SMA Taman Siswa state senior high school in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, study together to prepare for national exams in this file photo. Students aspiring to enroll in their dream universities often resort to taking extra classes provided by school or private institutions.

Jakarta premium

52 percent of Jakarta Schools located near heavy metal-contaminated sites: study

Schools in the wealthiest neighborhood quintile were 49 times more likely to be near documented contaminated sites than those in the poorest areas, as industrial activity and affluent communities often overlap in urban areas.

1 day ago