While withstanding multiple political and economic disruptions throughout its 80 years of existence, Indonesia continues searching for its definition of nationalism, with observers saying the country may have veered off course from the direction set by the nation’s founders.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has imposed a travel ban on former religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, as part of its investigation into alleged misallocation of last year’s haj quota.

Once a dominant force in the nation’s politics, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo now appears to be facing an increasingly precarious position, with key allies under pressure, family members’ influence faltering and his successor President Prabowo Subianto making moves that suggest he is asserting independence from the former president’s shadow.

The return of state policy guidelines, a practice during the authoritarian New Order era, could trigger a constitutional amendment that could snowball into wider changes, including reinstating the status of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) as the nation’s highest authority and its long-removed power to appoint the president.

​​Human rights activists and historians are urging the government to scrap its controversial national history book project after the Aug. 17 launch was postponed amid accusations that it seeks to rewrite and sanitize the nation’s past.

The arrest of East Kolaka regent Abdul Azis when he attended a NasDem Party meeting triggered strong reaction from party chair Surya Paloh, who urged law enforcement bodies to follow proper procedures in investigations.

A massive restructuring of the Indonesian Military (TNI) has raised concerns among observers over its inefficient use of the defense budget and further militarization efforts across the country, warning of the growing military presence in civic spaces.

Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) head Ivan Yustiavandana denied any intention to limit ones’ rights to bank transactions with the dormant account suspension policy, saying that the move was taken to prevent criminal acts that often exploit inactive bank accounts.

Foreign Minister Sugiono has become party secretary-general while the new party treasurer is Satrio Dimas Adityo, a business executive in a tin mining company affiliated to Prabowo's brother Hashim Djojohadikusumo.

Over the past month, students and activists in the country have put up the pirate sign used by "One Piece" character Monkey D. Luffy as a symbol of protest against several government policies ahead of the Independence Day on August 17. 

The alleged corruption surrounding the Google Cloud procurement for schools was the second case implicating former education minister Nadiem Makarim after another case pertaining to the Google Chromebook laptops, currently investigated by the Attorney General’s Office.

President Prabowo Subianto has no plans so far to reshuffle his cabinet, with cabinet members saying their performance remains on track and in line with his policy direction.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) is planning to expand its Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) structure outside Java as part of a restructuring of elite forces across all three military branches, a move that has sparked mixed reactions from military observers and human rights groups.

The KPK has summoned Yaqut Cholil Qoumas for questioning as part of its preliminary investigation into the 2024 haj program during his tenure as religious affairs minister, in particular the allotment of Indonesia's quota, building upon the findings of a House special commission into the same matter late last year.

Speculation over an extraordinary congress being planned this year to oust Golkar Party chairman Bahlil Lahadalia has resurfaced in the past week, raising questions about growing internal dissatisfaction with his leadership.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) submitted requests for red notices for graft suspects Riza Chalid and Jurist Tan after they failed to appear for questionings three times.

Former trade minister and graft convict Thomas Lembong, who walked free from prison after receiving presidential pardon, said the ethical violation allegations were part of his attempt to create improvements for Indonesia’s judicial system.

The reelection of Megawati Soekarnoputri as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has signaled a push for party stability and continuity, as it navigates a delicate recalibration following President Prabowo Subianto’s surprise amnesty for its convicted secretary-general.

President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to pardon Thomas Lembong and Hasto Kristiyanto in their high-profile graft cases has sounded alarms over political interference in the judiciary and sparked renewed scrutiny over his administration’s commitment to anticorruption.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has said it would act as a “constitutional counterbalance” to President Prabowo Subianto's administration in remarks to close the Bali congress, as observers await the party’s next move following its secretary-general’s controversial amnesty in a graft case.

Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and Gerakan Rakyat mass organization chair Sahrin Hamid were among the people thanking President Prabowo Subianto for granting an abolition for former trade minister Thomas Lembong, who was convicted in a graft case pertaining to raw sugar imports.

President Prabowo Subianto’s request to grant abolition and amnesty--two forms of clemency--for graft convicts Thomas Lembong and Hasto Kristiyanto, respectively, was approved by the House of Representatives, eliminating their prison sentences.

Former religious affairs minister and United Development Party (PPP) chair Suryadharma Ali died early in the morning on Thursday at the Mayapada Hospital in South Jakarta.

Critics of government officials and policies faced more digital intimidation and assault in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the previous period, a recent report said, suggesting a declining condition of freedom of expression in the digital realm in the country.

Opposition is intensifying in response to renewed efforts by government officials and the political elite to scrap direct regional head elections and return to an indirect voting system, with critics warning that such a move would represent a serious regression in Indonesia’s democratic development.

The announcements were made late Thursday after consultations between the government and party factions in the legislature in Jakarta and Bali.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) senior politician Puan Maharani has called on party members to maintain unity and loyalty under the leadership of chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri ahead of its congress, which had been delayed several times this year.

Amid recent calls to undo the direct regional head elections that have been in place for 20 years, law experts have warned political parties and the House against undermining the authority of the Constitutional Court.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has dismissed growing concerns over President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to the Nusantara capital city project, asserting that the President has no plans for a moratorium and remains fully committed to completing the relocation within three years.

The Jakarta Police have uncovered new information in their ongoing investigation into the death of Foreign Ministry employee Arya Daru Pangayunan and have pledged to soon disclose the mystery surrounding his death.