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Hello reader,

Amid rumors of an acquisition by or merger with Grab (the one that never seems to go away), GoTo is in the spotlight over possible financial irregularities. With all the negativity surrounding the decacorn, it’s almost as if a sale would make a lot of sense.

Elsewhere, Prabowo meets his pal Albo, there’s a contender for the ickiest story of the year, and the U-17 football team failed to advance in the World Cup despite their best efforts.

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

• President Prabowo Subianto affectionately called Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “Albo” during a joint press conference aboard the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Canberra in Sydney, signaling the growing warmth between the two leaders. The exchange, which drew laughter from attendees, came as both countries reaffirmed stronger defense and security cooperation. Prabowo recalled Indonesia’s long history of close ties with Australia, citing past leaders such as Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke, and said his rapport with Albanese continues that legacy. Earlier, the two met privately at Kirribilli House, where Albanese gave Prabowo a brief tour overlooking Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. The visit marks Prabowo’s first state trip to Australia as president and a reciprocal gesture following Albanese’s visit to Jakarta in May 2025.

• Preacher Mohammad Elham Yahya Luqman, known as Gus Elham, has apologized after a video showing him kissing underage girls during a religious gathering went viral and drew widespread condemnation. In the video, he is seen asking a girl if he could kiss her again, to which she innocently replied “yes,” sparking outrage online and calls to protect children from inappropriate behavior. The Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) both denounced his actions as unethical and unfit for a religious figure. Following the backlash, Gus Elham issued a public apology, admitting his mistake and calling it a personal lapse in judgment, while emphasizing that the children were under their parents’ supervision.

• South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) has responded to State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi’s statement linking the SMAN 72 Jakarta bombing to the battle royale game PUBG: Battlegrounds. The ministry said it plans to convey to the Indonesian government that the incident has no connection to the game and emphasized that such claims lack sufficient grounds. The bombing, carried out by a student in a mosque, injured nearly 100 people and prompted President Prabowo to order an investigation into the impact of violent video games, even though police said the suspect often accessed violent content on the dark web. While Indonesia considers restrictions on PUBG, South Korea maintains its stance that games should not be labeled as addictive, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the gaming industry. The issue arises shortly after the two countries reaffirmed close cooperation at the APEC Summit, raising concerns over potential diplomatic friction related to the gaming sector.

• Police have found criminal elements in the case of an online taxi driver, Ujang Adiwijaya (57), who was discovered dead with his hands and feet tied at Kilometer 30 of the Jagorawi Toll Road in Bogor, West Java on Monday .The victim was found lying on the grass with signs of violence, including an injury on the nose suspected to be from a blow. Authorities are continuing to question witnesses and develop the investigation, while the victim’s car was reportedly stolen.

Business/Economy

• The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has launched an investigation into PT Telkom Indonesia’s investment in PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk (GoTo) amid suspicions of possible irregularities. The AGO confirmed that the case is still in the early stages of inquiry and remains confidential, with prosecutors gathering information to determine whether a criminal act occurred. The probe focuses on Telkom’s 2020 investment in Gojek, which later merged with Tokopedia to form GoTo. The investment, initially worth about IDR 2.1 trillion through convertible bonds, turned into shares after the 2021 merger but suffered massive losses of around IDR 6 trillion when GoTo’s stock value dropped following its IPO. Meanwhile, GoTo emphasized that it continues to comply with regulations and has not made any decisions regarding the rumored merger with Grab.

• The AGO has questioned more than 20 witnesses in its investigation into an alleged corruption case involving crude oil procurement at Pertamina Energy Trading Limited (Petral) or Pertamina Energy Services Pte Ltd. According to the office, the probe, launched in October 2025, is a continuation of a previous case already brought to court and focuses on the 2008–2015 period. While the investigation has entered a formal stage, no suspects have been named yet. The case centers on suspected irregularities in Petral’s crude oil transactions during that timeframe, part of Kejagung’s wider effort to uncover corruption in Pertamina’s overseas operations.

• The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating allegations of corruption related to the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed train project, Whoosh, particularly concerning land acquisition. According to the KPK, there are indications that certain individuals sold land owned by the state back to the government at inflated prices. The agency emphasized that land already belonging to the state should not have required any payment, and if payments were made beyond fair market value or involved manipulation, they would be subject to legal action. The investigation, which began earlier this year, aims to recover state funds allegedly lost in the process.

• The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has requested an additional IDR 28.63 trillion in funding from Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to support the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program and expand Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) in remote areas through the end of 2025. BGN head Dadan Hindayana said the extra funds are needed as spending on the MBG program continues to surge, with projections showing total disbursements reaching nearly IDR 99 trillion by year’s end. Of the IDR 51.2 trillion allocated for MBG this year, IDR 36.23 trillion has already been used, leaving only IDR 14.97 trillion available, far short of the IDR 29.5 trillion required to sustain operations. An additional IDR 14.1 trillion is also needed for SPPG development across 8,000 remote sites.

• Ford has announced plans to build an automobile assembly plant in Indonesia as part of its effort to expand investment and localize production. The company said the factory is expected to be located in West Java and could begin construction within the next two years, with completion targeted before 2027. Ford is reportedly looking to broaden its vehicle lineup in Indonesia and reduce costs compared to importing cars from Thailand.

• Eight bottled water companies have disclosed the sources of their water following a parliamentary hearing with the Ministry of Industry. The list includes Aqua, Le Minerale, Cleo, Amidis, Pristine, RON 88, Al Ma’soem, and Le Yasmin, whose sources range from mountain springs and volcanic aquifers to deep groundwater wells. Aqua and Le Minerale emphasized that their water comes from protected mountain regions, while others like Amidis and Cleo use deep wells or demineralized water. The discussion comes amid growing public scrutiny over claims that some bottled water brands use bore wells instead of natural springs.

Everything Else

• Indonesia’s U-17 national football team has officially failed to advance to the round of 32 in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup after finishing outside the top eight in the third-place standings. Despite a 2–1 victory over Honduras that briefly revived hopes, Nova Arianto’s squad ended Group H in third place with three points and a −5 goal difference after conceding eight goals in three matches. Indonesia’s qualification hopes depended on unfavorable results for Uganda, the Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, and Paraguay, but Uganda’s 1–0 win over France and Paraguay’s 0–0 draw with Ireland sealed Indonesia’s elimination from the tournament.