Tama Salim – When I was growing up in the 1990s, history was something to be memorized, not understood.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Tumbling electric motorcycle sales in the first half of 2025 have left manufacturers with increasing inventories, prompting production cuts as the industry awaits clarity on government subsidies.

Associated Press, Jakarta – Two men held rubber bands at chest height while a woman hopped over them from side to side, earning cheers and applause from onlookers impressed by her leaps.

Antara, Jakarta – Primary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti highlighted a worrying trend: many Indonesian children struggle to read analog clocks, reflecting broader challenges in numeracy skills.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) Adies Kadir said the Rp50 million monthly housing allowance for legislators is still reasonable.

He explained that rental prices around the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, start at Rp3 million per month.

Surabaya – Hundreds of students from various campuses in Surabaya held another demonstration in front of the East Java Regional House of Representative (DPRD) building on Tuesday August 19. During the rally they flew the Jolly Roger flag from the Japanese anime One Piece and called themselves the Nakama Action Movement.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Gender-based violence against women in Indonesia has not been addressed with an appropriate gravity. Coinciding with the country's 80th Independence Day, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) warned that there have been over 2 million cases of violence against women in the past nine years.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – State-owned construction company Hutama Karya has completed construction of the 9.3-kilometer Section 3A of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) toll road, linking Karangjoang to KKT Kariangau. The project is now undergoing a provisional handover process before entering an operational trial phase to strengthen access to Indonesia's future capital.

Singgih Wiryono, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has revealed that reports of violence against women throughout 2024 increased compared to the previous year.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – Herdiansyah Hamzah, a legal expert in constitutional law at Mulawarman University, criticized the government's decision to release Setya Novanto, the convicted e-KTP corruption case defendant, on conditional terms.

He argued that the government should not easily release corruptors if corruption is still considered an extraordinary crime.

Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – Losses from scams and illegal financial activities in Indonesia have surged sharply, reaching Rp 4.6 trillion ($283 million) in just 10 months, authorities said Tuesday.

Intan Setiawanty – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto mentioned that there is an unresolved illegal palm oil plantation which has not been executed despite having a legally binding decision 18 years ago. The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) suspects that Prabowo was referring to the case of palm oil businessman Darianus Lunggguk (DL) Sitorus.

Jakarta – Of all the members of the military elite in the early days of independence, Abdul Haris Nasution was the key figure in shaping the military's role in Indonesian politics. He was a founding father of guerrilla warfare. According to his doctrine, civilians and the military should fight side by side, with no separation between them.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Indonesian government plans to raise new debt of Rp781.9 trillion in 2026, with the debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio projected at 39.96 percent next year.

According to Book II of the 2026 Financial Note, the debt comprises State Securities (SBN) issuance worth Rp749.2 trillion and loans totaling Rp32.7 trillion.

Intan Setiawanty – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) criticized President Prabowo Subianto's speech at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday, August 15, which touched on his commitment to eradicating corruption.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Riandy Laksono, said a zero percent deficit or balanced budget is unnecessary. He explained that the state budget will remain safe as long as the deficit and debt ratio are kept under control.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Indonesia's national anthem, Indonesia Raya, can be played freely at sporting events and other public occasions without incurring royalty fees, the country's football association confirmed on Monday.

Antara, Semarang – At least three villagers were killed and two others injured, including a toddler, after a community-operated oil well exploded and sparked a massive fire in Gandu Village, Blora Regency, Central Java, on Sunday.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Jakarta Environment Agency collected tens of tons of waste following the 80th Anniversary of Indonesia celebration in the capital on Sunday, August 17, 2025.

Amira Nada Fauziyyah, Jakarta – Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, has expressed concern over the declining state of democracy in Indonesia.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – An analyst said Monday that Indonesia's low tax ratio could stem from the sizable shadow economy and tax evasion by large corporations.

The government recently announced that it would pursue a tax ratio of 10.47 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026. This marks a slight increase from the 10.03 percent outlook set for this year.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesia's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has confirmed that the government's debt-to-GDP ratio target for 2026 will remain at 39.96 percent, the same level maintained over the past three years.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Sharp hikes in land and building taxes in several regions in Java are fueling public anger and political turmoil, with residents in several regions staging protests and economists warning that the increases are linked to shrinking central government transfers to local administrations.

Jakarta – After receiving a strong backlash for his bold fiscal policies in the first months of his administration, President Prabowo Subianto is going conservative in the 2026 state budget.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – The congregation of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) held a communal prayer for environmental care titled "Save Lake Toba and the Batak Land" at the Proclamation Monument – or Tugu Proklamasi – in Central Jakarta on Monday.

The prayer was attended by congregants from Jakarta, Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, Sukabumi, and Banten.

Jakarta – The government will allocate approximately 44 percent of its 2026 education budget to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. President Prabowo Subianto has announced a budget allocation of 335 trillion rupiah for the MBG program in 2026.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta The worsening climate crisis is disrupting the lives and future of Indonesian youths, forcing some out of school and into work while threatening their health and access to food, according to the latest report by child rights NGO Save the Children, presented at The Jakarta Post's office earlier this week.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's middle class is shrinking, raising concerns about the sustainability of Southeast Asia's largest economy, an analyst said Monday.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – Researcher at the Center for Anticorruption Studies at Gadjah Mada University (Pukat UGM), Zaenur Rohman, said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) must immediately resolve the corruption case involving former Chair of the the House of Representatives (DPR), Setya Novanto.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's ambitious plan to raise Rp 2,357.7 trillion ($145.6 billion) in tax revenue by 2026 will likely force the government into a tougher stance on tax collection, analysts warn, as structural weaknesses and low compliance continue to weigh on the system.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Law and Human Rights granted remission to hundreds of thousands of inmates during country's 80th Independence Day celebrations.

The Director General of Corrections at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Mashudi, said that both prisoners and juvenile detainees received sentence reductions.

Aqraa Sagir – Once staged to entertain colonial elites, panjat pinang has evolved into a contest of determination and teamwork, with prizes dangling overhead.

Sita Planasari, Jakarta – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States looks forward to working closely with President Prabowo Subianto's administration to promote prosperity for the people of both Indonesia and the US.

Rehan Oktra Halim, Jakarta – The Palace displayed several cars that were once used by the presidents. The exhibition of presidential cars was held to celebrate the 80th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. According to Antara, these historic vehicles were displayed in the backyard of the Palace.

Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker – Spare a thought for the Indigenous Papuans, who have endured decades of persecution in their own homeland under Indonesian rule. This ongoing form of colonialism is enabled by nations that continue to supply arms to Indonesia – just as troubling is the silence of regional powers that accept Jakarta's authority without challenge.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri wants members of the flag-raising squad to promote the state ideology Pancasila.

Agencies, Jakarta – Dozens of people were injured after a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Central Sulawesi, early on Sunday, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.

The quake, at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), shook the Poso Regency and was felt in the nearby areas. Twenty-nine people were injured, two critically, the agency said in a statement.

Myesha Fatina Rachman – Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati highlighted the issue of low teachers' and lecturers' salaries that has been widely discussed on social media. She mentioned that this problem poses a serious challenge to the state finances amidst the high allocation of the education budget.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's automotive industry group has called on the government to step up support for the sector as Malaysia's new car sales continue to close in on Indonesia's long-held lead in Southeast Asia's largest auto market.

Yovanda Noni, North Penajam Paser – The Nusantara Capital Authority held a ceremony to commemorate Indonesia's 80th Independence Day at the Plasa Ceremony Ground, Nusantara, on Sunday.

Antara, Jakarta – Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), Perry Warjiyo, announced that cross-border Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) transactions with Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand reached a total of Rp1.66 trillion by June 2025.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said that Indonesia's unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since the 1998 monetary crisis.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Former Chair of Indonesia's House of Representatives, Setya Novanto, publicly known as Setnov, has officially been granted parole and is required to report to the Bandung Penitentiary (Bapas Bandung) until April 1, 2029.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's state address at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session on August 15 has drawn harsh criticism from civil society activists. His narrative of stability and growth was deemed as merely rhetoric, while the facts on the ground show that the people are increasingly marginalised and the oligarchy is growing stronger.

In line with Indonesia's constitutional tradition, ahead of the commemoration of the Republic of Indonesia's Independence Day, the President delivers a state address before the People's Consultative Assembly.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Advocacy Democracy on Tax Justice (TAUD-SKP) considers the Constitutional Court's decision to reject the lawsuit against the regulation governing value-added tax (VAT) perpetuates injustice in the tax system.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), Bhima Yudhistira, said the organization will file another request for audit to the United Nations, now for Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data on poverty line in Indonesia.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The mastermind behind the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib remains unknown, even though the crime occurred 21 years ago. Suciwati, a human rights activist and Munir's widow, stated that the case should be officially designated as a severe human rights violation by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta – Indonesia will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its independence on Aug. 17 with a grand public festival in the heart of Jakarta, where parades, music, food, and fireworks will anchor the national holiday.