Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Indonesia's government under President Prabowo Subianto will sharply scale back state funding for toll road construction starting next year, marking a departure from the infrastructure-heavy policies of his predecessor, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) has shut down more than 1,800 unlicensed financial entities, including illegal online lenders and fraudulent investment schemes, as part of a nationwide crackdown on financial crimes.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia's courts have ordered plantation companies to pay more than 21 trillion rupiah ($1.3 billion), an amount 28 times the environment ministry's entire annual budget, for forest and peatland fires – yet almost none of that has been collected.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani has affirmed that there is no plan to change the presidential term limit. The Gerindra Party politician also stated that the rumors suggesting a change to the presidential term are not part of the discussions on the Basic Guidelines of State Policy (PPHN).

Rama Sukarta, Addin Anugrah Siwi, Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is still expanding at a respectable pace. Growth reached 5.12 percent in the second quarter of 2025, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). Output stood at nearly Rp5,947 trillion ($374 billion) at current prices, up from 4.04 percent in the previous quarter.

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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

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.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesia's new capital city, Nusantara Capital City (IKN), located in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, has recently become a hotspot for commercial sex workers offering their services.

One of the main reasons is that the rates for sexual services in IKN are higher than in other areas of East Kalimantan.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Secretary General for the mass organization Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia Bersatu Jaya (GRIB Jaya), Zulfikar, spoke out about the demolition of its North Sumatran headquarters. On August 14, 2025, the Secretariat of the North Sumatra Regional Board (DPD) of GRIB Jaya was recently demolished on suspicion of being a lair for drug transactions.

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.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The free nutritious meal program (MBG) is one of the initiatives funded through the health budget. The Ministry of Finance has allocated Rp24.7 trillion for MBG from the total health budget of Rp244 trillion.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Committee for the Safety of Journalists (KKJ) strongly condemns the Israeli military's continued premeditated killing of journalists in Gaza. The KKJ's stance was issued in response to the planned and flagrant murder of members of the Al Jazeera reporting team in Gaza.

Jamaah, Blora – A total of 800 residents of Gandu Village, Bogorejo District, Blora Regency, Central Java, were forced to evacuate following an oil well fire in Gendono Hamlet on Monday night.

Sui-Lee Wee – Word spread fast that heavy machinery had arrived in the ancient rainforest near the Indonesian village of Sungai Mata-Mata, an expanse on the western edge of the island of Borneo that is home to orangutans, clouded leopards and sun bears.

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.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Joko Widodo or Jokowi entrusted the Nusantara Capital, or IKN, a priority project of his presidency, to his successor, President Prabowo Subianto. However, there may be a difference in priorities between the two leaders regarding the development of IKN in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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