Basudiwa Supraja, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has decided to keep Hasto Kristiyanto as its secretary-general, just weeks after his graft conviction was annulled by a presidential pardon from President Prabowo Subianto.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto decried greedy businessmen in his first-ever state address on Friday as he tried to make his catchphrase "serakahnomics" ('greedynomics') popular.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Febriyan – Amnesty International Indonesia has recorded that 145 Papuan and Maluku activists were convicted for makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) between January 2019 and 2025. Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid stated that the hundreds of people were convicted after peacefully voicing aspirations for independence.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday told parliament that Indonesia's newly established sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, will play a pivotal role in creating millions of "quality jobs" through strategic investments, while managing one of the largest asset portfolios in the world.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has put the blame on colonialism for Indonesia's border disagreements with its neighbor, Malaysia, in the Ambalat sea block.

Justito Adiprasetio – As the world commemorates International Indigenous Peoples Day on 9 August and Indonesia prepares to celebrate its Independence Day on 17 August, a painful paradox emerges. Although the nation is proud of its liberation from colonial rule, it continues to reproduce colonial modes of domination within its own borders.

Michael Neilson – Indonesia has delayed plans to publish a set of controversial history books amid backlash from historians and activists who have accused the project of being an attempt to downplay past atrocities, and represents "historical amnesia".

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Environmentalists have urged the Indonesian delegation to reject the latest draft for a global agreement to eliminate plastic pollution, warning the country to take a bolder stance in the last hours of negotiations that have been stalled by split stances among participating countries.

Nurni Sulaiman, Medan – Nine Indonesian crew members of a ship are in critical condition, stranded aboard a tanker ship off the coast of Beira, Mozambique.

They are among a total of 12 seafarers on the vessel, which also includes three Pakistani crew members. The crew are suffering from a dire lack of supplies, with no remaining food or clean drinking water.

Toronata Tambun, Singapore – Days from our 80th Independence Day, it is worth asking what "rich" means to a nation that vowed in its Constitution "to promote general welfare and to educate the life of the nation."

Agencies, Jakarta – More than 360 people fell ill in Sragen, Central Java after consuming school lunches, an official said on Thursday, in the largest food poisoning case to hit President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meals program.

More than 900 people have been indicted using the rubber (catchall) articles under the Information and Electronic Transaction (ITE) Law and the Criminal Code (KUHP) over the last eight years said Amnesty International Indonesia today in its reflection on 80 years of Indonesian independence.

Kiki Safitri, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – Human rights activist and the wife of renowned human rights defender Munir Said Talib, Suciwati, has emphasised that despite two decades passing, there has yet to be any certainty over Munir's assassination.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto claimed the flagship free nutritious meal (MBG) program has created hundreds of thousands of new jobs since it kicked off in January this year.

Aisha Shaidra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto acknowledged that corruption is a major issue in Indonesia during his State Address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR) on Friday, August 15, 2025. He asserted that corrupt practices are present at every level of the bureaucracy.

The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) strongly condemns all acts of violence and excessive force committed by the police against civilians exercising their right to peaceful assembly to oppose a series of controversial policies issued by the Regent of Pati, Sudewo.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V from the PDIP faction, Adian Napitupulu, raised concern about claims made by President Prabowo Subianto during his state address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the Parliament Complex of the Indonesian Parliament, Jakarta, on August 15, 2025.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the distribution of 288,000 smart TVs to schools in remote areas across the country this year. This move is expected to allow children to attend virtual classes with their teachers.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has once again reported alleged corruption in the procurement of tear gas by the police to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). ICW Chair Wana Alamsyah said it was conducted to ensure the anti-graft agency has handled the previous complaint.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta District Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by 55 residents of Kohod Village, Pakuhaji District, Tangerang Regency, Banten, against the sea fence installation in the waters of Tangerang.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto expressed optimism that Indonesia could achieve 100 percent electricity generation from renewable energy (EBT) ten years earlier than the global target of 2060.

He made this statement during his presentation of the 2026 State Budget (RAPBN) in a parliamentary plenary session on Friday, August 15, 2025.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia reported that 758 civilians have been criminalized under the vague provisions of the Information and Electronic Transactions Law (ITE Law) between January 2018 and July 2025.

These individuals were charged with hate speech and defamation in 710 criminal cases.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has officially set the 2026 annual economic growth target at 5.4 percent, higher by 0.2 percentage points than what the country had aimed for this year.

Fahri Ali, Depok, W – Java. Police in the West Java city of Depok confirmed that officers shot and seriously wounded two teenagers suspected of involvement in a street brawl in Sukmajaya in the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 9.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has called for sweeping reforms in Indonesia's state-owned enterprises (SOEs), slamming bloated boards of commissioners and lavish annual bonuses paid even to loss-making companies.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Multi Bintang Indonesia (IDX: MLBI), the Heineken-owned brewer, posted solid first-half 2025 results, driven by lager market leadership, premium brand expansion, and ongoing digital transformation.

Jakarta – Fiscal decentralization and regional autonomy are now under threat because the funds that should be used for development and public services in the regions have been allocated to cover the costs of the central government's wishes.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Finance Ministry recently destroyed shipments of smuggled used clothes in several regions of Indonesia. Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budhi Utama, stated that the majority of these illegal imports originated from Malaysia.

Yustinus Paat, Arnoldus Kristianus, Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday laid out a 2026 state budget blueprint that aims to shrink the fiscal deficit, ramp up spending on energy security and food resilience, and accelerate the country's transition to renewable power, while committing hundreds of trillions of rupiah to a nationwide free nutritious meals pro

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Indonesia Composite Index (IHSG) recorded a position at 8,010.0 on Friday, August 15, 2025, after opening at 7,965.1. The IHSG position occurred from 10:30 to 10:31 a.m., while President Prabowo Subianto was delivering a state address at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Indonesian House Speaker, Puan Maharani, considers the raising of the One Piece flag ahead of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day celebration as an expression of public concern.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Government and the United Nations launched the Indonesia-United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2026-2030 on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the Bappenas-UN Forum 2025, held at the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) in Jakarta.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has officially dissolved two pension funds owned by state-run insurer Asuransi Jiwasraya, as part of the company's ongoing liquidation process.

Alfitria Nefi P – A lecturer from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at the UGM (Gadjah Mada University) Faculty of Engineering, Tumiran, questions the urgency of importing food trays for the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG).

Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – The book The Jokowi Presidency: Indonesia's Decade of Authoritarian Revival was officially launched on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Central Jakarta. The launch was held in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the ANU Indonesia Project.

Jakarta – Anybody concluding that the death of Arya Daru Pangayunan, a young diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was by suicide is being too hasty or intentionally cutting corners. There are a number of facts behind the death that do not support each other: the strange cause of death, unusual injuries, missing evidence and unexplained gaps in the timeline.

Eka Yudha Saputra – Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi stated that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto regretted the arrogant attitude of Pati Regent Sudewo in responding to public protests against the 250 percent increase in the Rural and Urban Land and Building Tax (PBB-P2).

Anisa Fauziah, Jakarta – Indonesian shopping mall operators are banking on a nationwide Independence Day discount program to revive sales during the current low season following the end of the long school holidays.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has deployed dozens of personnel on a 12-day humanitarian mission to deliver aid via airdrop for Palestinians in Gaza, where the hunger crisis is spreading.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's middle class – long regarded as the backbone of domestic consumption and a key driver of national economic growth – has been shrinking sharply over the past five years, prompting calls for urgent government intervention, including tax relief.

Alfitria Nefi P – The Foundation of the Indonesian Consumer Agency (YLKI) is urging the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) to tighten supervision over the meal equipment due to recurring cases of food poisoning in the free nutritious meal project (MBG).

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) on Wednesday alleged that a member of the National Police's elite counterterrorism unit, Detachment 88, was abducted and tortured by military personnel acting on the request of a businessman.

Welcoming 80 years of Indonesian independence, the Indonesian History Transparency Alliance (AKSI) has warned of the dangers of a "national decline".

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced Thursday that it had green-lit a $500 million policy-based loan for Indonesia to improve its tax collection.

The financial support comes at a time when Jakarta struggles with its annual tax revenue target, coupled with some mishaps surrounding the Coretax digital taxation platform.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's push to develop a stronger national defense force is certainly fitting, given the vast territory and huge population the country has to protect.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Indonesia has seen foreign investors' appetite weaken despite surging domestic investment that took up the slack.

Putu Ayu Pratama Sugiyo, Malang – The government recently said that Indonesia had no plans to import rice as the country still had enough supply of the staple food to feed its sizable population.

According to Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono, the government's rice reserves currently reach 4.3 million tons.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday summoned B. Rudijanto Tanoesoedibjo, the elder brother of MNC Group chairman Hary Tanoesoedibjo, for questioning in a newly launched corruption case over the distribution of social aid by the Social Affairs Ministry.

Muhammad Firman, Jakarta – While the average company lifespan is just 40-50 years, according to Boston Consulting Group, some Indonesian firms have defied the odds, enduring for more than a century. These businesses have weathered colonial transitions, political upheavals, shifting consumer trends, and economic crises, and remain integral to the country's economy.

Jamal Abdun Nashr – Police fired tear gas in various directions to disperse protesters calling for the resignation of Pati Regent Sudewo on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. The protest descended into chaos, leading to dozens being hospitalized.