Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that 90 percent of the chlor-alkali plant (CAP) industry's salt needs in the country still rely on imports. "This has become a challenge as well as an opportunity for the development of the national salt industry," said Agus in a written statement on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency is finalizing a presidential regulation on the governance of Free Nutritious Meal (MBG).

One of the key provisions in the regulation requires nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPGs) to use gallon water bottles for cooking.

Agencies, Jakarta – Indonesia vowed Thursday to play an "active role" in global sports after the IOC urged federations not to stage events there following the country's ban on Israeli gymnasts.

Kadek Wara Urwasi – 17 August 2024 did not end up being a significant milestone for Nusantara, Indonesia's planned new capital city currently under development in East Kalimantan. That year, on the 79th anniversary of Indonesia's independence, outgoing president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had intended to celebrate the inauguration of a brand new capital.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture has stated that the productivity of local cocoa plantations has declined in the past year. "Our productivity has indeed decreased in the past year," said the Head of the Cocoa and Other Seasonal Crop Working Group at the Ministry of Agriculture, Yakub Ginting, in Pullman, Jakarta, on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Forum of Retired Indonesian National Armed Forces Members (FPP TNI) has stated that they are taking various measures to push for the impeachment of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. They are monitoring one of the efforts, which is the Rp125 trillion civil lawsuit against Gibran in the Central Jakarta District Court.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – "Going to Dubai was an act of desperation," says Muninggar, a 48-year-old former fish farmer from northern Java. "There were no jobs left in the village. If I wasn't forced to, I wouldn't have gone – my kids were still small."

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Body (BGN), Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, said the agency is open to various suggestions on the free nutritious meal program implementation. One of the suggestions floated is for the schools to directly manage the free meal program.

Jakarta – Several regional administrations have unveiled austerity measures, including reduced workdays and remote work policies for civil servants, following the central government's decision to cut regional transfers (TKD) for fiscal year 2026.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – A recent survey by the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) suggests that Indonesia's freedom of expression and civil liberties have not improved in the first year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's administration.

Majority see little or no progress

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) decided to keep its benchmark rate steady at 4.75 percent during its Board of Governors Meeting on Oct. 21-22, 2025, maintaining a cautious stance amid global uncertainty.

The central bank also left the Deposit Facility Rate and Lending Facility Rate unchanged at 3.75 percent and 5.50 percent, respectively.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch, or ICW, has urged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General's Office to be impartial in enforcing the law against foreign executives of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This comes in response to President Prabowo Subianto's new policy that allows foreign nationals to lead SOEs.

Apriadi Gunawan, Jakarta – Hundreds of students in Maluku and North Sumatra have reportedly suffered from food poisoning after consuming meals provided through the government's free nutritious meal program, as President Prabowo Subianto continues to downplay mounting concerns over the initiative's food safety standards.

Responding to,, the inclusion of the name of the second president of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto, on the list of candidates for the title of national hero, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Antara, Jakarta – Chair of the Indonesian National Association of River and Lake Transportation and Crossings (Gapasdap), Khoiri Soetomo, said that entrepreneurs in this sector complained about the application of tariffs for ferry transportation still referring to 2019 regulations.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) stated that the government is still exploring funding sources for the Giant Sea Wall project. He said the project is urgent to save the lives of millions of residents living in the northern coastal areas of Java or Pantura.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says it is actively investigating allegations of corruption in the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, known as Whoosh.

Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu told reporters at KPK headquarters that the agency does not wait for formal complaints to begin inquiries.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO), Dedi Kurnia Syah, announced the results of a survey evaluating ministers with the best performance during the first year of President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

The findings were published in a report titled "Evaluation and Public Notes" on October 21, 2025.

Saifulbahri Ismail, Dili, Timor-Leste – Timor-Leste is poised to make history as it prepares to formally join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when regional leaders gather for their summit in Kuala Lumpur later this week.

Jakarta – A number of organisations affiliated with the Civil Coalition for Security Reform have criticised the light sentences given to soldiers involved in cases of abuse that resulted in the death of the victims.

Gordon Peake – "If something happens that's wrong, you say sorry" said Evan Shackleton, son of one of the Balibo Five, last week. Shackleton was speaking to media at Balibo at commemorations for the five journalists murdered by Indonesian forces on the Timorese side of the border in 1975.

Antara, Jakarta – Anti-graft commission KPK recently revealed that the agency had detected data discrepancy in mining permits after consulting with several ministries and government agencies.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, stated that around 30,000 government rice reserves stored in Bulog warehouses were damaged.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The research agency, Laboratorium Indonesia 2045 (LAB45), noted that during the first year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's administration, they frequently made public statements that were considered blunders.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Indonesian Transportation Workers Union (SPAI) has called on President Prabowo Subianto to immediately issue a Presidential Regulation on the Protection of Online Transportation Workers.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Indonesia continues to rise. Kantar's research shows that 59 percent of Indonesians have tried AI technology at least once in the past few years, much higher compared to the Southeast Asian average.

Servio Maranda, Jakarta – Indonesia's state-owned tin producer PT Timah Tbk reported financial losses amounting to Rp2.25 billion after a violent demonstration by tin miners damaged several facilities at the company's head office on Jenderal Sudirman Street, Pangkalpinang, Indonesia, on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – One year into President Prabowo Subianto's administration, environmental watchdogs warn of a deepening ecological crisis fueled by elite business interests and an expanding military role in natural resource management.

Dewi Rina Cahyani, Jakarta – United States President Donald Trump suggested that several countries in the Middle East have offered to send troops to Gaza to combat Hamas. Trump renewed his threat against Hamas in Palestine on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, amidst a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

Sukarjito, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto officially slashed fertilizer prices by 20 percent starting on Wednesday as Indonesia pursued food self-sufficiency.

According to Agricultural Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, the move came as a way to lift farmers' burden and boost the national food production.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Indigenous communities in Indonesia continue to bear heavy burdens from the climate crisis impact by losing their homes and livelihoods and face environmental disasters, while engaging in little to no meaningful participation in mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Basten Gokkon – A rare sighting of a baby dugong off Alor in East Nusa Tenggara has sparked renewed attention to the importance of protecting Indonesia's seagrass ecosystems and marine wildlife.

Jakarta – Civil Society Movement to Bring Suharto to Justice (GEMAS) says that the proposal by the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos), Saifullah Yusuf alias Gus Ipul, for the 2nd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Suharto to be named a national hero is a disappointing move.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has responded to Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa's statement alleging that several regional governments, including West Java, have placed regional budget funds (APBD) in bank deposits.

Jakarta – With all the controversies, Prabowo Subianto has been fairly successful in consolidating his power through populism in his first year in office.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia assesses that the human rights situation under the first year of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's administration has experienced its worst decline since the reform era.

Laurel MacLaren – Art in Indonesia has never been neutral; Indonesian artists have always sparked conversation and controversy.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – Amnesty says that the first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has been marked by paradoxical public policies and a decline in respect for human rights.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia documented that approximately 5,538 people were victims of repressive actions by security forces during demonstrations throughout the first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Jakarta – Indonesia will sign an agreement on Tuesday to repatriate two British nationals, including a grandmother languishing on death row for drug-related crimes, an Indonesian government source told AFP.

Prisma Ardianto, Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Indonesia has decided to postpone its target of feeding 82.9 million people free meals to February 2026 as the government intends to be extra careful in preparing the lunches.

Jakarta – Indonesia's tourism sector recorded strong growth during the first year of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, with both foreign and domestic travel showing double-digit increases, the government said on Monday.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said that the rate of food poisoning from free nutritious meals (MBG) is still within the humanitarian corridor when compared to tens of millions of its beneficiaries.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's regional revenue stood at Rp 253.36 trillion ($15.27 billion) as of September 2025, down 10.86 percent from a year earlier, prompting the government to urge local administrations to simplify business licensing and revive regional economic activity.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists or AJI Indonesia has requested Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, to halt the civil lawsuit against PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk. Tempo is being sued for Rp200 billion over a news article in the May 16, 2025 edition titled "Poles-Poles Beras Busuk" (Polishing Rotten Rice).

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The CEO of PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk (GOTO), Patrick Walujo alias Sugito Walujo, stated that his company supports President Prabowo Subianto's initiative to address efficiency within the online transportation business.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Iqbal Ramadhan was taken aback when he received a summons from the Jakarta Metro Police in mid-September. At that time, Iqbal was a public lawyer involved in the Advocacy Team for Democracy, or TAUD.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – The law will prevail over corrupt business interests, President Prabowo Subianto declared on Monday as the government formally received some Rp 13 trillion (US$825 million) recovered from a high-profile crude palm oil (CPO) corruption case. He warned that the state would continue pursuing bad actors to hold them accountable.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that his ministry has proposed the national car program requested by President Prabowo Subianto to become a national strategic project or PSN (National Strategic Project).

Jakarta – Indonesian students protested in Jakarta on Monday (Oct 20) as President Prabowo Subianto completed a year in office, two months after violent demonstrations nationwide, with one expert faulting the government on grounds of openness and public participation.