Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Head of National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana revealed the reasons why the government could not complete the laboratory test for the allegedly poisonous free nutritious meals (MBG) that led to dozens of students in Cianjur suffering food poisoning.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The government has turned down a request for rice from Malaysia, with Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman explaining that Indonesia cannot export the grain at this time as it seeks to maintain domestic reserves.

Amran said Kuala Lumpur had requested to import rice from Indonesia due to insufficient supply that had pushed up prices in Malaysia.

Rendy Tisna, Mantangai, Indonesia – The last time Remie recalled a good harvest season here in Central Kalimantan province was in 2018, when 20-liter bags of rice seed were piled against the walls.

"The house was full back then," Remie told Mongabay Indonesia. "We packed almost 100 bags of seeds in here."

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – The head of the Indonesian Military's (TNI) Information Centre (Kapuspen), Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, suspects there is an attempt to delegitimise the government after incidents in which TNI officers have entered campuses have been criticised by many parties.

Muhammad Naufal – Special Presidential Advisor for Politics and Security, Wiranto, says that President Prabowo Subianto respects the eight points in the demands by the Indonesian Military (TNI) Retired Soldiers Forum. This was stated by Wiranto after meeting Prabowo at the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday April 24.

Antara, Jakarta – Investment Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani clarified on Wednesday that South Korea's LG Energy Solution did not pull out voluntarily from its $7.7 billion battery ecosystem project in Indonesia, but that the government requested the consortium's withdrawal after five years of stalled negotiations.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has again brought up the issue of stock price movements. According to the Head of State, there is nothing to worry about, including when stock prices fluctuate, as long as Indonesia is still producing food for its own people.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Two major electric vehicle (EV) projects in Indonesia – by Vietnam's VinFast and China's BYD – are facing disruptions allegedly caused by local civic groups, or ormas, raising red flags over the country's investment climate.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the Board of Centra Initiative Al Araf responded to the recent incidents of TNI soldiers entering university campuses following the enactment of the TNI Law. They viewed these actions as reviving patterns from the era of the New Order.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Around 200 thousand workers are expected to attend the May Day commemoration at the field of the National Monument (Monas) on May 1, 2025, according to the president of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), Said Iqbal.

Erfan Maruf, Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Mangga Dua, one of Southeast Asia's largest wholesale markets, remains a bustling retail center despite coming under fire from the United States over alleged counterfeit trade.

Yuni Rohmawati, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto plans to build warehouses and cold storage in every village as a medium-term anticipatory measure to store the community's agricultural products. This development will involve the Indonesian armed forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and state-owned enterprises.

Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has denied the notion that he is being "lied to" by his ministers in the Red and White Cabinet. He said that there are some who say he is being "lied to" by his subordinates and the Indonesian economy is only good on paper. Prabowo dismisses this view.

Yudono Yanuar, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has named Jak TV's News Director Tian Bahtiar (TB) along with lawyers Marcella Santoso (MS) and Junaedi Saibih (JS) as suspects in an obstruction of justice case.

Jakarta – Intimidation against those opposed to the revised Indonesian Military (TNI) Law shows that civil freedoms are on the edge of an abyss. TNI personnel are alleged to be responsible for the intimidation against these activists. Without punishments for soldiers stifling the right of expression, similar threats will continue.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has appointed Indonesia's 7th President, Joko Widodo or Jokowi, to attend Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican. In addition to Jokowi, Prabowo delegated Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Djiwandono, and former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) has decided to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 5.75 percent, along with the Deposit Facility rate at 5 percent and the Lending Facility rate at 6.5 percent, following the central bank's Board of Governors Meeting held on Tuesday to Wednesday.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday that there was no reason to be concerned about LG Energy Solution's (LGES) decision to withdraw from a Rp 142 trillion ($8.45 billion) project to develop electric vehicle battery making in Indonesia.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto claimed the free nutritious meal (MBG) program targeting pregnant women to be the only one in the world.

Azifah Astrina – On March 20, 2025, Indonesia's parliament passed a quiet but far-reaching revision to its military law. The new statute allows active-duty officers to serve in 14 government ministries and agencies without retiring from military service – reversing a post-authoritarian norm in place since 2004.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – Singapore maintained its position as Indonesia's largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2025, continuing a decade-long trend, according to the government.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has enacted a new policy regarding motor vehicle fuel tax (PBBKB) rates within the Jakarta area. In a statement following an internal meeting on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Pramono announced that the PBBKB rates would be significantly reduced for both private and public vehicles.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Head of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority, or OIKN, Basuki Hadimuljono said around 500 OIKN staff have moved to the new capital since March 1 this year. He said more civil servant candidates (CPNS) will follow suit in June 2025.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has pledged that authorities will investigate allegations of misappropriation involving the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program funds at a partner kitchen in Kalibata, South Jakarta.

Ebed de Rosary, Ende, Indonesia – The governor of one Indonesia's poorest provinces said it would pause development of new geothermal energy projects on the island of Flores, following an intervention by the Catholic Church.

Roy Adriansyah, Jakarta – Indramayu Regent Lucky Hakim has been placed on administrative duty after traveling to Japan without official approval during the extended public holidays around Eid al-Fitr earlier this month.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – As much of the world shutters coal power plants and shelves new proposals, Indonesia is bucking the trend – adding the third-highest volume of coal capacity globally in 2024, driven largely by the need to power a growing fleet of metal smelters.

Wahyu Sahala Tua, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has urged the government to stand firm on halal certification requirements for imported goods, despite recent criticism from the United States.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – House Commission XI head Mukhamad Misbakhun denied that his committee had canceled the discussion on the Tax Amnesty Bill, claiming that the regulation remained a priority. "Who said it was canceled?

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto criticized those who opposed and questioned the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program. He expressed surprise that a university professor was among the critics, suggesting that the professor's knowledge was limited to theoretical classroom studies.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Several Greenpeace Indonesia activists staged a peaceful protest in front of the South Korean Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Riski Maulana, Jakarta – A senior official has pointed to suspected negligence during food preparation as the likely cause of a mass food poisoning incident involving dozens of schoolchildren in Cianjur, West Java, under the government's free nutritious meals (MBG) program.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – A number of Greenpeace Indonesia activists held a peace rally in front of the South Korean Embassy in Jakarta today, April 23, 2025, demanding the release of five activists detained in the country since November last year.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Health Ministry admits the monitoring system in the Indonesian healthcare facilities is easily exploited by medical workers to commit violations, including sexual violence against patients. One such case occurred at Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung, where Priguna Anugerah Pratama, a specialist resident, assaulted a patient's relative.

Deden Abdul Aziz (Kontributor), Cianjur – The Health Office of Cianjur Regency in West Java has declared an extraordinary occurrence (KLB) following an alleged mass food poisoning involving dozens of students after consuming free meals.

Fia Hamid-Walker – In January 2025, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled in favour of Indonesia's legal challenge to the European Union's (EU) restrictions on palm oil, which Indonesia said were unfair and detrimental to its exports.

Hendrawan Kariman, Pekanbaru – The presence of the Transmigration Minister (Mentrans) Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanegara in Rempang Island on April 18 is an indication that the construction of the Rempang Eco-City project will continue.

Jakarta – The judiciary is, unfortunately, no stranger to misconduct and corruption due to its fair share of power.

In the latest scandal to hit the country's judicial power, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) arrested four judges last week on suspicion of taking bribes in exchange for acquitting three major palm oil groups from corruption charges last month.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Fathul Nugroho, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Association of Energy, Mineral, and Coal Suppliers (Aspebindo), considers LG Energy Solution's (LGES) decision to cancel its US$7.7 billion electric vehicle battery project a critical reminder for Indonesia not to rely on a single investment partner.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has altered the reimbursement scheme in the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) into upfront payments. Head of BGN Dadan Hindayana stated that BGN provides upfront payments to each Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) to carry out their duties.

Deden Abdul Aziz (Kontributor), Cianjur – Dozens of students from the PGRI Junior High School in Cianjur were treated at the Sayang Cianjur Regional General Hospital due to suffering from alleged food poisoning originating from the Free Nutritious Meal program (MBG), on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Batam – The Riau branch of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has criticized the local transmigration program initiated by Transmigration Minister Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanegara for the residents of Rempang.

Lili Retnosari and Ayesha Tantriana, Jakarta – Recent data from the World Population Review shows that Indonesia ranks fifth among countries with the highest smoking rates in the world. It is noted that smoking prevalence in South and Southeast Asia tends to be significantly higher among men compared to women.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has raised concerns over the circulation of nine children's snack products found to contain pork-derived (porcine) ingredients.

The products were identified by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) as containing non-halal elements.

Dili – Catholic-majority Timor Leste will observe a week of mourning to honour Pope Francis after his death on Monday aged 88, President Jose Ramos-Horta said, hailing the pontiff's "very brave" fight for peace and support of the world's poorest people.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Siti Hediati Hariyadi, better known as Titiek Soeharto, has welcomed a renewed proposal to grant her late father, Indonesia's second president Soeharto, the title of national hero, despite longstanding controversy over his human rights record.

Responding a statement by of the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) and concurrently the presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi, who did not question the proposal to name former president Suharto a national hero, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid, said:

Agencies, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto mourned the death of Pope Francis on Monday, saying the world had lost a "role model".

"The world has once again lost a role model who had a great commitment to peace, humanity, and brotherhood," Prabowo wrote on social media.

Arlina Arshad, Jakarta – As China and the United States vie for influence in South-east Asia amid tariff tensions, Indonesia – the region's largest economy and a key maritime power – has emerged as a central battleground in a high-stakes strategic contest.

Marchio Gorbiano and Sara Hussein, Jakarta and Bangkok – Keen to end its reliance on rice imports, Indonesia wants to plant vast tracts of the crop, along with sugar cane for biofuel, in the restive eastern region.

But environmentalists warn it could become the world's largest deforestation project, threatening endangered species and Jakarta's climate commitments.