Rahmad Nur, Central Sulawesi – A total of 277 students from various education levels in Banggai Islands Regency, Central Sulawesi, were suspected of suffering from mass food poisoning on Wednesday. Reports stated that hundreds of students experienced nausea, dizziness, and vomiting after consuming their lunch.

Sigit Zulmunir, Jakarta – A total of 657 students in Garut Regency, West Java, Indonesia, have been affected by suspected mass food poisoning linked to the government's free nutritious meal program (MBG).

"Currently, only 10 students remain hospitalized, down from 30 at the peak," said Garut Health Office Head Leli Yuliani on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – The Pati City Police have deployed personnel to several points to secure the protest demanding the impeachment of Pati Regent Sudewo. The United Pati Community held a demonstration on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) has placed the Asset Forfeiture Bill among its top legislative priorities for 2025-2026, signaling renewed momentum on a measure long stalled in parliament.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is facing various challenges in determining the status of the suspects in the hajj quota corruption case. One of the challenges is examining the 400 or so hajj organizing agencies.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Technology (Komdigi) has opened the option of implementing face and fingerprint scans as a requirement for activating social media accounts. This step is considered a solution to the problem of owning and controlling multiple social media accounts anonymously.

Indonesia will ban the construction of new hotels and restaurants built atop cleared rice fields and agricultural land on the popular resort island of Bali, after recent flash flooding killed at least 18 people.

A state of emergency was declared on Bali on 10 September after the island experienced the most severe flooding in more than a decade.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has criticised the confiscation of books by the police, in this case the East Java and West Java Regional Police (Polda), over last few days.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is preparing a new market-based incentive scheme to encourage citizens to repatriate U.S. dollar savings held abroad, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said Friday, outlining one of his first major policy priorities since taking office.

Jakarta – The appointment of Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa as Finance Minister replacing Sri Mulyani Indrawati marks a new chapter in Indonesia's fiscal politics. Instead of bringing optimism, he gives rise to concerns about the direction of the management of state finances.

Christine Rovoi, PMN – Two men have been charged in an Australian court for allegedly trafficking guns and ammunition to a group of armed rebels after they kidnapped a New Zealand pilot and held him in captivity in West Papua for almost two years.

Jakarta – Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin held a private meeting with Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad ahead of President Prabowo Subianto's announcement of a fresh cabinet reshuffle.

The two senior politicians held the meeting inside the House compound on Tuesday night in what Sjafrie described as "a display of unity."

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Head of the Information Bureau of the Secretariat General at the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Frega Wenas, stated that the involvement of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in securing the House of Representatives (DPR) building is part of their assistance task to the police.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), Shinta Kamdani, hopes the government's economic stimulus could address the dual needs of maintaining people's purchasing power while also strengthening production capacity. She cautioned about several prerequisites to ensure that the stimulus will deliver real impacts.

Jakarta – The Central Java Police have pledged to involve the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) in their investigation of the suspicious death of Iko Juliant Junior, a University of Semarang (Unnes) law student who died after participating in an anti-government protest last month.

Jakarta – Online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers remain divided over commission fees charged by ride-hailing platforms. However, once they understand the deductions, most prioritize higher booking volumes over commission rates, a new survey shows.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Indonesian activist Syahdan Husein, a spokesperson for the Gejayan Memanggil movement, has been on a hunger strike for a week while detained at Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya). He is protesting the arrest of several activists and demanding their release.

Surabaya – The East Java Regional Police and its officers have confiscated 11 books from protesters involved in demonstrations that turned violent in Surabaya and Sidoarjo on August 29-31.

Several of these books have been linked to the riots that occurred during the wave of demonstrations in Indonesia last August, including several areas in East Java.

Hanif Musyaffa, Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Erick Thohir has been officially sworn in as youth and sports minister (Menpora), replacing Dito Ariotedjo, marking his departure from the post of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister. The reshuffle has sparked debate, particularly as it leaves the SOEs Ministry seat vacant.

Reynas Abdila, Jakarta – A number of activists being detained at the Jakarta Metro Jaya Regional Police (Polda) detention centre have launched a joint hunger strike. One of those on the hunger strike is Syahdan Husein, the administrator of Gejayan Memanggil (Gejayan Calling).

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metro Police have confirmed that two individuals who were reported missing amid recent protests have been found. The two men, Bima Permana Putra and Eko Purnomo, were located outside of Jakarta. Police concluded that the pair had left their homes voluntarily.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Hundreds of students in the Banggai Islands Regency, South Sumatra, are suspected to have suffered poisoning after consuming free nutritious meals (MBG) on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. As of Thursday morning, a total of 251 students from elementary to high school have been rushed to the Trikora Salakan Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

Antara, Surabaya – The East Java Police secured 997 individuals suspected of being involved in violent demonstrations within the province from August 29 to September 16.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) reported that bank lending grew 7.56 percent year-on-year in August 2025, marking a slight pickup from July's 7.03 percent. However, the central bank said credit expansion remains insufficient to power stronger economic growth.

Ahmad Syarif Syechbubakr – The protests across Indonesia that began on August 25 and peaked on August 31 resulted in ten deaths, at least three people reported missing, hundreds of cars destroyed, and several government buildings burned. Current discussions largely focus on the aftermath of the violence and the demands of the protesters.

Aqila Izatul Rahman, Jakarta – The Association of All Indonesian Workers (Aspirasi) welcomes the government's policy to expand tax incentives for employees with incomes below Rp10 million. As part of the economic stimulus, the coverage of income tax incentives (PPh) under Article 21 has been expanded to include workers in the hotel, restaurant, and catering sectors.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Food poisoning incidents continue to plague the Indonesian government's free nutritious meal (MBG) program.

The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) reported that at least 4,000 students have fallen ill after consuming meals from the program in the past eight months.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian Defense Ministry has been allocated a total budget of Rp187.1 trillion for 2026. Brigadier General Frega Wenas, Head of the Defense Ministry's Information Bureau, stated that safeguarding the nation's sovereignty requires substantial funds.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has responded to the alleged smuggling of firearms by Australian citizens supplied to the combatants of the Free Papua Movement-National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM).

Denny Gunawan, Ari Pasek, James Christian and Wibawa Hendra Saputera – The year 2025 begins with persistent global geopolitical tensions. The war between Ukraine and Russia drags on, conflict in the Middle East is heating up, and the United States-China trade war continues. All of this could send shockwaves through the global energy market – including in Indonesia.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Amid rising anti-refugee sentiment in various regions across Indonesia, the Medan city administration has reaffirmed its commitment to a humanitarian approach by continuing to allow asylum seekers to temporarily reside in the city while they await resettlement in third countries.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Indonesia's West Java Regional Police have revealed the involvement of a group with anarchist leanings in the wave of demonstrations that erupted at the end of August, which escalated into riots and caused widespread damage.

In a country long rich with visual symbolism, the use of colour to express one's dissatisfaction with the government seems to be gaining popularity.

Dili (Reuters) – East Timor's lawmakers have agreed to scrap plans to provide lifetime pension allowances for themselves, they said Wednesday, bowing to pressure from thousands of students who have staged demonstrations against the plans since Monday.

Jakarta – The National Police have submitted a request to Interpol headquarters in France to issue a Red Notice for business tycoon Mohammad Riza Chalid, who remains at large after he was named as a suspect in a high-profile corruption case linked to state-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said Wednesday he remains chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) for now, but his future in the role will be determined by FIFA.

Responding to the government's decision not to form a Joint Fact Finding Team (TGPF) related to a series of demonstrations that claimed at least eleven fatalities at the end of August, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid, said:

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Budget Committee has approved an increase to the 2026 state budget deficit, raising it from Rp638.8 trillion to Rp689.1 trillion.

Jakarta – Yurike Sanger, the seventh wife of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno, has died in California at the age of 80.

She passed away on Wednesday evening local time while receiving treatment at a hospital in San Bernardino, near Los Angeles. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Indonesian Association of Online Media (AMSI) has condemned Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman's Rp200 billion civil lawsuit against a media company, PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa is facing mounting expectations as the government prepares to channel Rp 200 trillion ($12.09 billion) into state-owned banks (Himbara).

Antara, Jakarta – The General Election Commission (KPU) has reversed its decision that shielded key registration documents of presidential and vice-presidential candidates from public access, following mounting criticism from lawmakers and civil society.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono said 30 hectares of rice fields faced crop failures due to Vale Indonesia's oil distribution pipe leak in Lioka Village, Towuti, East Luwu, South Sulawesi.

Bernard Loesi – Terrorism remains a persistent threat to nations around the world. Indeed, the Global Terrorism Index, an annual chronicle of terrorism trends, found in its latest report that the number of countries that experienced attacks rose to 66 in 2024 – the most since 2018.

Ananda Teresia, Jakarta – An Indonesian court ruled on Wednesday that parliament had followed proper process in passing contentious revisions to the country's military law, rejecting legal challenges to legislation that had sparked protests and condemnation.

Dili, Timor Leste – Timor Leste's parliament has bowed to public pressure and dropped a plan to buy SUVs for lawmakers in one of southeast Asia's poorest nations, but sceptical protesters returned to the streets on Wednesday.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – Thousands of online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers are set to protest in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. The Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police will deploy 6,118 joint personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and the Jakarta administration to secure the rally.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto announced another round of cabinet shake-up on Wednesday, just a week after his first major reshuffle, appointing both new and familiar faces to fill vacant and newly established posts.

Antara, Jakarta – The number of cases of violence against women and children in Jakarta has been on the rise every year since 2023. The Jakarta Provincial Government recorded that more than 1,500 women and children have become victims of violence from January to mid-September 2025.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) recorded positive performance in the metal, machinery, transportation equipment, and electronics (ILMATE) industry sector in the first half of 2025. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in this sector reached 5.19 percent annually, higher than the 4.89 percent growth in the same period the previous year.