On 3 October 2025, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly arrested Mr Mumak Nirigi, 35, a resident of Mebarok District, near the Wisigi area, amidst intensified military operations.

Antara, Jakarta – The Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) has revealed that 40 to 50 percent of the Indonesian population cannot afford a balanced, nutritious diet due to its high cost compared to a merely sufficient diet.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – A political communication lecturer at Paramadina University, Hendri Satrio, said there was a communication gap between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his ministers during the first year of his presidency.

Hensa, as he is known, observed that this gap is one of the main factors affecting the effectiveness of the government.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia said the government will offer incentives to companies that invest in ethanol production facilities to support Indonesia's plan to introduce mandatory 10 percent bioethanol (E10) fuel blending by 2027.

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya Sugiharto clarified on Thursday that the large amounts of regional government funds held in banks are not the result of hoarding or attempts to gain interest, but rather part of normal cash management practices.

On 21 October 2025, plainclothes police officers riding motorcycles arbitrarily arrested 17-year-old Cansius Yawiwa in Jalan Kuda Mati, Kamundu Subdistrict, Merauke City, South Papua Province.

Jakarta – Asia's youngest nation Timor Leste is set to achieve a decades-long dream when it becomes the 11th member of ASEAN this weekend, which analysts say is a win politically although the economic benefits remain to be seen.

The Prabowo-Gibran administration has now completed its first year. Over the past year, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) noted a deterioration in human rights enforcement across Indonesia, based on a year of monitoring and advocacy experience.

Suharto's nearly 32-year rule considered one of the most brutal, corrupt regimes in 20th century

Human rights activists have criticized the Indonesian government for including former military dictator Suharto, much criticized for authoritarianism, in a list of individuals nominated for recognition as national heroes.

On 16 October 2025, members of the Police and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly tortured ten Papuans, including two volunteers from the Manokwari Institute for Research, Assessment and Development of Legal Aid (LP3BH Manokwari), in North Moskona District, Teluk Bintuni Regency, Papua Barat Province.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Investment Management Agency Danantara Indonesia plans to enter the Indonesian stock market. The majority of the funds acquired by Danantara come from managing dividends from several state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Danantara believes this move will strengthen the fundamental liquidity of the domestic stock market.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Eddy Soeparno, said climate change can no longer be viewed as a mere environmental issue. During the opening of the 3rd Indonesia Climate Change Forum (ICCF), co-organized by the Emil Salim Institute (ESI) and MPR, Eddy mentioned climate issue is now linked to national development.

Julie Wark – The United Nations has recently come under attack from the Trump Administration and, much as it goes against the grain, it's difficult to argue with real-estate-developer-cum-ambassador-Representative for U.N. Management and Reform [sic], Jeff Bartos:

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.

On 15 October 2025, police personnel disrupted a student-led, anti-militarisation protest at the Abepura Roundabout in Jayapura City, Papua Province. At least five protesters were arbitrarily detained for over 24 hours before being released without charges, after authorities reportedly found no legal violations.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Maman Abdurrahman addresses the surge of imports entering Indonesia and disrupting the local market. He says that the government has not been able to resolve this issue, which has impacted small entrepreneurs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – LSI (Indonesian Survey Circle) Denny JA has released a report on the first year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's administration. The report shows that the level of public satisfaction has decreased.

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.

Yanti Lawerissa, D.J.A. Hehanussa, E.R.M. Toule and Abraham Tulalessy – On Indonesia's Buru Island, eucalyptus farmer Mahani switched professions and became a gold miner to make more money. He is just one of many who joined a gold rush. In 2011, gold was found on the island's Mount Botak.

Jayapura – The dire conditions facing refugees in conflict areas that continue to be ignored by the government, as well as the increasing number of military operations that have resulted in civilian casualties, require the attention of all parties as well as the need for international intervention.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Police's Criminal Investigation Department revealed that North Sumatra has the highest number of drug cases in Indonesia.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto announced that Portuguese will soon be added to Indonesia's school curriculum, underscoring the country's deepening ties with Brazil.

On 3 October 2025, Indonesian military personnel reportedly detained Mr Agustinus Tipagau, 22, in Timika City, at around 11:00 am (see photo on top, source: independent HRD).

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday praised Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's leadership and claimed that he had copied some of the South American leader's policies.

Prabowo made the statement during a bilateral meeting with Lula at the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday morning.

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.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – More than 1,000 prison guards are undergoing retraining at the maximum-security prisons on Nusakambangan Island, following a string of scandals involving criminal activities orchestrated from behind bars, a senior minister has said.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – The city administration has pledged to improve plastic waste management and processing in response to a study indicating microplastic contamination in Jakarta's rainwater.

Caleb Fotheringham – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims more than a dozen civilians have been killed in the Papuan highlands, including three men who were allegedly tortured and a woman who was allegedly raped.

However, the Indonesian government has dismissed the accusations "baseless".

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.

On 20 October 2025, security forces opened fire at Moanemani Market, Kamu District, Dogiyai Regency, around 11:00 am. Three people were reportedly injured during the shooting. Later that day, security forces raided the Mauwa Village around 11:36 pm, resulting in the death of Mr Keni Dumupa, with one additional person arrested.

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."

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno opened the Jakarta Film Week (JFW) 2025 on Wednesday night, launching the fifth edition of the international festival that features 134 films from 25 countries and a series of industry programs for young filmmakers across Asia.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Indonesia imported 157,000 tons of cocoa beans in 2024 to meet the needs of the domestic processing industry, according to the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.