Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) recorded an increase in victims of food poisoning from the free nutritious meal program (MBG) from October 13 to 19, 2025. During this period, as many as 1,602 children were reported to have suffered from food poisoning.

Preliminary field reports allege that Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) units raided the Soanggama Village, Hitadipa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua, on 15 October 2025 before dawn. According to media reports and local informants, military members conducted house-to-house searches and opened indiscriminate fire, resulting in 15 fatalities.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The administration of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his deputy, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, will mark its first year on Monday, October 20. Various notes, evaluations, and campaign commitments are being questioned, including the assurance of press freedom.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has reached an agreement with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reopen access for Indonesian shrimp exports to the United States, officials said on Sunday.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The National Police have named Lisa Mariana, a social media personality who claimed to have been impregnated by former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, as a suspect in a defamation case, officials said on Sunday.

Jakarta – The first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has been assessed as not meting public expectations.

A Centre of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) survey gave Prabowo's Red and White Cabinet a score of 3 out of 10, down from a score of 5 in the first 100 days.

Irfan Kamil, Jessi Carina, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson Muhammad Isnur has criticised the upholding of human rights and democracy in the first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Foreign investors withdrew Rp 16.61 trillion ($1 billion) from Indonesia's financial markets between October 13 and 16, with the largest outflow recorded in government bonds (SBN), according to Bank Indonesia (BI).

Surabaya – Dozens of naked men were arrested by police at a hotel in Surabaya, East Java. They were suspected of participating in a gay sex party held behind closed doors in one of the hotel rooms.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – The discovery of microplastics in Jakarta's rainwater by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) serves as an environmental alarm that needs immediate action, according to Head of the Jakarta Environmental Agency, Asep Kuswanto.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto continues to augment the roster of his Red and White Cabinet as the administration approaches its one-year anniversary, despite the Cabinet having already been significantly expanded since its inauguration last year.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The sequel to the documentary film Dirty Vote is set for release in October 2025. The film will expose the methods by which the regime of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is consolidating its power.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – A recent survey by research institute Indostrategi has found that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program ranks lowest among President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's seven flagship initiatives, marking its first year in office.

Health check program leads in public approval

Jamaah, Usep Adi Wihanda, Jakarta – After enduring scorching heat with temperatures reaching up to 37.6 degrees Celsius in recent days, parts of Indonesia are now preparing for a wave of heavy rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto commented on individuals identifying as democracy activists, saying some have been involved in acts of violence and damage to democratic institutions.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Indonesia's Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus has urged the public to wear masks to curb the spread of Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI), as cases of flu-like infections have risen in several regions in recent weeks.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has indirectly criticized those who have mocked and belittled his administration's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, accusing them of focusing only on its shortcomings rather than its impact.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The Indonesia Cerah Foundation (CERAH) said President Prabowo Subianto has yet to deliver concrete steps to make Indonesia the 'global king of green energy' with a target of 100% renewable energy use by 2035. CERAH's Policy and Program Manager, Wicaksono Gitawan, noted an unbalanced energy policy during the first year of Prabowo's tenure.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Jakarta – The automotive industry is cautious in setting prices and target markets amid the sluggish economy due to weakening purchasing power and global economic instability.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has warned his ministers and members of the Red and White Cabinet to maintain discipline, saying he will not hesitate to carry out a reshuffle if they disobey his directives or act improperly.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said the Indonesian government has demonstrated its ability to deliver on its promises during his first year in office, although he did not specify which promises had been fulfilled.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Bandung – President Prabowo Subianto on Saturday hit back at critics who have called for the suspension of his flagship Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program following mass food poisoning cases, saying the initiative remains overwhelmingly successful and has drawn international recognition.

Muktita Suhartono, Saguling, Indonesia – Cucu Mulyati got the fright of her life last month: a call saying that her 17-year-old son was seriously ill. He started feeling sick while eating the free lunch served on campus, which included fried chicken, rice, lettuce and strawberries.

Antara, Jakarta – Danantara Investment Management Agency has announced that it will soon allocate investments to the Indonesian stock market.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The Ministry of Investment and Downstream/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) recorded a total investment realization of Rp491.4 trillion in the third quarter of 2025. This figure reflects a growing trend, particularly in downstream investment, which now accounts for 30% of the total realization for the quarter.

Heru Yustanto, Bogor – The Indonesian government has officially lifted all radiation seals in the Cikande Industrial Zone in Serang, Banten, after completing a month-long radioactive decontamination process, Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq announced on Friday.

Chandra Adi Nurwidya, Yogyakarta – Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, the Sultan and Governor of Yogyakarta, has expressed disappointment over the Rp 700 billion ($42 million) reduction in central government funding for the province, a senior official said on Thursday.

Junaidi Hanafiah, Central Tapanuli, Indonesia – Since it was first described by scientists in 2017, the Tapanuli orangutan, one of the world's rarest great apes, was believed to live only in the Batang Toru forest of Indonesia's North Sumatra province.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has amassed Rp 1,434.3 trillion (around $86.5 billion) in investments from home and abroad so far this year as of September, the government announced Friday, with Singapore still keeping its crown as the biggest foreign investor.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Jakarta – Indonesian former president Joko Widodo attended the anniversary celebration of the Faculty of Forestry at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta on Friday, October 17, 2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia's Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) has called on Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar to issue a public apology following his controversial remarks on sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto celebrates his 74th birthday today, October 17, 2025.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Constitutional Court has partially upheld a lawsuit related to the Job Creation Law. The court's decision exempts indigenous communities living in the forests from the obligation to obtain business permits for plantation activities.

Ditya Rasyadiputra, Jakarta – The Head of the Australian Defense Force (ADF), Admiral David Johnston, said that the partnership with Indonesia is being realized by increasing the number of joint military exercises.

Antara, Jakarta – A new study by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has found that rainwater in Jakarta contains hazardous microplastic particles, underscoring growing concerns over urban pollution and its environmental and health effects.

Sri Wahyuni, Samosir, Indonesia – On retirement from public life, Wilmar Eliaser Simandjorang found a quiet place on a hillside overlooking Lake Toba, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, to write about this landscape sacred to the region's Batak people.

Ja'han Jones – During his trip last week to the Middle East, Donald Trump set off alarms stateside when he was caught on a hot mic talking to President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia about his request to meet with the president's son Eric, who's not a government official.

Jakarta – An "eco-city", a mining complex, and a massive project to grow food and fuel are all part of an Indonesian growth drive that activists allege is causing deforestation and dispossession.

Rendy Tisna – A lower court in the Jakarta suburb of Bogor ruled in October in favor of environmental scientists Bambang Hero Sarahjo and Basuki Wasis, dismissing a lawsuit brought by Borneo plantation firm PT Kalimantan Lestari Mandiri over a wildfire more than seven years ago.

Anna O'Connor – Timorese President Jose Ramos Horta has honoured the members of China's 10th medical aid team with the Medal of Merit in recognition of their contributions to the country's health sector, reports the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Terry Friel – Fifty years ago this week, five young journalists from Australia, the UK, and New Zealand were murdered in what was then East Timor by Indonesian troops – and their families are still angry that no one has been held accountable and that governments, especially Australia, have done nothing.

Ni Komang Erviani, Denpasar – Three Australians accused of fatally shooting a fellow countryman in Badung regency, Bali, earlier this year, have been charged with premeditated murder. A crime that carries the maximum penalty of death under Indonesian law.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Southern Indonesia is expected to experience extreme heat until the end of the year, as both minimal cloud cover over the islands and the ongoing pancaroba (the transitional period between the dry and rainy seasons) allow for intense solar radiation to directly heat the land, authorities warned.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military said it killed 14 Papuan fighters during an operation to free a village from the control of separatists this week and residents had welcomed its troops.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has launched the People's School (Sekolah Rakyat) initiative aimed at breaking the cycle of extreme poverty in Indonesia through access to quality education.

Jakarta – The policy disarray in the energy sector is increasingly concerning. After causing public unease through restrictions on the distribution of three-kilogram cooking gas canisters, now the intervention by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia in relation to fuel import quota for private gas stations has caused new turmoil.

Antara, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said Wednesday that a combination of capitalism and socialism would suit Indonesia's economic system the best.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has allowed foreigners to take leadership roles at Indonesia's state-run enterprises, especially if they are up to the job.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Maman Abdurrahman, has sparked controversy by proposing that local entrepreneurs should produce counterfeit or knock-off branded bags.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Hospitals and clinics across Jakarta and surrounding regions have reported a recent uptick in patients showing flu-like symptoms.

Similar surges have also been recorded abroad, including in Malaysia, where thousands of cases have forced several schools to temporarily close.