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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is mulling a "one person, one account" policy for social media use, a proposal currently under review by the Communication and Digital Ministry, in an effort to crack down on fraud and the spread of misinformation online.

Fahri Ali, Antara, Jakarta – Shell Indonesia has scaled back operations at several of its gas stations in Greater Jakarta as gasoline shortages persist, forcing the company to shorten operating hours, reduce workdays, and place some employees on temporary leave.

Sopian Hadi, Denpasar – The Bali provincial government has officially lifted its flood emergency status and shifted to a recovery phase running from Sept. 17 to Dec. 17, following weeks of heavy flooding that left 18 people dead and four missing.

Chandra Adi Nurwidya, Jakarta – Indonesia's plan to centralize all fuel imports under state-owned Pertamina could drive foreign operators like Shell and BP out of the market, an energy expert warned Tuesday.

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.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is banking on the recent Rp 200 trillion or $12 billion injection in commercial banks to create jobs and boost exports, as the banks' top executives face pressure to disburse the loan as soon as possible.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has decided against forming an independent government investigative team to look into the riots that occurred in the last week of August 2025. This announcement was made by Yusril Ihza, the Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Security Affairs.

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.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The massive flood that struck Bali on September 10, 2025, was not just a natural disaster. According to the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the tragedy was closely tied to unchecked land use changes driven by rapid development.

Antara, Jakarta – Mental health problems among Indonesian teenagers are rising sharply, with new data showing millions of cases recorded in recent years. The state health insurer BPJS Kesehatan reported that between 2020 and 2024, spending on mental health treatment reached Rp 6.77 trillion ($411.45 million), covering 18.9 million cases.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's central bank lowered its benchmark interest rate for a fifth time this year, moving to support growth as inflation remains subdued and the rupiah stable.

Sukarjito, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto reshuffled his cabinet for the second time this month, appointing new ministers and senior officials on Wednesday as he consolidates his administration one year into office.

Ebed de Rosary, Lembata Island, Indonesia – A horde of children from Tapobali village rush out of Wulandoni 4 Junior High School to the sorghum field clasping blades and gathering starchy panicles into woven baskets.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Norway's $1.6 trillion state pension fund has dropped French miner Eramet from its investment portfolio over its role in a vast Indonesian nickel mine accused of destroying rainforest and threatening one of the world's few remaining uncontacted Indigenous groups.

Indonesia, West Papua – The World Council of Churches will host a UN Human Rights Council side event, "Human Rights in Indonesia – One Year into the New Administration," to be held in Geneva on 22 September.

IGG Maha Adi, Jakarta – Bali began September with a deadly disaster. Water flooded all of Denpasar's main streets, unable to drain because the city's drainage systems were clogged with plastic, food waste, banana stems and other debris. Water levels reached 2 meters in some locations, killing at least 17 people.

Jakarta – For many Indonesian motorists, filling up the tank can feel like a chore. State-owned Pertamina still dominates the downstream fuel market, and its stations often come with one guarantee: long queues.

Agencies, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court was scheduled to rule on Wednesday on challenges to the revision the Indonesian Military (TNI) law allowing a greater armed forces role in civilian affairs, among the sources of anger that have stoked widespread anti-government protests.

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.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has rejected one legal challenge and dismissed four others filed by civic groups against the revised Indonesian Military (TNI) Law passed in March, which prompted widespread backlash over several contentious provisions.

Max Lane, Singapore – Jakarta police released 156 high school students detained during an August 25 protest outside the House of Representatives (DPR) complex in Senayan. Platform motor bike drivers (ojol), a growing segment of Jakarta's urban poor, also demonstrated. The demonstration flared in a number of sites around Jakarta but focused finally at the Indonesian parliament.

When it comes to describing Indonesia's economic trajectory since the recovery from the Asian Financial Crisis, it's been a case of 'pick your own narrative'. Indonesia has supplied the storylines for either being an exemplar of the rise of the Global South in the global economy and middle-income dynamism, or a poster child of the middle-income trap.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – A school student in Magelang, DRP, claims to have been a victim of mistaken arrest by the police. Authorities apprehended dozens of people after a riot erupted in Magelang on August 29, 2025.