Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – More than 6,500 Indonesian students have fallen ill from suspected food poisoning linked to the government's flagship Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) between January and September, the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Antara, Jakarta – Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said on Wednesday that his ministry has dispatched a team to investigate the alleged radioactive contamination of cloves flagged by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia posted a trade surplus of $5.49 billion in August 2025, marking its 64th consecutive month in the black since May 2020, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

Reza Hery Pamungkas, Jakarta – The Jakarta provincial government will charge a symbolic fare of Rp 80 (less than one US cent) across its public transport network on Oct. 5, in celebration of the Indonesian Military's (TNI) 80th anniversary.

Sigit Zulmunir, Jakarta – Karisa, a toddler from Kadungora District, Garut Regency, West Java, was found lying unconscious in the treatment room of the local community health center. She is suspected to have been poisoned after consuming free nutritious meal.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Indonesia's Association of Education and Teachers (P2G) has criticized the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for issuing Circular Letter No. 5 of 2025, which provides incentives for teachers tasked with supervising the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in schools.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta District Court has postponed the trial over a lawsuit concerning the August 2025 riotous demonstration after the defendants and their legal representatives failed to appear in court on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Malaysian government has reduced the price of RON 95 fuel from RM2.05 to RM1.99 per liter, equivalent to around Rp7,864 per liter. This price is effective from Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – A total of 121 students from SMK Negeri 1 Cihampelas, West Bandung Regency, reportedly suffered food poisoning after consuming meals provided under the government's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

One student, identified by the initials BR, was later reported dead, allegedly after eating the school meal.

Aep Sopandi, Antara, Garut, West Java – Authorities in Garut announced an extraordinary event status on Wednesday after more than 280 elementary and high school students suffered food poisoning from government-provided meals, the latest in a string of incidents linked to the nationwide free nutritious meal program.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday detained former CEO of state-owned gas company Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN), Hendi Prio Santoso, on allegations of accepting bribes linked to a gas sale-and-purchase deal with private distributor Inti Alasindo Energi.

Phnom Penh – Indonesian ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto has spotlighted growing demand for Indonesian products in Cambodia's northeastern provinces, urging local businesses to seize new trade opportunities with the region's largest economy.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Two journalists allegedly suffered violence from Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) officers while reporting about the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) kitchen on Tuesday afternoon, September 30, 2025. The incident took place at SPPG Gedong 2, one of the MBG providers, in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's promise to establish a fact-finding team to investigate the demonstrations in a number of regions has faded away to nothing. This cancellation will make it more difficult to investigate the involvement of those responsible for the mass violence at the end of August 2025.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – Two T-50i Golden Eagle fighter trainer aircraft, destined for the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), are scheduled to arrive in Indonesia in November 2025.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – A billboard featuring a photo of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto alongside several heads of state has gone viral on social media. One of the posts, shared by the account @AbrahamShield25 on Sunday, September 29, 2025, gained widespread attention.

Yogyakarta – A student at the Yogyakarta State University (UNY) named Perdana Arie was reportedly arrested by the Yogyakarta Regional Police (Polda DIY) on suspicion of involvement in a demonstration at the end of August.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, mentioned that a series of protests that led to riots at the end of August until early September 2025 resulted in significant losses. These losses include material and immaterial damages.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Indonesian Economist Alliance (AEI) has called on the government to temporarily pause the free nutritious meal program (MBG) following recent mass poisoning incidents.

Despite these concerns, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto reaffirmed that the program will continue as planned.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition held a protest action on Tuesday September 30 to commemorate one month since the death of Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a Metro Jaya Regional Police (Polda) paramilitary Mobile Brigade (Brimob) tactical vehicle

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Delpedro Marhaen and several fellow Indonesian activists have been held at the Jakarta Metro Police detention center for nearly a month after being named suspects in connection with alleged incitement during a series of demonstrations at the end of August 2025.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ombudsman has uncovered irregularities in the procurement of raw materials for the government's free nutritious meal program (MBG), including the alleged falsification of premium rice quality by a food supplier.

Michael G. Vann – Behind a low wall on a traffic-choked stretch of Denpasar's east side, a small courtyard insists that Bali's famous "paradise" has a history. And that history is troubled.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia is seeking to redraw the boundaries of a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest to pave the way for geothermal projects – part of its renewable energy push but a move environmentalists warn could devastate biodiversity and tarnish the country's green reputation.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – A recent wave of book confiscations during police crackdowns on alleged "provocateurs" behind nationwide protests has been met with sharp criticism from rights groups, who say the practice undermines freedom of expression.

Ni Komang Erviani, Denpasar – Bali health authorities have stepped up vigilance against rabies outbreak following reports that 15 climbers were bitten by a rabid dog along the Mt. Batukaru hiking trails in Pujungan village, Tabanan regency.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – A new report has once again highlighted the heavy toll of Indonesia's nickel industry, where decades of poorly regulated extraction have scarred landscapes, choked coral reefs and eroded local livelihoods, while companies face little accountability.

Andreas Harsono – Tari Lang in her new memoir recalls the morning of October 1, 1965, when as a 14-year-old, she had watched Indonesian tanks and soldiers sweep into the elite neighborhood in Jakarta where she lived with her Indonesian father and British mother. When she ran to tell her parents, "[t]hey fell silent," she writes, "just looking at each other."

Syahriza Alkohir Anggoro – In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted a new resolution laying the first groundwork toward a new legally binding international agreement to end plastic pollution.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Body (BGN) will provide incentives to teachers who assist in distributing the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, a policy outlined in Circular Letter Number 5 of 2025 issued on Monday, September 28, 2025.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday conferred Indonesia's highest civilian award, the Order of Distinguished Stars, on American billionaire and Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Gita Putri Damayana – Since the large-scale anti-government protests of August 2025, indications of Indonesia's pivot toward a more autocratic regime have become more apparent.

Gatra Priyandita – In the morning of 1 October 1965, 37-year-old Eneng (not her real name) woke up in Bandung, about 200km from Jakarta, to an unexpected news broadcast via Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI): a group of people had taken measures to protect President Sukarno from a coup mounted by a "Council of Generals". Although unanticipated, the news relieved her.

Jakarta – When President Prabowo Subianto and the House of Representatives rushed the revision of the existing State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Law to provide a legal basis for the establishment of the state asset fund Danantara in February, it raised many eyebrows.

Perdian Tumanan (The Conversation) – The death of 21-year-old online transportation service (ojol) driver Affan Kurniawan, who was crushed by a Barracuda armored police vehicle during a protest last month, invites comparison with George Floyd. The African American was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis in 2020, sparking global Black Lives Matter protests.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – The Jakarta Environmental Office revealed that the domestic sector contributes as the biggest source of river pollution in the region. This mapping was carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Technology at the University of Indonesia (Universitas Indonesia, UI).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesian sovereign fund Danantara has put its waste-to-energy plan into motion, a project that can have a price tag of around $180 million just to turn a thousand tons of garbage into electricity.

Achmad Supriyadi, Sidoarjo, E – Java. Rescuers in East Java on Tuesday are racing to free dozens of students still trapped under the rubble of a collapsed prayer hall at Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school, where 38 people remain missing after the structure gave way during afternoon prayers.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The Public Works Ministry has set aside Rp 1.2 trillion ($71.6 million) for labor-intensive programs focused on small-scale road and bridge works across 1,059 sites nationwide.

Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Jakarta – The Hajj and Umrah Ministry confirmed Tuesday that Indonesia's Hajj quota for 2026 will remain at 221,000 pilgrims, with 92 percent allocated for the regular Hajj and 8 percent for special fast-track Hajj programs.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Yvonne Mengkawang recently denied that Indonesia was unconditionally warming up to Israel after President Prabowo Subianto appeared in Tel Aviv's electronic billboards.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's slow state budget absorption is raising concerns over its potential drag on economic growth, with economists warning that the government may miss its 5 percent growth target this year.

Chesa Andini Saputra, Jakarta – A growing number of Indonesia's Gen Z are reluctant to buy houses, citing financial unpreparedness, according to a survey by online platform Jakpat in January 2025. Out of 587 respondents, 36 percent said they preferred not to purchase property for now, underscoring the affordability gap for younger buyers.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Culture has encouraged the public to fly the national flag at half-mast on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, as part of the commemoration of Pancasila Sanctity Day on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Chief Editors Forum Association (Forum Pemred) regrets the action by the Press, Media, and Information Bureau (BPMI) of the Presidential Secretariat in revoking the press identity card of CNN Indonesia journalist, Diana Valencia.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has exposed the recurrence of violent practices carried out by law enforcement officers during the handling of legal processes related to riots from late August to early September.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The number of children affected by food poisoning linked to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program has continued to soar. As of September 27, 2025, monitoring by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) recorded a total of 8,649 child victims, an alarming increase of 3,289 in just the past two weeks.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is investigating potential human rights violations linked to the mass poisoning incidents in the government's free nutritious meal program, known as Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG).

Jakarta – Hoping for reforms in the Police is like waiting for the cows to come home. Systemic damage within the Indonesian National Police (Polri) means that it is difficult to hope for real change.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The East Java Regional Police arrested an activist from the Kamisan movement, Muhammad Fakhrurrozi, also known as Paul, in Yogyakarta. The Surabaya Legal Aid Institute (LBH) reported that police also confiscated numerous books and electronic devices during the arrest.