Agencies, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Monday defended his ambitious plan to provide free meals for children after some 6,000 cases of food poisoning, saying the percentage of those affected was small and the programme was still finding its footing.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto stated he sees indications of major power involvement in causing unrest amid the riots and demonstrations at the end of August.

The Head of State assesses that these parties are disturbed because the Indonesian government has begun to implement reforms and crack down on systemic corruption, such as illegal mining.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto reminisced about the moment about being teased by former U.S. President Donald Trump during his address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is currently preparing a system that aims to make it as easy as possible for its companies to benefit from the preferential tariffs. The move came after Jakarta noticed that the tariff-cutting trade pacts that it had spent years negotiating remained underused.

Salman Mardira, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Monday declared that he holds no grudge against former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, his rival in last year's presidential election. Prabowo said the heated debates and confrontations during the campaign were simply part of the democratic process.

Antara, Jakarta – Shell Indonesia has denied reports that it laid off employees due to fuel shortages at its gas stations.

"Shell Indonesia clarifies that the information being circulated is not true," the company said in a statement on Sunday, as quoted by state news agency Antara.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – The Presidential Secretariat has assured that it will no longer revoke journalists" press credentials following an incident involving CNN Indonesia TV reporter Diana Valencia.

East Timor's recalibration of its stance on Myanmar's military regime has drawn both scrutiny and intrigue across Southeast Asia, as Dili seeks to smooth its path into Asean ahead of next month's summit.

Suji Kang, Ollie Wilson and Mutya Yustika, Jakarta – Across Southeast Asia, multinational firms are expanding their footprint, setting up new factories, building data centers and strengthening supply chains. Indonesia, with its large economy and strategic location, should be leading the region in attracting that investment.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesian rupiah exchange rate at the end of the week, Friday, September 26, 2025, closed weaker at Rp16,775 per US dollar. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa is convinced that the previously plummeting rupiah will recover.

Lili Yan Ing – Less than 11 months into his term, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto faces a stark choice. He can be remembered either as a leader whose presidency was defined by public anger and discontent, or as one who recognised the challenges facing his country and acted in the national interest.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto admitted there were flaws in the implementation of the government's free nutritious meal program (MBG) after more than 6,000 students reportedly suffered food poisoning from the meals provided.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Ten representatives from the Alliance of Indonesian Economists (AEI) met with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on Monday, September 29, 2025, calling on the government to temporarily suspend the free nutritious meal program (MBG).

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed frustration over the management of state-owned enterprises (BUMN), criticizing directors and commissioners who grant themselves bonuses even when their companies are suffering losses.

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).

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN) is intensifying scrutiny over the recent mass food poisoning cases affecting children consuming the government's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG). According to data from the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network, the number of child victims of MBG poisoning had reached 6,452 by the end of September 2025.

Antara, Jakarta – Recent earthquakes in Lampung and East Java have resulted in significant property damage. The M4.5 earthquake centered in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung, on the night of Friday, September 26, 2025, damaged 11 houses. Meanwhile, a larger tremor off the coast of Banyuwangi, East Java, damaged 73 houses across four different regencies.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Police arrested Muhammad Fakhrurrozi, an activist known as Paul, who is associated with Kamisan and the Social Movement Institute, on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Paul was initially apprehended in Yogyakarta before being transferred to East Java by the police.

Kamisan is a silent protest held by victims of human rights violations every Thursday.

Ninis Chairunnisa, Jakarta – The press credentials of a CNN Indonesia reporter were revoked after the journalist questioned President Prabowo Subianto about the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program. The question was posed shortly after the President returned from an overseas trip on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto secured investment commitments worth $23.8 billion during his recent visit to Japan, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said on Saturday.

The pledges emerged from Prabowo's stop in Osaka, where he visited the Indonesian Pavilion at the upcoming Expo 2025.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced that several heads of state contacted him after he delivered a speech at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He claimed that world leaders were impressed by Indonesia's position on resolving the Gaza conflict.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded net foreign capital outflows of Rp 2.71 trillion ($162 million) from its domestic financial markets in the fourth week of September, according to data from Bank Indonesia.

Agencies, Jakarta – A government agency running President Prabowo Subianto's massive free meals program said on Friday its lack of oversight led to a recent outbreak of food poisoning among thousands of school children.

Basten Gokkon – A new study reports that the Bird's Head Seascape off Indonesia's West Papua serves as a vital habitat for juvenile male whale sharks, but lift-net fisheries, tourism boats and emerging mining activities in the region underscore the urgent need for stronger protection and management.

Andrew Tito, Jakarta – A massive fire swept through a densely populated neighborhood in West Jakarta on Sunday morning, destroying 316 houses and leaving more than 1,200 residents homeless, authorities said.

Surabaya – An activist from the Central Java city of Yogyakarta, Muhammad Fakhrurrozi, known to his friends as Paul, has been arrested by the authorities and is currently being detained at the East Java Regional Police (Polda Jatim) in Surabaya.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Indonesian Press Council has urged the Presidential Palace to reinstate the press credentials of a CNN Indonesia journalist whose access was revoked after she asked President Prabowo Subianto about a government food aid program.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Press Council has sharply criticized the Presidential Palace for revoking the press credentials of a CNN Indonesia reporter who questioned President Prabowo Subianto about the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

Jakarta – A number of press organisations have strongly criticised the actions of the Presidential Secretariat's Press, Media and Information Bureau (BPMI) for revoking the Palace press credentials of CNN Indonesia journalist Diana Valencia after she asked President Prabowo Subianto about his Free Nutritious Food (MBG) upon is arrival at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jak

Jakarta – Forget the "Big Durian"! Jakarta now has a new nickname, albeit a less flattering one: Jakarta Kota Galian (City of Excavation). This moniker comes from frustrated Jakartans who took to social media to vent about traffic congestion exacerbated by widespread digging for utility projects across the city.

Tanjungpinang – A letter signed by a school principle agreeing to keep quiet about food poisoning incidents in the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program has gone viral on social media.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The United Development Party (PPP), one of the country's oldest political parties, named Muhammad Mardiono as its definitive chairman for the 2025-2030 term on Saturday, in a chaotic congress marred by fistfights and chair-throwing among rival factions.

Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat – At the United Nations General Assembly this week, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivered a speech that many in Jakarta framed as a defense of Palestine. He described the catastrophe in Gaza, used the word "genocide," and called for Palestinian statehood.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has announced that factory-produced food items will no longer be included in the government's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

Deputy Head of BGN, Nanik S. Deyang, delivered the statement during a press conference at the agency's office in Jakarta on Friday, September 26, 2026.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Penitentiary Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has defended the mass arrests that followed a wave of protests across the country in late August.

He insisted that demonstrators taken into custody were not targeted simply for protesting but for committing criminal acts.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Nutrition expert Hardinsyah has attributed recent food safety incidents in Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program to bacterial contamination

He stressed that stronger oversight is crucial to ensure the distributed meals do not endanger the health of children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

Sita Planasari, Jakarta – Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks that referenced President Prabowo Subianto's speech during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa led officials from the Finance Ministry to monitor the free nutritious meal program (MBG). The monitoring was conducted at 20 random locations to assess the program's execution, whether it has a positive impact on the economy, or if it is detrimental to the government.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has halted the illegal use of sea space in the form of reclamation for the construction of a jetty or pier on the coast of Ulu Sawa Village, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. PT GMS's jetty lacks the document of the Suitability for Utilization of Sea Space (PKKPRL).

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Law, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, ensures that the government has never banned the circulation of books. This statement follows the growing practice of police confiscating books.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has completed a six-day diplomatic tour to Japan, the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, underscoring Indonesia's rising global presence. The tour, which began on Sept. 19, coincided with the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Health expert Tjandra Yoga Aditama highlights the results of laboratory tests related to mass poisoning cases in Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in West Java, including West Bandung Regency. Based on the regional health laboratory report, Salmonella and Bacillus cereus bacteria were found in several food samples that were tested.

Sita Planasari, Jakarta – Indonesia, provides US$12 million (Rp200.4 billion) in food aid to Gaza residents through the World Food Programme (WFP) in response to the food crisis and starvation in the region caused by the Israeli blockade.

This aid is part of the 10,000-ton rice commitment previously announced by Indonesia's president at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Indonesia, West Papua – The World Council of Churches and Franciscans International, together with several partner organisations, convened a side event during the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council on 22 September, examining conditions one year into Indonesia's current administration.

Yogyakarta – Hundreds of mothers held a symbolic action by banging cooking utensils as a form of protest against the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program which has recently resulted in thousands of school children suffering food poisoning.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The drafting and synchronization team for the fourth revision of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE/BUMN) Law has formally established a prohibition on ministers or vice ministers holding multiple positions on the boards of directors, commissioners, and supervisory boards of SOEs.

Libby Qahtany – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a number of controversial statements during the general debate session at the United Nations 80th General Assembly in New York on Tuesday September 23.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the Indonesian Catering Association (PPJI), Minerva Taran, criticized the government's Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, calling its kitchen management careless and poorly planned.

She described the program's execution as "systemic negligence" that risks undermining its very purpose.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has come under mounting scrutiny following a string of mass food poisoning cases linked to the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program in several regions.

By the end of September, the Civil Society Coalition reported that at least 6,432 people had fallen ill after consuming meals from the program.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has suspended 190 mineral and coal mining business permits (IUP) after companies failed to meet their reclamation and post-mining payment obligations.

The decision is outlined in the Decree of the Director General of Minerals Number T-1533/MB.07/DJB.T/2025, issued on September 18, 2025.