Civil society organizations are calling on the government to conduct a “total reevaluation” of the flagship free nutritious meal program in the wake of widespread food poisoning cases at schools across the country.

BGN head Dadan Hindayana, stated that the majority of trays used in the program were produced locally using plant-based lubricants. However, he acknowledged that Indonesia still imports approximately 4 million trays per month, as domestic manufacturers are unable to meet the growing demand.

The government is accelerating plans to build special accommodation for Indonesian pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with construction of the so-called haj village expected to begin as early as the end of this year, following an instruction from President Prabowo Subianto to improve services.

Since Indonesia confirmed its first mpox case in 2022, the country has recorded 181 cases, including two fatalities.

President Prabowo Subianto’s free meals program faces mounting calls for suspension following repeated cases of mass poisoning that have heightened public concern over food safety and mismanagement.

A surge in childhood obesity across Indonesia is raising the alarm, with experts warning that the country’s children face a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and other life-threatening illnesses as junk food replaces healthier diets.

From the program's launch in January, when the program was launched, over 4,000 children have been hit by food poisoning after consuming the meals, according to INDEF.

Teachers and education observers are urging the government to focus on improving teachers' welfare and the quality of meals served to schoolchildren, as well as refocus on the program's original aim to tackle childhood stunting.

Second Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Nezar Patria said earlier this week that the ministry was reviewing the measure, which would require each resident to maintain only one social media account, and that it had recently gained traction in the House of Representatives.

President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to equip hundreds of thousands of schools nationwide with smart screens has drawn cautious responses from education experts, who warn that the program may fall short if deeper structural problems in the sector remain unresolved.

Of at least 218,000 hectares with indications of being burned between January and August this year, nearly half were located in concession areas linked to oil palm, oil and gas and mineral mining businesses, a report discovered.

Chief Sgt. N was allegedly directly involved in the kidnapping and homicide of the head of a state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia branch location in Central Jakarta, while Second Cpl. FH was suspected of recruiting other people for the criminal act.

There are 23 general-level officers posted in Riau Islands, 19 flag officers in the Indonesian Military (TNI) and four police generals.

The wet season in Indonesia starts this month and ends in April 2026, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency head Dwikorita Karnawati said in a news conference. 

The wet season in the archipelago starts this month and ends in April 2026, with peaks expected between November and February in most parts of the country.

A mother’s suicide in West Java, which also claimed the lives of her two children, has cast a harsh spotlight on Indonesia’s deepening mental health crisis, where economic hardship, stigma and limited access to care continue to drive rising, yet vastly underreported, cases of self-harm.

Indonesia has the largest number of people in the world affected by warming temperatures due to deforestation, with around 49 million people impacted, according to a recent study.

The graft allegations against former education minister Nadiem Makarim have cast a harsh light on the education sector’s vulnerability to corruption, fueling calls for systemic reform ahead of what will be the country’s largest-ever education budget next year.

Hailed as one of the biggest music festivals in the country, Pestapora ended this year’s iteration on a sour note after dozens of its performers, including headliners, pulled out from its lineup following the discovery of its controversial sponsorship from mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia.

The crew aboard the Gas Falcon, consisting of nine Indonesians and three Pakistanis, has been stranded in the Beira Sea since late last year, following legal issues involving the vessel’s owner, Gator Shipping Alfa.

Uneven vaccine coverage and incomplete immunization are among the key factors that have contributed to the return of measles, experts say, while the Health Ministry has recorded around 3,500 cases in at least 42 regions this year to date.

The Forestry Ministry, assisted by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and other partners, is launching a program to move two Javan rhinoceros to a sanctuary at Ujung Kulon National Park in Banten for research and conservation purposes for the critically endangered species.

Indonesia will consider three scenarios of gross domestic product growth in deciding on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions to be cut in its new climate mitigation pledge to be submitted to the United Nations in September.

This year’s Baznas Best Media Award recipients were assessed based on the number of reports published in 2024 on zakat as well as the agency’s program.

The prevailing stigma and prejudice against Hansen's disease, better known as leprosy, present a steep challenge as the government embarks on an accelerated capaign to eliminate the disease by 2030.

An unconfirmed report circulating on social media published by an outlet known as the Indonesia Business Post claimed to have conducted an investigation in the Chaoshan region, in the eastern part of China, and found that metal trays bound for Indonesia were treated with pork lard during the manufacturing process.

Details on the new premiums are still being deliberated among the Finance Ministry, Health Ministry and the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), before being submitted to the House of Representatives for further discussions.