Garudafood and Prochiz collaborated with Sekolah Relawan to support 100 orphaned and disabled children from Islamic boarding schools and welfare foundations in Greater Jakarta with shopping vouchers and education infrastructure donations totalling 30 million rupiah ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The initiative addresses the challenges faced by Indonesia's approximately 4 million orphaned children and 2 million children with disabilities by providing both material assistance and meaningful experiences that build their confidence and sense of inclusion.

Indonesian tourist arrivals in Hong Kong increased by four percent in 2025 compared to 2024, with 382,000 visitors, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The growth reflects Hong Kong's strategic expansion of Muslim-friendly facilities, including 195 certified halal restaurants, 59 Muslim-friendly hotels, and dedicated prayer areas, targeting the increasingly popular Islamic tourism segment from Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Multiple US military personnel are reportedly opposing a potential war against Iran, according to data from non-profit organisation Center on Conscience & War, with service members refusing deployment and expressing opposition based on conscience. The report emerges amid US plans to send special forces to Iran and follows a controversial joint US-Israeli strike on a girls' school in Minab that killed at least 165 people, which has sparked international controversy and military dissent. The Trump administration has refused to accept responsibility for the school bombing whilst Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against US and allied military infrastructure in the region.

The East Jakarta Transportation Sub-Office (Sudinhub) has conducted an enforcement operation against an illegal bus terminal at Pasar Rebo, resulting in five citations and the suspension of one inter-city bus service that lacked proper route permits. The operation involved 40 personnel including military, police, and transport officials, and was conducted to ensure passenger safety ahead of Eid al-Fitr travel season.

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo addressed workers in East Java about escalating Middle East conflicts between the US, Israel and Iran, and their potential economic impacts on Indonesia. He called for worker unity in supporting President Prabowo Subianto's strategic policies, including food and energy self-sufficiency, industrial downstream development, and labour protections, whilst announcing expanded police hospital services for workers and a 2,000-package food assistance programme.

The Indonesian Medicines and Food Regulatory Authority (BPOM) is investigating alleged illegal sales of tramadol at retail outlets and has pledged strict enforcement against the drug's misuse. The controlled pain-relief medication, classified as a restricted substance, has been increasingly diverted to illicit distribution and poses health risks including addiction and psychological effects similar to recreational drugs.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has signalled it may summon Endang Sri Hariyatie, wife of former Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, as a witness in an alleged bribery case involving the Ministry of Transport's Directorate General of Railways. The investigation, which began with a raid in April 2023, has resulted in 21 suspects and two corporations being named to date, with allegations of procurement fraud in railway construction projects across multiple Indonesian regions.

Civil society, educators, and legislators are calling for a thorough review of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 (PP Tunas) before its effective implementation on 28 March 2026, citing serious cybersecurity and data privacy risks. Critics argue that the mandatory user identity verification system will create a massive children's personal data repository vulnerable to cyberattacks, and that the policy neglects fundamental education quality improvements needed to truly protect young people. Experts and officials emphasise that implementation requires substantial budget allocation, capacity building at regional level, and digital literacy programmes rather than hasty enforcement without adequate safeguards.

The Regent of Rejang Lebong, Muhammad Fikri Thobari, and Vice Regent Hendri Praja were arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on 9 March 2026 in a sting operation related to alleged infrastructure project bribes, less than a year after taking office on 20 February 2025. In total, 13 suspects including regional officials, civil servants, and private parties were detained, with nine—including the regent and vice regent—transported to Jakarta for intensive questioning. The incident raises concerns about governance in Bengkulu and highlights the need for stricter oversight of regional development projects from the first year of leadership.

Bank Indonesia reported that Indonesia's net International Investment Position (IIP) liabilities increased to US$272.6 billion at the end of Q4 2025, up from US$261.8 billion in Q3 2025, driven primarily by a sharper rise in foreign financial liabilities compared to foreign financial assets. Despite the rise, Bank Indonesia assessed the development as sustainable, with the IIP-to-GDP ratio remaining stable at 18.8% and long-term instruments comprising 93.2% of the liability structure, predominantly from direct investment.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a conditional offer allowing countries to transit the Strait of Hormuz freely if they expel US and Israeli ambassadors from their territories, amidst an ongoing military conflict with the US and Israel that erupted in late February 2026. The strait has been effectively closed since the beginning of hostilities, causing tanker traffic to plummet by 90 per cent and oil prices to exceed USD 100 per barrel, whilst IRGC officials have vowed to prevent oil exports to US allies and Israel for the duration of the conflict.

Deputy Speaker of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly Lestari Moerdijat has called on the government to strengthen early detection of mental health issues among schoolchildren to address growing concerns about the psychological wellbeing of the nation's youth. The Health Ministry is already collaborating with the Education Ministry to train teachers to recognise early signs of mental disorders, with data showing that approximately 5 per cent of Indonesian children and teenagers experience mental health symptoms, though only 2.6 per cent receive professional treatment. Lestari emphasises that parents and teachers, as frontline observers of children's behaviour both at school and home, are crucial to early detection and swift intervention.

The Indonesian Institute for Independent Judicial Monitoring (Imparsial) has criticised the government's tendency to use criminal law enforcement approaches to resolve agrarian conflicts, citing data showing 3,264 agrarian disputes reported to the National Human Rights Commission over five years. Imparsial's researcher Annisa Yudha argues that agrarian disputes are fundamentally administrative or civil matters that should be resolved through mediation and non-coercive approaches, with criminal law serving only as a last resort to prevent criminalisation of indigenous communities, local residents, and farmers.

A member of Indonesia's parliamentary Commission III has expressed serious concern over the deaths of 32 migrant workers from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in the first quarter of 2026, with 30 identified as undocumented workers. The legislator has highlighted severe gaps in migrant worker governance and weak enforcement against illegal labour trafficking networks operating through established smuggling routes from NTT to Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah. The statement raises questions about potential complicity or negligence by law enforcement in allowing these illegal migration channels to operate unabated.

A total of 8.2 million people are predicted to travel to Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) during the Eid holiday exodus in 2026, according to data from the Ministry of Transportation presented by the regional police chief. The influx will occur gradually throughout the mudik period using various modes of transport, with the highest volumes expected on H-5 and H-3 before Eid, primarily from the Jakarta metropolitan area. Security operations, called Operasi Ketupat Progo 2026, will run from 13 to 25 March to manage the festivities and ensure public safety.

Indonesia's Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto has announced that the government is prioritising the rapid commercialisation and implementation of research findings from universities to strengthen national food and energy security in response to increasingly complex global geopolitical dynamics. The minister emphasised that innovations from campus research have significant potential to increase agricultural productivity and energy efficiency, with the government committed to coordinating concrete steps to accelerate the practical application of these studies.

The World Bank and OECD have jointly criticised Indonesia's VAT registration threshold of Rp4.8 billion (US$300,000) annually as being nearly six times higher than the average across OECD nations, significantly narrowing the tax base. The high threshold exempts approximately 99 per cent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from VAT obligations, limiting their ability to operate formally and access larger markets, whilst reducing overall tax revenue and impeding SME integration into the formal economy.

Rescue operations at Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Facility (TPST) in Bekasi have concluded with all 13 victims of the 8 March landslide identified—seven confirmed dead and six survivors. Indonesia's Environment Minister has declared the facility in a state of systemic emergency, citing 80 million tonnes of waste accumulated over 37 years through open dumping practices that violate national waste management law and compromise public safety.

Two vessels operated by PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS) have departed the Strait of Hormuz region amid escalating Middle East tensions, whilst two other PIS-operated tankers remain in Arab Gulf waters awaiting safer passage conditions. The company maintains 24-hour real-time monitoring of its fleet and continues coordinating with maritime authorities to ensure crew safety and uninterrupted energy supply to Indonesia.

Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives will conduct a fit and proper test on 11 March 2026 to select five members for the Financial Services Authority (OJK) board from ten shortlisted candidates. The ten finalists will fill five positions covering the roles of chairman, deputy chairman, capital markets, digital assets, and consumer protection, with results to be announced on the same day.

Indonesia's Minister of Primary and Secondary Education inaugurated six emergency classrooms and distributed Rp25 million worth of school supplies at SMAN 2 Mereudeu in Aceh on Monday, following devastating disasters in late November 2025. The Ministry has allocated Rp1.741 trillion to support the recovery of 1,642 schools affected by the disasters, with plans for complete reconstruction of damaged facilities in collaboration with the Indonesian Army.

PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk has reduced livestock feed prices ahead of Eid al-Fitr to help farmers reduce production costs and stabilise poultry prices in the market. The company coordinates with the Agriculture Ministry to implement periodic price adjustments that support farmer efficiency, particularly during increased demand periods for poultry products during religious holidays. The move aims to balance farmer sustainability with market stability and consumer affordability for poultry products during the Ramadan and Eid season.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is examining a Finance Ministry Customs official identified as SA who allegedly transferred approximately Rp5.19 billion in cash across five suitcases from a safe house in Jakarta to another in Ciputat, Tangerang Selatan. This examination follows a February 2026 anti-corruption operation that resulted in the detention of 17 individuals, six of whom were named as suspects in a bribery and gratification case related to counterfeit goods imports.

The Deputy Regent of Rejang Lebong, Hendri, was arrested alongside Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari in an overnight KPK anti-corruption sting operation in Bengkulu on 9 March 2026. A total of thirteen individuals were detained in the operation, with nine—including the regent, deputy regent, three civil servants, and four private sector figures—transported to KPK headquarters in Jakarta for further investigation.

The skeletal remains of a 56-year-old woman (initials DH) were discovered in a Depok residence in March 2026, having been concealed for approximately five months since her death in October 2025. Her husband (initials ARH), a man without steady employment, murdered her during a domestic dispute over economic hardship, using coffee powder to mask the decomposition odour and subsequently fleeing with her motorcycle and mobile phone. The case highlights systematic failures in addressing domestic violence and criminal concealment in densely populated urban areas.

Indonesia's Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri visited the Seri Kuala Lobam Fashion Industry Centre in Bintan, Riau Islands, declaring that locally produced fashion items have significant potential for international export. The government is committed to strengthening small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the creative sector through improved product quality, design innovation, and market access expansion, particularly capitalising on the region's proximity to Malaysia and Singapore.

Former KPK chairman Busyro Muqoddas and civil society groups filed a judicial review (constitutional challenge) against Indonesia's 2026 state budget law at the Constitutional Court on 10 March 2026, citing concerns over the uncontrolled governance of the MBG programme. The petitioners argue that the programme's mismanagement has caused widespread destructive impacts affecting both policy and fiscal matters, and they urged the constitutional judges to heed public concerns about the programme's failures.

Equivalency education in Indonesia, which offers non-formal pathways such as Paket C (equivalent to senior secondary), has long been stigmatised as "second-class" despite producing capable graduates like Tiyo Ardianto, the recent Chair of UGM's Student Council. The Indonesian government has recently intensified efforts to improve equivalency education by enhancing educator training, welfare provisions, and establishing work groups for knowledge-sharing, though significant challenges remain including insufficient tutors and limited infrastructure, particularly in remote areas.

PAM Jaya, Jakarta's water utility company, has partnered with basketball club Pelita Jaya to distribute tumblers to residents as part of a campaign to promote sustainable lifestyles and reduce plastic waste. The initiative addresses Jakarta's severe waste management challenge, with the city generating 7,000-8,000 tonnes of rubbish daily, and aims to encourage residents to use reusable tumblers and access free purified water from PAM Jaya dispensers at public transit stations and community spaces.

Police have disclosed the chronology of a murder that occurred in Depok, West Java on Saturday, 7 March, with the victim's body discovered in a desiccated state. The suspect, a 44-year-old man identified as ARH, allegedly strangled and asphyxiated his 55-year-old wife during a domestic dispute in mid-October 2025, motivated by economic hardship and resentment after being evicted from the home.

Jakarta authorities demolished 31 illegal structures along Kebon Kacang Street behind Plaza Indonesia over two days in March 2026, with the aim of restoring the area to its original function. Tanah Abang Sub-district Head Dwiarti Indriani Utami stated that the area would be returned to its proper use, whether as pedestrian walkways or roads, with no relocation assistance provided to illegal street vendors and informal parking attendants who operated there without permits. The demolition follows a socialisation campaign and represents a significant disruption to the livelihoods of informal workers who had depended on the area for years.

The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower has established complaint and consultation posts (Posko THR 2026) to assist workers whose Eid holiday allowance (THR) has not been paid ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2026. Workers can lodge complaints and seek advice through multiple channels including an online portal at poskothr.kemnaker.go.id, WhatsApp messaging, and in-person visits to the ministry's offices, with labour inspectors available daily to address concerns and ensure swift resolution of payment issues.

Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works will operationalise approximately 52 kilometres of the Jakarta-Cikampek II Southern Tollway for Class I vehicles during the 2026 Eid holiday period, with the Bekasi section reaching 81.65% completion. As part of broader infrastructure development, 10 new tollway sections totalling 291.13 kilometres across Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan will open functionally during Eid to facilitate holiday travel and reduce traffic congestion.

Bank Indonesia has designated bonds issued by PT Sarana Multigriya Finansial (SMF) as eligible collateral for repurchase agreement (repo) transactions, marking the first corporate debt securities approved for this purpose. This regulatory decision expands the range of financial instruments available for repo market operations and enhances liquidity management options for market participants.

PT Kliring Berjangka Indonesia (KBI), Indonesia's central warehouse receipt registration centre, is intensifying promotion of its Warehouse Receipt Registration System (SRG) across more than 160 institutions ahead of the 2026 harvest season. The system allows farmers to store commodities and use them as financing instruments whilst stabilising food commodity supply, addressing the typical price decline that occurs during peak harvest periods. KBI's ongoing efforts support Indonesia's food self-sufficiency goals and align with government programmes including the village export initiative and SME advancement schemes.

Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives' Commission III and member of the NasDem Party, has announced he will not accept his salary as an MP until the end of his term in 2029. Following his reinstatement after a six-month suspension related to August 2025 protests, Sahroni stated he intends to redirect all his parliamentary salary to the Kitabisa Foundation to demonstrate he is not profiting from public funds and to benefit those in greater need.

Police have revealed details of how the remains of a 55-year-old woman, identified as DH, were discovered by her daughter whilst cleaning the family home in Depok, West Java. The victim was murdered by her unregistered husband Ahmad Ronny Hasiholan in October 2025, and Hasiholan was arrested on 8 March 2026 after absconding with the victim's mobile phone and motorcycle.

Indonesia's Communications and Digital Ministry has signed a new regulation classifying social media platforms as high-risk electronic system providers, implementing access restrictions to protect children from pornography, exploitation, and addiction. The policy has received broad support from government officials and cybersecurity experts as a serious response to digital security challenges, though critics emphasise the need for complementary digital literacy education and family-led dialogue alongside regulatory measures.

The head of the Parliamentary Commission XI, Muhammad Misbakhun, has urged the government to treat a fuel price increase as an absolute last resort amid surging global oil prices caused by tensions between Israel, the United States, and Iran affecting the Strait of Hormuz. He cautioned that raising subsidised fuel prices could trigger inflation and higher costs for essential goods and food, thereby damaging household purchasing power, which is crucial for Indonesia's economic growth.

Former Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim testified as a crown witness in a corruption case at Jakarta's Corruption Court, denying that he created a WhatsApp group named "Mas Menteri Core Team" before assuming office. He clarified that the group was originally named "Edu Org" and only changed its name after his ministerial appointment, whilst also testifying that the Chromebook and Chrome Device Management programme was intended for areas with electricity and internet access rather than disadvantaged regions.

The Education Department of Sabu Raijua, East Nusa Tenggara, has imposed a one-year delay on promotion for teacher Rusly Lingu Djara after a viral video showed him hugging and kissing a male student in a classroom. The disciplinary action, issued under Government Regulation No. 53 of 2010 on Civil Service Discipline, was imposed following an investigation by the education department, though the teacher's parents lodged no formal complaint. The teacher has acknowledged recording the video after school hours and claims the behaviour does not reflect local custom or tradition, despite his close relationships with students as an extracurricular activities supervisor.

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation in Rejang Lebong District, Bengkulu, on 9 March, apprehending Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari, Vice Regent Hendri, and seven others—including three civil servants and four private sector individuals—on suspicion of receiving bribes related to district government projects. The nine suspects were brought to KPK headquarters in Jakarta for intensive questioning, with investigators securing cash, documents, and electronic evidence, whilst details of the specific projects and bribery amounts remain under investigation.

Indonesian Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subianto has promoted Major General Lucky Avianto to become Commander of Komando Gabungan Wilayah Pertahanan (Regional Defence Command) III, replacing Lieutenant General Bambang Trisnohadi. Avianto, a decorated officer known for his military operations in Papua and humanitarian approach to counterinsurgency, will assume the rank of lieutenant general in his new position overseeing defence operations across eastern Indonesia.

Investor Verah Wahyudis Wong has increased her shareholding in PT Lancartama Sejati Tbk (TAMA), a construction services company, by acquiring 11.05 million shares in two transactions on 5 March 2026 at prices ranging from Rp103 to Rp112 per share. This acquisition raised her total ownership stake to 5.89 per cent from the previous 4.96 per cent, exceeding the 5 per cent threshold and triggering disclosure requirements. Wong has stated the purchase is for long-term investment purposes and does not constitute corporate control.

A clinical child psychologist from the University of Indonesia's Psychology Institute explains that whilst a harmonious family environment supports children's emotional development, children from less ideal family situations can still cultivate warmth and empathy if they have at least one consistent, caring adult figure in their life—whether from family or the wider social environment. The key to developing empathy is a child feeling emotionally safe, accepted, and loved unconditionally, which enables them to extend similar care to others.

Jakarta's provincial government has announced a comprehensive review of all padel court permits, particularly in West Jakarta, following the discovery of numerous licensing violations. Authorities have already sealed two facilities—MMT Padel and Atlas Padel—for operating without proper permits, with Atlas Padel additionally constructed on protected green space belonging to the provincial government.

Indonesia's Ministry of Industry has highlighted the significance of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah in bolstering national economic stability and industrial performance, with food and beverage sectors operating at 80 per cent capacity utilisation. The agro-industry sector recorded a trade surplus of $57.58 billion in 2025 and attracted $191.7 trillion in investment, whilst the Ministry is implementing a downstream processing strategy to increase commodity value and will hold a 2026 Eid Bazaar featuring 80 companies spanning large enterprises to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The PKB faction in Jakarta's provincial parliament has sharply criticised Governor Pramono Anung's claims that the Rorotan Refuse Derived Fuel plant is performing adequately, arguing that processing only 1,000 tonnes of waste daily—40 per cent of its 2,500-tonne design capacity—represents a catastrophic failure of the Rp 1.28 trillion project. The faction leader identified three systemic failures: inadequate technical planning, poor contract oversight, and failed communication with affected residents, and called for a special investigative committee and forensic audit to examine the project's specification compliance and budget allocation.

Australia has announced a major military assistance package to the United Arab Emirates, including advanced air-to-air missiles and the deployment of a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail early warning aircraft to the Gulf region in response to escalating Iranian attacks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised that Australia's involvement is purely defensive and aimed at protecting Australian citizens and supporting Gulf allies, whilst confirming that no ground forces will be sent to Iran. The conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, and has prompted a significant exodus of foreign nationals, including approximately 2,600 Australians evacuated so far.

Indonesia's House of Representatives Speaker Maharani expressed profound condolences over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and voiced deep concern about escalating military conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. She emphasised that the conflict threatens global governance and stability, called for strengthening international law and the role of international institutions, and urged the UN to ensure compliance with international law and prevent further escalation. Iran's Assembly of Experts has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader to lead the nation amid ongoing tensions.