Twenty-one pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) have died after becoming trapped in fishing nets in waters near Fuanfuni Village, Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. The National Marine Conservation Area Agency (BKKPN) Kupang reported that whilst 21 whales perished, a further 34 individuals were successfully returned to deep waters alive, with specimens ranging from 2.4 metres to 5.1 metres in length. Combined teams are currently undertaking burial proceedings for the deceased marine mammals.

Indonesia's National Police (Polri) has launched awareness campaigns ahead of the 2026 Eid exodus, encouraging citizens to utilise secure vehicle deposit facilities at police stations and prioritise road safety over speed. The initiative was promoted during a joint social action with journalists distributing 1,500 food packages and iftar meals to street workers and drivers in South Jakarta, emphasising community support for those working during sunset prayers.

President Prabowo Subianto has appealed for the prayers and support of Islamic scholars and religious leaders to help his administration protect the nation and overcome various challenges. During a Nuzulul Quran (Quran Revelation Night) event at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on 10 March 2026, Prabowo emphasised his commitment to combating those who have damaged the economy and pledged to uphold truth and justice through unity and hard work.

Indonesia's Ministry of Finance has distributed Rp4.4 trillion (part of a total Rp10.65 trillion allocation) in additional general allocation funds to 67 regions across three disaster-affected provinces to support post-disaster recovery and compensate for reductions in 2026 budget allocations. The government has also implemented financial relief measures including loan repayment deferrals, extended loan terms of up to 15 years, and conditional write-offs for infrastructure damaged by floods or landslides exceeding 70 per cent, with four regional governments in Sumatra already utilising the PEN loan relaxation programme.

President Prabowo Subianto has emphasised that maintaining peace cannot be achieved through prayer and hope alone, but requires sustained effort and hard work to achieve prosperity and justice. Speaking at the state-level Nuzulul Qur'an commemoration in Jakarta, Prabowo committed Indonesia to working hard to maintain peace whilst honouring all nations and pledged to combat poverty, hunger, and suffering through effective leadership free from corruption.

The Serang City Police are implementing a delay system traffic management scheme at the KM 68 Rest Area on the Tangerang-Merak Toll Road to manage congestion during the 2026 Lebaran holiday exodus towards Merak Port. The initiative, part of Operation Ketupat Maung 2026, will redirect vehicles to the rest area during peak traffic periods, supported by 269 police personnel and 230 personnel from various agencies across multiple security posts.

The Indonesian Defence Ministry (Kemhan) has launched a "Ramadan Blessing" social initiative to distribute thousands of food packages and breaking-of-fast meals to communities in Jakarta, Tangerang, and Bogor throughout the Islamic holy month. The programme, directed by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, aims to distribute 1,000 to 1,500 packages at each location twice weekly for eight distribution events, extending support to vulnerable populations whilst fostering national unity and solidarity.

Bali will observe its most sacred day, Nyepi, on 19 March 2026, forcing closures of tourist attractions and businesses from 18-21 March as the island observes 24 hours of silence. Governor Wayan Koster has mobilised over 20,000 traditional village security guards (pecalang) to enforce observance of Nyepi rules—which prohibit fires, work, travel, and entertainment—amongst residents and tourists alike, whilst coinciding with the national Eid al-Fitr holiday.

President Prabowo Subianto honoured eleven-year-old Muhammad Zian Fahrezi, Indonesia's champion of the children's category at the 3rd International Al-Ameed Qur'anic Recitation Competition held in Karbala, Iraq in 2026, during the Nuzulul Qur'an commemoration at the State Palace. Zian, a fourth-grader from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, comes from a legendary family of Qur'anic reciters and impressed international judges with his stable breathing technique and melodious recitation. The President expressed his appreciation by requesting a private audience with Zian after the event and presented him with a special gift.

The Lampung provincial government has awarded four vocational secondary school students from West Lampung Regency who discovered a security flaw in NASA's website through the US Space Agency's bug bounty programme. The achievement demonstrates that technological excellence does not require residing in major urban centres and reflects the significant potential of young talent in the region for digital technology and cybersecurity.

Indonesia's energy minister has reassured the public that domestic fuel stocks are sufficient and urged against panic buying, despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affecting global oil markets. The government has also committed to maintaining current subsidised fuel prices until mid-March Eid al-Fitr celebrations, with finance officials confirming that the subsidy budget remains secure despite crude oil prices surging above US$100 per barrel.

Jakarta Central Municipality (Pemkot) demolished 31 illegal structures, including kiosks and food stalls, along Jalan Kebon Kacang 30 in Tanah Abang over two days (9-10 March). The enforcement action, which also targeted illegal parking, was conducted in response to public complaints about congestion and obstructed pedestrian access, with all illegal buildings constructed on pavements that disrupted public order.

The Bangli Regency Government has launched a major environmental restoration effort at Lake Batur, with over 5,000 people participating in a community cleanup across four lakeside locations whilst introducing 10,000 tilapia seeds and eco-enzyme to maintain water quality. The initiative, following President Prabowo Subianto's directive on environmental stewardship, aims to preserve the ecologically and culturally significant lake whilst supporting the region's growing tourism sector and the Batur UNESCO Global Geopark designation.

Data from Halodoc reveals mental health complaints surged 27 per cent in the third week of Ramadan compared to pre-fasting levels, with anxiety, sleep disorders and palpitations predominating. The spike is primarily driven by family pressures and relationship conflicts as Eid approaches, with 58 per cent of anxiety triggers stemming from family expectations surrounding marriage, children and financial conditions. Halodoc has introduced an AI-powered digital assistant to help users recognise and manage mental health concerns early, underscoring the importance of mental health awareness during the Ramadan period.

BINUS University has launched the EMAS (Empowering Achievement of Student) scholarship programme to recognise high-achieving prospective students, offering 2 grams of gold and a full 100% waiver of educational contribution fees. The initiative reflects the university's commitment to providing quality education and preparing young talent for professional careers, whilst supporting the government's vision of developing superior human resources for Indonesia's future.

Scientists have discovered a giant 68-million-year-old soft-shelled egg fossil in Antarctica's Seymour Island, measuring approximately 28 cm by 20 cm, which provides new insights into ancient reptile reproduction during the dinosaur era. The discovery, led by palaeontologist Lucas Legendre from the University of Texas at Austin, suggests that large sea reptiles such as mosasaurus may have employed mixed reproductive strategies, laying soft-shelled eggs that hatched in water rather than exclusively giving live birth. The fossil's preservation in stable sediment deposits and its proximity to mosasaurus remains suggest that Antarctica's warmer Late Cretaceous climate supported diverse marine reptile populations, with Seymour Island likely serving as a breeding ground for ancient sea reptiles.

Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), Pertamina's upstream subsidiary, has reaffirmed its commitment to boosting national oil and gas production, achieving approximately 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (MMBOEPD) in 2025 whilst contributing 65 per cent of domestic oil lifting and 35 per cent of gas lifting. For 2026, PHE plans an extensive drilling and exploration programme including 16 exploration wells, 800 production wells, and 1,284 workover operations to manage natural decline and develop both existing and new fields using advanced production enhancement technologies.

Bank Rakyat Indonesia has distributed 811.9 trillion rupiah in sustainable loans as of December 2025, comprising 718.7 trillion in social loans for micro-financing, SMEs, and subsidised housing, plus 93.2 trillion in green loans for environmental projects. The portfolio represents 60.5 per cent of BRI's total lending portfolio and reflects the bank's integration of sustainability principles into its long-term business strategy, aligned with government priorities and international ESG ratings recognition.

A panel of judges questioned former Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim about the origins and usage of the nickname "Mas Menteri" during his testimony as a crown witness in a corruption case concerning Chromebook and Chrome Device Management procurement at the Jakarta Anticorruption Court on 9 March 2026. Nadiem revealed that President Joko Widodo was the first to call him by that nickname, which subsequently went viral, and that the name became widely used beyond close associates, including by ride-sharing drivers. The case involves three defendants accused of causing Rp 2.1 trillion in state financial losses through inflated laptop prices and unnecessary CDM procurement between 2019 and 2022.

South Korea is reportedly accelerating delivery of Cheongung-2 medium-range air defence system missiles to the United Arab Emirates ahead of the contractual schedule, with military transport aircraft observed loading and delivering the systems to Al Dhafra Air Base. The acceleration follows growing Middle East tensions, including recent military exchanges between the United States, Israel, and Iran, with Seoul considering the early delivery request from the UAE to strengthen its regional defence capabilities.

President Prabowo Subianto stated that many powerful world leaders are failing to maintain global peace amid increasing uncertainty and danger. He called for national unity and cohesion amongst Indonesians and other nations to confront these challenges, whilst affirming his commitment to protecting and safeguarding all Indonesians regardless of ethnicity, race, or religion.

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), the upstream subsidiary of Pertamina, is implementing a comprehensive strategy to sustain Indonesia's oil and gas production, including drilling 800 exploitation wells and 16 exploration wells whilst discovering resources worth 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent in 2025. The company, which manages approximately 27 per cent of Indonesia's oil and gas working areas and produced 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025, aims to strengthen exploration, optimise existing fields, and deploy advanced production technologies including enhanced oil recovery methods and carbon capture storage to support the government's energy security transition.

An Indonesian lawmaker has called on the government to develop contingency plans for potential Hajj disruptions, including diplomatic coordination, airline readiness, and emergency financing schemes to protect the 210,000 annual pilgrims. The warning emphasises the need to preserve the sustainability of Hajj funds and ensure the state can handle crisis scenarios involving stranded pilgrims, alternative flight routes, and rising operational costs amid Middle East tensions.

Indonesia's Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has expressed confidence that a court will reject the pre-trial motion filed by former Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas challenging his suspect status in a hajj quota corruption case. The case involves the alleged misallocation of an additional 20,000 hajj permits in 2024, which resulted in approximately 8,400 pilgrims who had waited over 14 years being unable to depart. KPK argues the case involves not only state financial losses but also significant social harm to prospective pilgrims and meets all procedural and evidentiary requirements for prosecution.

President Prabowo Subianto commended Islamic scholar Quraish Shihab's sermon delivered at the state-level Nuzulul Quran commemoration, emphasising that leadership is both destiny and a divine trust to uphold truth, justice, and honesty. Prabowo stressed the importance of unity and harmony amongst Indonesians to face global uncertainties and conflicts, and called for the nation to strengthen cohesion in pursuit of justice and prosperity for all citizens.

The Central Java provincial government has launched a free mudik (homecoming) programme for residents travelling from Jakarta and Bandung to return home for Eid al-Fitr 2026, deploying 346 buses with a combined capacity of over 17,000 seats and 17 train sets with 1,288 seats. The programme will operate on 16-17 March 2026 for departures and includes a return service from 27-28 March, with Governor Ahmad Luthfi calling on local officials to welcome returning migrants and reduce congestion and traffic accidents during the peak holiday period.

Kupang City Government held a Regional Apparatus Forum as part of the 2027 Municipal Government Work Plan (RKPD) consultative planning process, receiving 994 development programme proposals from six districts across infrastructure, economic, and socio-cultural sectors. The forum aims to integrate community aspirations with local development priorities whilst addressing key challenges including poverty reduction, unemployment, stunting prevention, and improved public services delivery.

State-owned gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) has distributed cash assistance to over 359 foundations supporting approximately 8,275 orphaned and disadvantaged children across Indonesia during its Ramadan 2026 Safari programme. The initiative, which spans multiple regions from Sumatra to Kalimantan, forms part of the company's corporate social responsibility commitment and includes additional distribution of Qur'ans and educational comic books to disaster-affected children in Sumatra.

Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chair of Commission III at the Indonesian Parliament (DPR), has committed to donating his entire parliamentary salary through Kitabisa, a crowdfunding platform, until the end of his term in 2029. Kitabisa's Co-Founder Vikra Ijaz confirmed readiness to distribute the donations transparently, with a dedicated page to allow public monitoring of fund distribution and coordination with Sahroni's team on specific aid recipients and sectors.

Busyro Muqoddas, Vice Chairman of the Press Council, emphasised that verification, independence, and ethical commitment are fundamental to journalistic practice, speaking during a refresher training for Journalist Competency Test (UKW) examiners. He stressed that journalists must balance speed in reporting with ethical considerations, maintain strict verification processes, and avoid conflicts of interest to ensure balanced reporting and uphold the press's role as a social watchdog in Indonesia's democracy.

Bank Jakarta is supporting cashless payment systems at the Jakarta Prime Ramadan Bazaar, held on 9-10 March 2026 at Jakarta City Hall, as part of efforts to accelerate digital transaction ecosystems and expand financial literacy among the public and small and medium enterprises. The initiative aims to provide practical transaction experiences whilst widening access to banking services for UMKM operators and communities during Ramadan.

President Prabowo Subianto attended the Nuzululquran commemoration ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, accompanied by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar. The event, which marks the occasion of the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad, was positioned as an opportunity to promote understanding and the application of the Quran in daily life.

An Indonesian aircraft technician working at Tehran's airports has returned home after witnessing daily missile strikes during the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The Indonesian government has begun evacuating its citizens from Iran, with 22 Indonesian nationals returning in the first wave, whilst Foreign Minister Sugiono announced that a second wave of 36 citizens is scheduled for evacuation.

The Indonesian government has begun evacuating its citizens from Iran, with 22 nationals arriving at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang on Tuesday in the first wave of evacuations. Foreign Minister Sugiono announced that another 10 citizens will depart from Iran the following day, with over 36 more registered for subsequent evacuation waves. The arrival was marked by emotional reunions, including one Indonesian woman who embraced her waiting mother upon landing.

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has designated Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari and four others as suspects in an alleged bribery case involving government projects in Bengkulu Province. The suspects were arrested during a raid on 9 March 2026, with nine individuals brought to Jakarta for intensive questioning at KPK headquarters.

President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to maintaining friendly relations with all nations whilst respecting their sovereignty and refusing to interfere in their internal affairs. In a speech at the Nuzulul Quran ceremony at the State Palace, Prabowo emphasised that peace must be pursued through concerted effort to eradicate poverty, hunger, and corruption, which he described as obstacles to national progress recognised by all religions and history.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung received complaints from a mental health survivor about employment discrimination during a visit to a psychiatric hospital in East Jakarta, with the survivor calling for more inclusive hiring practices. The survivor, identified as S, demonstrated that mental health survivors possess valuable professional capabilities, including work experience in content writing and journalism. Governor Pramono responded by offering the survivor an opportunity to demonstrate their writing abilities by composing an article about his leadership.

Telkom is executing its comprehensive TLKM 30 transformation strategy through 2030 to strengthen business fundamentals and improve operational efficiency across its portfolio. The initiative encompasses portfolio restructuring, enhanced corporate governance, subsidiary streamlining, and the creation of strategic holding entities, with notable progress including the spin-off of fibre assets to InfraNexia and ongoing value unlocking from infrastructure assets in data centres and towers.

The Jakarta Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) has conducted inspections of luxury watch retailers across Jakarta as part of enhanced oversight of imported luxury goods and their compliance with customs and tax procedures. The fifth round of inspections seeks to verify that imported goods have proper customs documentation, import notifications, and appropriate duty and tax payments, with authorities currently emphasising an administrative approach rather than enforcement action. These inspections follow earlier seizures of shops including Tiffany & Co outlets and Bening Luxury, where goods were found to lack proper duty payments or were partially smuggled.

The Executive Board of the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PB PMII) has rejected the installation of the South Sulawesi Regional Board of the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) led by Fadel Muhammad Tauphan Anshar, asserting that the appointment violates the organisation's constitutional bylaws and has no legal basis since the current KNPI central leadership's term expired in July 2025. PMII further contends that the installation disregards the voice of major youth organisations within KNPI, particularly the Cipayung Plus group, and reflects exclusionary leadership that undermines KNPI's founding principle of serving as a unifying platform for all youth organisations. PMII has also urged the South Sulawesi Provincial Government to withhold legitimacy from the newly installed regional board.

Indonesia's Labour Ministry has issued a circular directive requiring ride-hailing and delivery platforms to provide religious holiday bonuses (BHR) to registered drivers and couriers, with a minimum amount of 25 per cent of average net income over the past 12 months, to be paid no later than seven days before Eid al-Fitr 1447H. The ministry views the initiative as an important step to strengthen relationships between platforms and their driver-partners whilst supporting workers in the digital economy sector.

Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar emphasised that the Nuzulul Quran commemoration is a crucial moment to embed Quranic values—including justice, brotherhood, and moral responsibility—into public life and practical application. Speaking at the State Palace event, he stressed that Islamic teachings should extend beyond recitation to genuine implementation, and called for citizens to pray for leaders' wisdom in guiding the nation towards the common good.

Indonesia's Defence Ministry (Kemhan) has launched a "Blessed Ramadhan" programme distributing food packages and fast-breaking meals to residents in Jakarta, Bogor, and Tangerang twice weekly throughout the Islamic holy month. The initiative, ordered by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, aims to ease the economic burden on communities and will continue year-round as a "Blessed Friday" programme after Ramadhan ends.

The Disaster Operations Centre (Pusdalops PB) in North Sumatra reports that 5,231 people from 1,509 households remain displaced following a hydrometeorological disaster on 27 November 2025. The majority of displaced persons are concentrated in Central Tapanuli Regency (4,843 people) and South Tapanuli Regency (388 people), with the disaster affecting 20 municipalities and regencies across the province.

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, the downstream subholding of PT Pertamina (Persero), has won three awards at the 15th BUMN Award 2026 held in Jakarta, including Best CEO Driving Execution, Best Organisational Transformation, and Best ESG Company. The awards recognise the company's commitment to sustainable business transformation, strong corporate governance, and creating lasting economic value for Indonesia's energy distribution sector.

The West Jakarta Water Resources Sub-office (Sudin SDA) has mobilised hundreds of pumps to address flooding that affected 33 residential blocks across the district on Monday, 9 March. The agency operates 152 stationary pumps across 49 pump stations, supplemented by 70 mobile pumps deployed at flood-prone locations, though high river water levels have complicated response efforts.

The National Nutrition Agency has temporarily suspended operations of six Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) in North Tapanuli Regency due to failure to meet basic sanitation requirements, including lacking Sanitation Hygiene Compliance Certificates and wastewater treatment facilities. The suspension affects units that exceeded the 30-day deadline for obtaining required certifications after commencing operations, as mandated by the 2026 Free Nutritious Meal Programme guidelines.

Indonesia's anti-corruption commission (KPK) has designated five suspects following a sting operation in Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, including the district regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari. The operation resulted in the detention of nine individuals in total, with KPK identifying three suspects as money providers and two as recipients, whilst seizing cash and documents as evidence.

Indonesia's Finance Minister Purbaya has pledged to recommend bonuses for tax and customs officials if the government achieves an 11 percent tax-to-GDP ratio next year, as part of its strategy to expand fiscal space and boost economic growth. The ministry is prioritising digitalization efforts, including the implementation of the Coretax tax administration system which has already achieved a 30 percent increase in tax revenue, whilst emphasising that personnel integrity remains as critical as system effectiveness in preventing revenue leakage.

Indonesian military chief General Agus Subiyanto has clarified that the military's alert status 1 order is routine procedure, primarily linked to natural disaster response readiness rather than Middle East developments. Subiyanto declined to provide direct answers when questioned about whether the alert related to escalating Middle East tensions, and stated the mobilisation of tactical vehicles at Jakarta's National Monument was a standard readiness exercise to assess response times.