Presidential Special Envoy for Food Security Muhamad Mardiono conducted a strategic visit to Bone Bolango Regency, delivering President Prabowo Subianto's message on strengthening national food security and preparing for uncertain global conditions. During the visit, Mardiono held a subsidised market for residents, distributed seed and fertiliser aid, and emphasised the importance of inclusive natural resource management and economic development in agriculture, fisheries, and tourism sectors.

Indonesia's Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti has responded to concerns that artificial intelligence use may lead to intellectual laziness among students by announcing plans to reactivate handwriting activities in schools. The minister outlined a blended learning approach that combines digital education tools with traditional methods, such as having students create handwritten summaries of video-based lessons, arguing that handwriting develops motor skills and fosters authentic thinking.

Rismon Sianipar has filed a request for restorative justice with the Jakarta Metro Police regarding accusations of falsified presidential credentials, though Roy Suryo, the primary defendant, claims he remains unwavering in his allegations and respects Sianipar's decision. The police are currently facilitating the restorative justice process as eight individuals have been named as suspects in the case involving defamation, libel, hate speech, and data manipulation charges.

DPR Chair Puan Maharani announced that all political parties continue detailed discussions on proposed amendments to Indonesia's electoral law (Law No. 7 of 2017) ahead of the 2029 general election. Both formal and informal consultations with the government are underway to ensure the revised legislation will benefit future elections, whilst the legislature prioritises current governance and public welfare over 2029 election politics.

Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni met with President Prabowo Subianto at the Jakarta Presidential Palace to discuss establishing a National Park Funding Task Force. Raja Juli outlined plans to secure adequate funding for Indonesia's 57 national parks beyond the state budget, with the aim of elevating them to international standards.

Indonesia has established a strategic collaboration with Britain to help local startups expand and compete in global markets, with the introduction of a UK Landing Pad programme. Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Nezar Patria highlighted that whilst Indonesia boasts Southeast Asia's largest digital economy, local startups face barriers including regulatory differences, cultural challenges, and weak international networks. The partnership reflects a shared vision that digital innovation should drive sustainable and inclusive growth, positioning Indonesian talent as ambassadors of innovation worldwide.

West Java provincial government is considering a regional loan of approximately 2 trillion rupiah to accelerate infrastructure development, though no formal proposal has yet been submitted to the provincial legislature. The loan is positioned as a contingency measure to address a shortfall of 2.458 trillion rupiah in central government transfer funds, with potential implementation contingent on budget discussions and approval through the revised 2026 regional budget.

Illegal parking along Jalan Matraman Raya in front of the East Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters has become a persistent issue, with vehicles occupying half the road width despite prohibition signs. East Jakarta city authorities responded by deploying 100 personnel from transport, military and police units to enforce regulations, towing four vehicles, though the situation repeatedly recurs due to nearby government services and facilities.

Indonesia has activated its National Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) command post for the Ramadhan and Eid holiday period in 2026 to monitor energy availability and fuel security during the peak travelling season. The government has assured that national fuel reserves exceed 30 days of supply for both petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), with Pertamina Dex available for approximately 45 days and aviation fuel for 37 days. Deputy Minister Yuliot Tanjung has also committed that fuel prices for Pertalite (RON 90) will not increase through the first quarter of 2026.

Indonesia's parliamentary leadership has affirmed commitment to proceeding with the 2026 hajj pilgrimage despite escalating Middle East geopolitical tensions, whilst requiring all organising parties to conduct comprehensive evaluations and mitigation measures. The government has emphasised the priority of ensuring safety and comfort for Indonesia's approximately 210,000 annual hajj pilgrims, with Saudi authorities confirming that holy cities remain secure despite regional airspace closures affecting international flight routes. Parliament intends to undertake detailed studies to determine necessary precautionary steps, including contingency planning for hajj financing and logistics.

The Ministry of Agriculture is developing a 300-hectare coconut cultivation area in Wonosobo District, Central Java, involving 61 farmer groups to strengthen area-based production and promote value-added processing at the farmer level. The initiative includes direct coconut processing activities such as transforming coconut sap into pressed coconut sugar, demonstrating how downstream processing can increase economic returns for farmers and strengthen the national coconut commodity value chain.

PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) has demonstrated that women's empowerment in the ultra-micro sector generates cascading economic and social benefits across individual, family and community levels. Through programmes like PNM Mekaar and ULaMM, which have reached 22.9 million customers organised in approximately 909,000 women's groups across 36 provinces, PNM not only provides capital but also training and character development, fostering grassroots female leadership and economic independence.

Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman has ordered 10 units of a coconut climbing device developed by the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) to replace traditional monkey-assisted harvesting methods. The innovation aims to make coconut harvesting safer and more efficient whilst increasing productivity, with the minister emphasising the government's commitment to translating university research into practical field applications for Indonesian farmers.

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan announced that construction of four waste-to-energy (WtE) power plants is scheduled to begin in June 2026 across four locations: Denpasar, Bekasi, Bogor, and Yogyakarta. The Danantara Investment Management Agency has selected Chinese operators Wangneng Environment Co., Ltd. for Bekasi and Zhejiang Weiming Environment Protection Co., Ltd. for Denpasar, as part of efforts to address urban waste management and develop sustainable energy generation aligned with Presidential Regulation No. 109 of 2025.

The Banyumas Police Resort and 27 district police stations in Central Java are being prepared as free motorcycle parking facilities for residents travelling home during the 2026 Lebaran exodus. The Banyumas Police Chief has urged residents to coordinate with local officers and report their travel plans to ensure homes are monitored whilst unoccupied, emphasising safety measures such as turning off stoves and disconnecting gas regulators. Over 800 police personnel will be deployed across strategic locations during the migration period, with peak exodus traffic predicted to increase by 26.29% compared to normal conditions.

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has confirmed that Indonesia will demonstrate its capability as Deputy Commander of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, with Indonesian military officers deemed capable of fulfilling the responsibility. Indonesia is preparing to deploy approximately 8,000 personnel in the ISF mission, with the deployment to occur in phases, contingent upon the situation not conflicting with national interests.

House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani has confirmed that a revised Copyright Bill will be crafted to protect creators and creative professionals, particularly in the digital age. The bill aims to establish transparent royalty management, strengthen protection for journalists and press companies, address artificial intelligence concerns, and ensure digital platforms act as fair partners to creators rather than simply exploiting their work without adequate compensation.

Muhammad Tito Karnavian, head of the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force for Sumatra, emphasised that private sector support in providing 31 ambulances and medical equipment to disaster-affected regions demonstrates strengthened national resilience and social responsibility. The assistance, channelled through the Ministry of Health and donated by PT Astra International, PT Indomobil Trada Nasional, and Yayasan Imeco Bhakti Nusa, reflects the crucial role of non-governmental support and the spirit of mutual aid in post-disaster recovery efforts.

PT Pertamina Lubricants has launched a comprehensive Ramadan and Eid 2026 programme to support returning travellers during Indonesia's annual exodus, with projections showing 3.67 million vehicles leaving Jakarta and 3.54 million entering the capital. The initiative offers oil change promotions, vehicle maintenance services, rest facilities with free meals, and roadside assistance across major routes including the Pantura coastal highway and major toll roads. The company aims to ensure vehicle safety and traveller comfort during high-volume travel periods characterised by congested traffic.

PT Pesona Sukses Cemerlang, a Salim Group affiliate, has sold 29 million shares in mining company PT Amman Mineral Internasional Tbk (AMMN), reducing its stake from 6.29% to 6.26%. The divestment reflects ongoing portfolio adjustments by the conglomerate, which maintains substantial indirect control over AMMN through multiple business entities, with estimated total ownership reaching 43.72%.

The Indonesian government and toll operators are offering a 30 per cent discount on Trans Java toll tariffs on 15–16 March 2026 during the Lebaran holiday exodus period to ease traffic congestion and encourage early travel. The Jakarta–Semarang route, one of the most popular homebound routes, will see a reduction for Class I vehicles, with additional discounts applied across other toll corridors including Trans Sumatra and sections near Bandung.

A psychiatry specialist from Indonesia's National Central Public Hospital has outlined the key indicators of online gambling addiction, including loss of control over gambling behaviour, prioritising gambling over other activities, and continued escalation despite financial losses. The condition involves a surge in dopamine levels triggered by visual and audio stimuli in gambling platforms, which creates strong pleasurable sensations and forms false beliefs about gambling as an easy way to earn money.

Friderica Widyasari Dewi, the newly elected Chair of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Board of Commissioners, has outlined five priority initiatives for her tenure, with the primary focus on maintaining financial system stability and restoring public confidence in the financial sector, particularly in capital markets. The parliament has confirmed Dewi and four other officials to the OJK Board for the 2026-2031 term, including Deputy Chair Hernawan Bekti Sasongko and heads of various regulatory divisions.

Pertamina's Chief Executive Simon Aloysius Mantiri revealed that two of the company's oil cargo vessels remain trapped in the Hormuz Strait following Iran's closure of the waterway, with crew safety and asset security now the company's primary concern. Two other Pertamina vessels, Paragon and Rinjani, have successfully exited the gulf, though these were destined for non-captive markets in Kenya and India rather than domestic supply. To mitigate risks from Middle Eastern supply disruptions, Pertamina is diversifying its crude oil sourcing from Africa, the Americas, and other regions.

PT PLN's Central Java Distribution Unit has confirmed that the electrical system in the region is safe and reliable during the Ramadhan alert period and Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH, with peak load projected at 3,866 megawatts and available power supply capacity of 7,203 megawatts. The company has mobilised 3,888 standby personnel and extensive operational equipment across 296 priority locations to ensure uninterrupted service and rapid response to any disruptions during the holiday period.

Indonesia's Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has confirmed that the government is preparing for potential forest and land fires (karhutla) in anticipation of a drier dry season in 2026 and an earlier-than-predicted El Niño phenomenon expected in the second half of the year. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that the dry season will begin progressively across Sumatra from May, whilst El Niño may arrive earlier than the previously forecasted 2027. The government has already held coordination meetings and mobilised the Manggala Agni fire-fighting unit across several provinces including Riau and West Kalimantan to prevent forest fires.

Indonesia's Ministry of Religion has prepared 6,859 mosques across the country to provide rest facilities for homebound travellers during the 2026 Eid holiday period. The "Mosque Welcoming Travellers" initiative aims to expand mosque functions beyond prayer services to offer comprehensive facilities including parking, toilets, rest areas, health services, and mobile charging stations, accessible through the Pusaka mobile application.

An Australian aircraft owner has been charged with people smuggling after allegedly coordinating the escape of two fugitives to Indonesia on an undeclared flight in November, with one man wanted for drug trafficking and the other on bail for kidnapping offences in Sydney. The fixed-wing plane flew with its transponder disabled until reaching international waters, departing from a remote location on Cape York peninsula and landing in Indonesia's Papua region where Indonesian officials detained all four men on board. This incident reflects escalating concerns about "black flights" across the porous Australia-Papua New Guinea border and has prompted increased federal police surveillance of Australia's northern coastline.

Ajinomoto Indonesia has achieved a significant reduction in plastic consumption of 1,736 tonnes through 2025 as part of its comprehensive environmental sustainability programme, aligned with the company's commitment to comply with Indonesian Ministry of Environment regulations and support the national target to reduce plastic by 30% by 2029-2030. The initiative includes innovative packaging solutions and expanded partnerships with waste management facilities, including collaborations with startups like Rekosistem and local waste banks across Surabaya, Mojokerto, Karawang, and Bekasi. Through these efforts, Ajinomoto managed 352 tonnes of waste in 2025 whilst creating economic opportunities for local communities.

The Banten Regional Police (Polda Banten) has mobilised 3,972 personnel from the National Police (Polri), Armed Forces (TNI), and related stakeholders for Operation Ketupat Maung 2026 to ensure security during the Eid holiday period. The combined personnel will be stationed at 57 security posts along migration routes and ports throughout Banten to maintain order and provide safe passage for residents during the festive season.

PT Permodalan Nasional Madani's (PNM) Mekaar programme has reached over 22.9 million women across Indonesia through financing, training, and mentorship, creating far-reaching socioeconomic and social impacts beyond individual beneficiaries. The initiative not only strengthens grassroots economic development but also fosters women's leadership at community level and builds social solidarity networks within families and villages. Through integration with the Ultra Micro Holding ecosystem, the programme demonstrates how women's economic empowerment generates cascading benefits for household welfare, children's education, and broader community development.

The Indonesian government is conducting free health screening (CKG) for bus drivers ahead of the Lebaran 2026 exodus, aiming to reduce traffic accidents during the busy travel period. The screening, coordinated by the Ministry of Health, is carried out two weeks before drivers are scheduled to operate and includes blood pressure, blood sugar, alcohol, and drug testing, with 338 drivers from 18 bus operators already participating in central Java and West Java regions.

Rifaldo Aquino Pontoh, an Indonesian national, has been arrested in Bali after being added to Interpol's most-wanted list for alleged involvement in human trafficking operations in Cambodia. The suspect allegedly recruited victims through false job advertisements promising high wages, then exploited them as operators in online scamming networks whilst confiscating their documents and withholding payment. His capture followed coordinated efforts between Indonesian police, Interpol, and Philippine authorities after he was tracked travelling from Cambodia through the Philippines to Indonesia.

Indonesia's Parliament has received a presidential letter regarding three bills, including the highly controversial Cybersecurity and Resilience Bill, which civil society organisations have criticised for threatening human rights and civil liberties. Researchers and advocacy groups argue the bill contains conceptual flaws—conflating cybersecurity with military defence rather than system resilience—and lacks human-centric protections and adequate stakeholder engagement, raising concerns about press freedom and protection for vulnerable groups.

The Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) forecasts a prolonged dry season in April 2026 with below-normal rainfall, posing significant risks to agricultural production. A Universitas Gadjah Mada expert warns that extended droughts cause crop failures and reduced harvests, and advocates for intensified communication between farmers and agricultural extension workers, alongside weather-resistant crop innovation, to build sector resilience.

The article explores how Indonesian workers manage their Tunjangan Hari Raya (THR), or holiday allowance distributed before Eid al-Fitr, through the experiences of two employees. Both workers emphasise the importance of financial planning to ensure the allowance covers seasonal expenses such as festive clothing, family gatherings, education costs, and savings, rather than being spent impulsively.

PT Hutama Marga Waskita (Hamawas) has launched a comprehensive operational alert for the 2026 Eid holiday travel season, deploying 35 operational vehicles and 311 personnel to ensure safe and smooth traffic flow on the Kutepat toll road. The company anticipates a 26.29% increase in outbound traffic and a 96.37% increase in return traffic, with peak periods expected on 14–15 March and 18–19 March for outbound travel, and 24–25 March and 28–29 March for return traffic. The Sinaksak–Simpang Panei toll road section will be operationally opened to distribute traffic and provide alternative routes for travellers.

Gold prices at Indonesian state pawn shop Pegadaian fell on Thursday, 12 March 2026, with Galeri 24 gold dropping Rp32,000 per gram to Rp3,066,000 and UBS gold declining Rp31,000 per gram to Rp3,082,000. The declines were recorded in afternoon trading compared to morning prices.

President Prabowo Subianto held a warm meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at his Jakarta residence on 11 March, where the two discussed crucial bilateral issues and strengthened cooperation between Indonesia and Australia. The Cabinet Secretary indicated the discussions covered important matters and symbolised the close partnership between the two nations, with Prabowo accompanied by several senior ministers including the Defence, Foreign Affairs, and State Secretariat ministers.

WhatsApp has introduced a new parental control feature that enables parents to monitor and manage the accounts of children aged 10-12 years, including restricting contacts and group participation while maintaining end-to-end encryption. Parents can link their own device to their child's account using a PIN-protected system, allowing them to control privacy settings and review messages from unknown contacts. The feature represents WhatsApp's response to safety concerns raised by families and experts regarding secure communication spaces for young users.

Indonesia's Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has reassured the public that the military's Alert Status 1 is merely a precautionary measure to maintain national security amid global conflicts and does not indicate imminent danger. He emphasised that the heightened alert status is based on geostrategic considerations and aims to ensure the nation remains secure whilst maintaining economic stability and public welfare.

Approximately 200 workers at PT Amos Indah Indonesia in Jakarta's Cilincing zone went on strike on 12 March 2026, protesting pressure from management to resign in exchange for holiday allowance payments and ongoing wage uncertainty. The conflict stems from a longstanding breach of a collective bargaining agreement signed in 2017 that obligated the company to convert contract workers to permanent staff after a specified period, with the company instead continuing short-term contracts whilst now leveraging holiday payments to force resignations. Workers, predominantly women supporting their families, have demanded job security guarantees and won a court ruling in late 2024 that remains unenforced whilst the company pursues a cassation appeal.

President Prabowo held talks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince regarding the escalating military conflict in the Middle East, emphasising the urgent need for an immediate halt to hostilities to preserve regional and global stability. The discussion comes as Indonesia has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict, which intensified following US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei.

President Prabowo Subianto received Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, a longtime friend, at his residence in Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on 11 March 2026. The meeting, highlighted by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, underscored the personal warmth and strong cooperation between Indonesia and Australia, with both leaders discussing important bilateral issues. The encounter reflects Prabowo's recent diplomatic engagements, including a prior meeting with Marles during his visit to Australia where he received nine other state delegations.

Indonesia's Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection has emphasised the critical role of families, schools, and communities in creating a safe digital environment for children, citing unwise gadget and social media use as a contributing factor to rising child abuse cases. The ministry is supporting the implementation of Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on Electronic System Operators' Governance in Child Protection, alongside community-based initiatives such as the Indonesian Shared Space programme to strengthen family parenting and child supervision.

Indonesia's Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles have discussed plans to jointly develop a military training facility in Morotai, North Maluku, utilising historical World War II infrastructure. The meeting also covered bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries and trilateral arrangements involving Papua New Guinea and potentially Japan to strengthen defence professionalism.

The Banyumas City Police (Polresta Banyumas) is preparing a comprehensive travel assistant corridor service to support travellers during the 2026 Eid holiday exodus (mudik) in Central Java. The initiative, coordinated between police, local government, and community organisations, will feature mobile workshops for vehicle repairs, mobile medical units for emergency health assistance, tow services, traffic management systems, and rest facilities with health checks and massage services. Additional support services will be strategically deployed in high-traffic zones, particularly in Ajibarang near the Pejagan tollgate, alongside a WhatsApp chatbot service for travellers seeking real-time information.

PAM JAYA, Jakarta's water utility company, has partnered with football club Persija to promote the Tumbler Warriors campaign, encouraging residents to carry reusable tumblers to reduce single-use plastic bottle consumption. The initiative, which previously involved basketball club Pelita Jaya, provides free water refills at Water Purifier facilities located at TransJakarta bus stops including CSW and Bundaran Senayan. PAM JAYA management and Persija players view the campaign as a critical environmental initiative and cultural shift towards sustainable practices among Jakarta's youth.

Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has temporarily suspended operations at a Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) canteen in Pamekasan, East Java, after discovering it was distributing raw catfish to students. The suspension includes mandatory evaluation, guidance, and system improvements for the facility, which serves over 3,300 beneficiaries including children with special needs, kindergarteners, and nursing mothers. The canteen's nutritionist defended the practice, explaining that marinated catfish was chosen to preserve nutritional content and provide additional protein, though the decision has prompted stricter food safety protocols.

Roy Suryo has stated he will defer to his legal team's advice on whether to pursue a restorative justice option in the case accusing President Jokowi of possessing a fake degree, whilst claiming he still holds a "trump card" in the matter. Two of eight suspects—Eggi Sudjana and Damai Hari Lubis—have already had their investigations suspended after requesting restorative justice, with a third suspect, Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar, filing a similar request last week.