US President Donald Trump has postponed his scheduled visit to Beijing in late March to meet President Xi Jinping by approximately one month, citing the ongoing war with Iran as requiring his presence in Washington. The postponement reflects Trump's focus on coordinating military operations, dubbed Epic Fury, with senior officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasising the suboptimality of international travel during wartime. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the visit, both nations' economic officials have maintained dialogue, meeting in Paris to preserve close communication.

Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo has reaffirmed the central bank's commitment to stabilising the rupiah, which weakened to Rp16,985 per US dollar as of 16 March 2026 amid deteriorating global conditions affecting emerging markets. The central bank is intensifying currency market interventions across both offshore and domestic markets and optimising monetary instruments to attract foreign capital inflows. Despite intraday gains, some Indonesian banks are still quoting rates near Rp17,000 per dollar, highlighting persistent pressures on the currency.

Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo has expressed confidence that the rupiah will stabilise following increased central bank interventions in the NDF, spot, and DNDF markets to combat weakening triggered by deteriorating global conditions. The rupiah weakened 1.9% to Rp16,985 per US dollar by mid-March 2026, though early trading on 17 March showed a recovery of 0.12% to Rp16,965/US$ despite continued dollar sales by domestic banks at higher rates.

Sri Lanka has implemented Wednesday as a weekly public holiday for government employees from 18 March in response to severe fuel shortages affecting the country. Schools, universities, and courts will also observe the new closure policy, whilst essential services including healthcare, ports, water supply, and customs operations remain exempt. Government agencies may still require staff to work on other days if operationally necessary, and the government has encouraged private sector employers to adopt similar measures.

A member of Indonesia's House of Representatives Commission II, Ali Ahmad, has endorsed President Prabowo Subianto's proposal to cut the salaries of government officials, including ministers and parliamentarians, as a moral demonstration of sacrifice during economic uncertainty. Ahmad advocates expanding this measure into a broader national fiscal discipline movement encompassing ministerial spending efficiency and budget waste control, pointing to Pakistan's similar austerity measures as an example of executive leadership.

The Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology has opened opportunities for enhanced higher education and human resources development collaboration with Palestine following a meeting between Minister Brian Yuliarto and Palestinian Ambassador Abdalfatah A. K. Alsattari. The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral ties through joint research programmes, academic capacity building, and expanded study opportunities for Palestinian students in Indonesia.

PT Pegadaian, a state-owned enterprise, has launched the Safe Homecoming and Shared Hope 2026 programme, providing free transportation to 500 homebound travellers ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations. The initiative, which operates across Indonesia using 84 vehicle units including buses, ships, and trains, demonstrates the company's commitment to supporting the national free homecoming programme whilst ensuring safe and organised travel for citizens returning to their hometowns.

The head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency has requested the Attorney General's Office to deploy prosecutors to assist in overseeing the Free Nutritious Meals Programme, with prosecutors positioned as inspectors to monitor budget absorption across regions. The collaboration is framed as a preventive measure to ensure programme integrity rather than criminal investigation, supporting the Prabowo-Gibran administration's priorities.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo announced that the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) facility at Rorotan in North Jakarta will soon commence full operations, though capacity has been reduced to 1,000 tonnes per day in response to residents' concerns about odour pollution. The provincial government is simultaneously preparing a new gubernatorial regulation mandating household waste segregation into four categories and is finalising construction of three waste-to-energy power plants (PLTSa) as a long-term waste management strategy.

The Presidential Palace has issued a circular to all government ministries and institutions directing them to avoid excessive celebrations during their open house and Halal Bihalal events for Eid al-Fitr 1447 H (2026), following presidential instructions delivered in a cabinet meeting. State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi explained the directive aims to set an example of restraint given that many citizens remain affected by disasters and difficult circumstances.

The Jakarta Provincial Government has announced its readiness to implement President Prabowo Subianto's fuel conservation directive, with work-from-home (WFH) policies being considered as a key measure. Governor Pramono Anung emphasised that Jakarta will align with central government policies to mitigate the impact of global uncertainty, particularly stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts affecting fuel availability and pricing.

Bank Indonesia's Governor Perry Warjiyo reported that US$1.1 billion in foreign capital flowed out of Indonesia's portfolio market in March 2026, a reversal from January's US$1.6 billion inflow, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East between Iran, the United States, and Israel. The conflict has heightened global financial market uncertainty and, combined with rising oil prices and weakening global economic prospects, threatens to widen Indonesia's current account deficit towards the upper bound of 0.9% of GDP.

Customs authorities in Banyuwangi, working with the district prosecutor's office, naval base, and police, seized 6.5 million illegal cigarettes worth approximately Rp 10 billion being transported from Madura to Bali. Four suspects have been arrested and face charges under Indonesia's Excise Law, with potential state losses estimated at Rp 5 billion, as law enforcement intensifies efforts to combat smuggled tobacco trafficking.

Deputy National Police Chief Komjen Dedi Prasetyo inspected readiness at Bakauheni Port in Lampung ahead of the Eid al-Fitr exodus and announced the deployment of the Siger application—a real-time data platform that uses traffic counting and a three-tier alert system (green, yellow, red zones) to manage vehicle congestion across four designated routes. The system enables dynamic traffic management through rest area buffer zones and provides public information services to help distribute traffic flow more evenly and effectively during peak holiday periods.

China has launched shuttle diplomacy between Afghanistan and Pakistan following recent military conflict between the two neighbours, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian calling for restraint, immediate face-to-face dialogue, and swift ceasefires. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has separately telephoned Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, whilst China's special envoy continues mediation efforts between the two nations.

Iran's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati has called for a serious review of relations between Tehran and Gulf states amid escalating conflicts involving the United States and Israel. The ambassador argues that Gulf nations should reduce their dependence on external powers and strengthen regional cooperation, whilst denying Iranian responsibility for attacks on Saudi oil facilities. The comments reflect growing frustration amongst Gulf states over their involvement in a conflict they do not support and their traditional reliance on US security guarantees.

As Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri approaches, beef prices in Sungailiat, Bangka, have surged to Rp150,000 per kilogramme, a Rp10,000 increase from the previous Rp140,000, driven by rising wholesale prices from distributors. Despite the price increase, consumer demand for beef has nearly doubled, with daily sales jumping from approximately 150 kilogrammes to 300 kilogrammes as residents prepare festive meals. The government has established a price corridor for beef at the consumer level of Rp105,000 to Rp140,000 per kilogramme, though market prices have exceeded these guidelines.

The Metro Jakarta Police Chief conducted an inspection of the Cikunir security checkpoint as part of Operation Ketupat Jaya 2026 to ensure personnel readiness and optimal service during the Lebaran homecoming period. The inspection focused on verifying facility preparedness, traffic management procedures, and emphasising a humanitarian approach to public security and comfort. The Head of Basarnas also participated in the inspection to assess disaster response readiness amidst current extreme weather conditions.

The Trump administration has made the removal of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel a non-negotiable precondition for any agreement or normalisation of relations between Washington and Havana. Rather than direct military intervention, the US intends to leverage economic pressure and tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba to force a change in leadership, viewing Díaz-Canel as an ideological communist loyalist obstructing economic reforms.

President Prabowo Subianto has reiterated Indonesia's conviction that participation in the US-led Board of Peace can influence the international body to achieve Palestinian independence through a two-state solution. Indonesia officially joined the BoP on 22 January 2026, facing criticism from civil society and Islamic organisations, compounded by the recent US-Israel joint attack on Iran, though Prabowo has announced the suspension of plans to deploy Indonesian soldiers to Gaza via the International Stabilisation Force pending de-escalation of Middle Eastern tensions.

Indonesia's Village Minister Susanto has endorsed the national MBG (Makan Bergizi Gratis) free meals programme as a mechanism to improve rural living standards whilst stimulating agricultural economic growth through village-based food production. Since its January 2025 launch, the programme has served over 60 million Indonesians, with the government requiring village administrations to allocate at least 20 per cent of funds to food security initiatives, and President Prabowo targeting coverage of approximately 83 million residents by year-end.

Sri Lanka has introduced a QR code-based weekly fuel rationing system for vehicles to address growing concerns over global oil supplies, allocating specific quotas per vehicle type (15 litres for cars, 5 litres for motorcycles, 60 litres for buses). The government system, which commenced on 15 March, aims to prevent hoarding and panic buying whilst ensuring fair distribution of limited fuel stocks; however, the medical profession has warned that allocated quotas are insufficient for healthcare workers responding to emergencies. The country has fuel reserves for only 27 days for petrol and 33 days for diesel, whilst Malaysia's tourism industry has called for temporary fuel subsidies as rising fuel costs threaten operator profitability.

The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) has decided to provide comprehensive protection to the victim, witnesses and victim's family in a caustic acid attack case against a KontraS activist, following an emergency protection period from 13-16 March 2026. The protection covers physical security, medical assistance, procedural rights for victims, and temporary housing and living cost assistance for the victim's family, with the programme lasting six months and renewable as needed. LPSK has condemned the acid attack as a serious human rights violation that contradicts international conventions against torture and cruel treatment.

The Serang-Panimbang toll road Section 2 (Rangkas-Cileles stretch) officially opened toll-free on 12 March for Class I vehicles only, operating from 06:00 to 18:00 until 26 March 2026. The opening reduces travel time from Jakarta to southern Banten's coastal areas to approximately 2.5-3 hours, making it competitive with travel to Puncak, Bogor, and positioning the region as an alternative Eid holiday destination with an estimated 25,000 visitors expected during the 2026 Eid period.

Indonesia's Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi has responded to the death of a 17-year-old student killed in a violent clash between groups of pupils in Bandung, emphasising the need for stronger violence prevention education and environmental oversight. The minister warned that inadequate supervision and tolerance of risky behaviour increases children's vulnerability to conflict and violence, noting the incident potentially violates child protection laws and may fall under the Juvenile Justice System depending on the suspect's age.

Indonesia's National Police (Polri) has prioritised the security of mosques and Eid prayer venues as part of Operation Ketupat 2026, mapping religious sites and coordinating with the Ministry of Transportation. The police have identified five security clusters—toll roads, national arterial roads, ports, places of worship, and tourist areas—with the West Java Regional Police establishing service posts at major mosques to assist worshippers and provide facilities during religious observances.

Despite Tugu Station in Yogyakarta becoming a popular destination for travellers during the pre-Eid 2026 period, porters at the station report stagnant earnings with orders barely exceeding normal daily levels. KAI's regional management reported 48,080 long-distance passengers transiting through Yogyakarta's division on 17 March, with 76% of available tickets already sold for the Eid holiday period, yet the increased passenger volume has not translated into significantly higher income for station workers.

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has temporarily closed 62 Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) under the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme due to non-compliance with menu standards and administrative requirements during Ramadhan. The agency has strengthened oversight involving internal audits, BPKP verification, and coordination with the Attorney General's Office, whilst maintaining a 24-hour public complaint hotline to monitor programme implementation across regions.

The Indonesian government has frozen electricity tariffs for the second quarter (April-June) 2026, maintaining rates for all consumer categories to protect purchasing power ahead of Eid al-Fitr celebrations. The decision was made despite macroeconomic parameters that could have justified rate adjustments, prioritising industrial competitiveness and national economic stability instead.

Jakarta's Deputy Governor Rano Karno announced that Car Free Night will be held along Jalan Jenderal Sudirman-MH Thamrin from 20:00 to 22:00 WIB on the evening of takbiran (Eid prayers), with the timing adjusted to allow residents to prepare for Eid al-Fitr prayers. The event will feature activities including torch processions and the Bedug Festival, whilst private vehicles are banned from the area, though the Transjakarta public transport system will continue operating normally.

Indonesia's Ministry of Labour has established consultation posts to assist workers with Holiday Allowance (THR) inquiries, receiving approximately 2,000 consultations between 14-17 March 2026. As the 7-day deadline for THR payment approaches, the posts are shifting focus to handling complaints, with 1,655 complaints recorded including non-payment, improper payment, and late payment of the mandatory allowance.

Indonesia's middle-class consumers are showing signs of recovery in spending patterns ahead of Eid, with the Mandiri Spending Index rising to 121.6 in early March 2026 and year-on-year growth reaching 6.5%. However, this recovery masks a concerning trend: the Mandiri Saving Index for the middle class has fallen to 100.4 in February 2026, its lowest level since October 2023, leaving this crucial consumer segment increasingly vulnerable with depleted financial buffers despite renewed spending activity.

PT Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) will operate 162 limited-service branch offices across Indonesia during the Eid holiday period from 18-24 March 2026 to ensure customers can conduct essential banking transactions safely before travelling home. The bank will also deploy its digital services including the BYOND superapp, over 6,000 ATMs and CRM terminals, 126,000 agents, and maintain QRIS and EDC payment networks, whilst preparing Rp45 trillion in cash to meet anticipated increased demand for withdrawals during the holiday season.

Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo projects that Indonesia's economic growth will accelerate in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong domestic demand including household consumption boosted by Eid celebrations and holiday bonuses, government social spending, and increased investment including the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives) programme. However, BI cautioned that worsening global economic prospects due to Middle East tensions necessitate closer government-BI coordination to maintain domestic demand and achieve the targeted 4.9-5.7 per cent economic growth for 2026.

Survivors of a flash flood in Tetingi Village, Gayo Lues District, Aceh, are reconstructing their homes from salvaged materials and rubble in preparation for Eid al-Fitr 2026, with many preferring makeshift housing at their original sites over incomplete government temporary shelters. The village's 133 families, all affected by the November 2025 disaster, face infrastructure challenges including insufficient water supply and electrical meter shortages that have prevented full occupation of government-provided temporary housing units.

Andrie Yunus, Vice Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), is in stable condition after being attacked with caustic liquid by an unknown assailant on 12 March 2026 in Central Jakarta. The attack caused chemical burns affecting approximately 20 per cent of his body and severe trauma to his right eye, requiring intensive medical treatment at RSCM including irrigation, tissue cleaning and amnion membrane transplantation.

Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has issued an official certificate recognising Andrie Yunus, a victim of acid attack, as a human rights defender entitled to state protection. The certificate, issued on 17 March 2026, was accompanied by a protection letter sent to the National Police, and Komnas HAM evaluated Yunus based on three criteria: consistent peaceful human rights work, vulnerability to attacks, and no involvement in alleged human rights violations.

PT Triputra Agro Persada has launched the Sehati (Healthy Nutritious Milk) programme to distribute milk to schoolchildren in its operational areas across Jambi, Central Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan as part of its sustainability initiative. The programme, supported by military and government nutrition authorities, has demonstrated positive impacts on student attendance, learning engagement, and physical resilience in areas where it has been running for over a year.

The BPJS Kesehatan Director General has praised Yogyakarta's Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X for his consistent commitment to the National Health Insurance Programme (JKN), which has achieved 99.21% coverage in the Special Region, exceeding the universal health coverage target. The remarks underscore the importance of regional government cooperation in sustaining the programme, which relies on participant and employer contributions rather than tax revenue, with 284.8 million Indonesians now registered as of March 2026.

Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo has downgraded global economic growth forecasts to 3.1% for the year, down from 3.2%, citing the deteriorating impact of Middle Eastern conflict between Iran and the US. The conflict is driving oil prices higher, fuelling global inflation, increasing government bond yields, and triggering capital outflows from emerging markets.

Indonesia's Ministry of Religion has prepared 106 churches, seven Hindu temples, and 45 Buddhist temples positioned along major holiday travel routes to serve as 24-hour rest stops for homebound travellers during the Eid 2026 exodus. The initiative, coordinated across multiple religious directorates, aims to provide safe and comfortable facilities whilst strengthening inter-faith harmony and social solidarity during the peak travel period.

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga has implemented comprehensive preparations to guarantee secure fuel supply across toll roads during the 2026 Lebaran mudik (homecoming) and return journey, including provisions for the one-way traffic system scheduled to commence on 18 March. Fuel consumption is projected to increase by 30 per cent during the peak mudik period, with critical distribution points concentrated in Central Java regions including Brebes, Tegal, and Pekalongan. Pertamina has deployed additional services including modular fuel kiosks, mobile fuel tanker storage units, motorist fuel assistance, and 40 Serambi MyPertamina rest facility locations to manage the anticipated surge in demand.

The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that 97,122 teachers have successfully completed teacher certification under Cohort IV 2025, bringing the total number of certified teachers across four cohorts to 304,661. The certification programme aims to enhance standardised professional competence amongst teachers and provides them with professional allowances as recognition for their dedication to national education.

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga has confirmed adequate fuel and LPG supplies for the public during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr celebrations, mobilising over 1,600 fuel stations and 2,300 LPG agents across Indonesia. The firm has coordinated with the government and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources through a dedicated task force since early March to monitor supplies and prevent shortages during the holiday period.

Escalating military conflict in the Middle East has triggered a severe global energy shock, with Persian Gulf oil production collapsing by nearly 7 million barrels per day following a de facto blockade of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The blockade, triggered by combined US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliation, has forced major producers including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, and Kuwait to slash output sharply as storage facilities reach capacity. With no signs of de-escalation, global energy markets face considerable uncertainty over future oil supply stability.

The Indonesian rupiah opened stronger against the US dollar on 17 March 2026, appreciating 0.12% to Rp16,965 per dollar and reversing the previous day's 0.30% decline. However, major Indonesian banks continue to offer dollar sell rates above Rp17,000, with some banks quoting rates as high as Rp17,265 per dollar across various exchange windows.

Riau Police have achieved a milestone in community infrastructure development, completing 27 of 110 planned bridges with a further 83 in various stages of construction. Regional Police Chief Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan explained that the bridge programme reflects the police force's commitment to serving communities and embodies the Satyahaprabu principle of loyalty to the nation and leadership, whilst contributing to the development of Malay civilisation through regional connectivity.

Residents of Jakarta have gone to considerable lengths to secure free homecoming (mudik) travel tickets offered by the DKI Provincial Government for Lebaran 2026, with some using multiple mobile devices to circumvent registration difficulties. Sri Haryati employed four phones borrowed from family members to successfully register after experiencing repeated login failures on the overloaded registration website. The initiative has proven popular amongst residents seeking to reduce transportation costs during the Lebaran holiday period.

PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) Regional 4 recorded a significant surge in Eid holiday travellers across eastern Indonesia, with 308,473 passengers passing through 20 branch ports between 11 days prior to and 5 days before Eid. Peak departure occurred on day H-8 (13 March 2026) with 46,902 passengers in a single day, whilst the authority operated 461 vessels throughout the period with careful safety protocols maintained.

Rising crude oil prices, driven by Middle East tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, are expected to pressure Indonesia's state budget and weaken the Rupiah. The central bank is forecast to hold its benchmark interest rate in March 2026 but may reduce the BI Rate by 50 basis points by the end of 2026, according to DBS Indonesia's Head of Trading.