JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The head of Indonesia's multi-billion-dollar free meals program resigned on Wednesday just 45 days after taking over from a predecessor who was removed over corruption allegations. Nanik S. Deyang cited health reasons, but her abrupt departure leaves the future of the troubled program in doubt.
Deyang was inaugurated in early June after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto dismissed the National Nutrition Agency's previous head, Dadan Hindayana, because of his involvement in a corruption case related to the ambitious program. Hindayana was arrested shortly after his dismissal.
The program aimed to deliver on a key campaign promise of President Prabowo Subianto, promising to fight malnutrition by feeding nearly 90 million children and pregnant women. But it has come under steep criticism due to high costs and cases of food poisoning among schoolchildren, in addition to corruption allegations.
Deyang wrote on Facebook that she was resigning because needs to undergo heart treatment abroad.
“I also conveyed to the president with my deepest apologies that it seemed I would have to step down as Head of the National Nutrition Agency, for the sake of my health, and because the president was concerned and sympathetic toward me, he agreed, though he asked that I continue to help oversee the agency,” Deyang said on Wednesday.
During Deyang's 45 days as head of the agency, the government reduced the annual budget for the program from 268 trillion rupiah ($15 billion) to 229 trillion rupiah (around $12 billion).
The agency says it has has conducted an evaluation of the recipients of free nutritious meals, emphasizing that its primary focus at this time is not merely to cut the budget, but to make the program’s distribution management more effective and targeted.
FILE - The head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency, Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, talks to journalists after her swearing-in ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)
SEATTLE (AP) — Eugenio Suárez homered against his former team and Chase Burns pitched five scoreless innings as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Suárez, who played parts of three seasons for the Mariners, drilled a first-pitch fastball from starter Luis Castillo for a solo shot to give Cincinnati a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Suárez tied Eric Davis for 10th place on Cincinnati’s career home run list with his 203rd in a Reds uniform.
Burns (12-1), who agreed to a $105 million, seven-year contract on Saturday, gave up just three hits, struck out six and walked one. The Mariners advanced a runner into scoring position only twice against the All-Star right-hander.
Cincinnati struck first on a leadoff home run by Elly De La Cruz, the eighth of his career. The Reds tacked on insurance runs with a sacrifice fly by Sal Stewart in the fifth and a solo homer by Nathaniel Lowe in the ninth.
Castillo (3-9) threw a season-high seven innings for Seattle. Weston Wilson plated the Mariners’ first run with a homer in the seventh. Julio Rodríguez, who began the night on the bench after exiting Monday’s game early, added a solo shot in the eighth.
Emilio Pagán threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his eighth save.
Seattle infielder J.P. Crawford missed the game with a sore wrist. Reds infielder Spencer Steer sat out after he was hit by a pitch in the ribs Monday.
RHP Emerson Hancock (6-4, 3.17 ERA) gets the ball for Seattle in the finale of the three-game series against Reds RHP Brady Singer (4-9, 4.56) on Wednesday afternoon.
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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo looks on after giving up a solo home run to Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Mariners center fielder Victor Robles can't get to the solo home run from Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz hits a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez, right, celebrates his solo home run with third base coach Willie Harris, left, as he runs the bases during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
