Indonesia

Free meals program is under more pressure: after several mass food poisoning incidents affecting over 1.000 students, NGOs and officials are calling for its suspension, citing poor oversight, unsafe kitchens, and rushed expansion

Protests erupted after police killed a motorcycle ride-hailing driver; The demonstrations turned violent, with some parliament buildings set ablaze and by yesterday government agreed to cut lawmakers’ extra pay and housing allowances to calm the unrest

80th Independence Day was celebrated with nationwide festivities on 17 August; the grand ceremony in Jakarta, led by President Prabowo, with a historic flag parade, cultural performances and fireworks, marked the milestone with massive public celebration

Indonesia will build a dedicated “Hajj village” about 400 meters from the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia; the project, part of deepened Jakarta–Riyadh cooperation, aims to ease pilgrimage logistics for Indonesian worshippers

Indonesian films have dominated the domestic box office as of late May, accounting for 75,8% of 50,25 million 2025 cinema admissions; hits like animated film Jumbo drive the trend: with 9,6 million viewers it surpassed Frozen 2 in local popularity

Indonesia’s top court is now reviewing 14 petitions against the new law letting more military officers hold civilian roles, as critics warn it undermines democracy and reform, fearing a return to military dominance seen during Suharto’s authoritarian era

The free meal program, launched in January, has faced at least 10 mass food poisoning incidents, affecting hundreds of students; despite government pledges to safety, lapses in preparation and hygiene persist, raising concerns over the program's oversight

Jakarta plans to launch its own film festival; Deputy Governor Rano Karno envisions the event as a platform to celebrate national cinema, strengthen the local film industry and boost Jakarta's cultural identity

Indonesia ended its first quarter as a full member of the BRICS bloc of developing economies; though candidacy was accepted in August 2023, it formally joined the bloc only after the formation of its newly elected government last year

2.000 more judges are needed in the Supreme Court to solve a growing shortage caused by retirements and vacancies; Chief Justice Syarifuddin urges the government to accelerate recruitment to ensure efficiency and timely case resolutions across the country