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