World News Summary: From Humanitarian Issues in Gaza to New Indonesian Government Policies
Today's headlines begin with tensions in the Middle East involving Indonesian citizens (WNI). Several Indonesian citizens were arrested by Israeli authorities while participating in a humanitarian mission to Gaza. The situation escalated after Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, uploaded a video mocking the activists while they were handcuffed. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the action, while the families of the citizens in Indonesia expressed deep anxiety and emphasized that their children are not terrorists.
Domestically, President Prabowo Subianto delivered his inaugural speech focusing on strengthening the national economy. The President assigned State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) to control commodity exports to maintain economic stability. At the same time, Bank Indonesia (BI) decided to raise interest rates as a step to address the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar.
However, President Prabowo's leadership has also come under scrutiny regarding freedom of expression. A recent report mentions that security forces have begun using the "foreign agent" narrative to silence journalists and activists critical of the government. The use of this label is considered a new way to limit criticism, after narratives such as "communist" or "radical" were previously frequently used.
From the international stage, US President Donald Trump claimed to have canceled plans for a military strike against Iran. This decision was made after persuasion from Gulf countries concerned about the security impact in the region. Meanwhile, a heroic act occurred in San Diego, USA, where a security guard named Amin Abdullah was killed while trying to stop a shooter at a mosque. Local congregants called him a hero for saving many lives.
Returning to domestic issues, the government plans to involve 36 correctional facilities (prisons) to manage the kitchens for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program starting in 2026. However, this plan has received criticism from a civil society coalition requesting the government to cancel the decision due to doubts about the hygiene standards and quality of food produced inside prisons.
In the legal and social fields, a military court is hearing the case of an acid attack against Andrie Yunus. A medical expert witness stated that the victim suffered permanent disability in his eyes as a result of the attack. Additionally, there are reports concerning residents of Cisadon Village in Bogor who have yet to receive electricity from PLN. Ironically, this village, which still relies on waterwheels, is located very close to President Prabowo's private residence.
Finally, the international fashion world is abuzz with the mystery surrounding the death of Isak Andic, the founder of the renowned clothing brand, Mango. His son, Jonathan Andic, has firmly denied any involvement in his father's death. To date, authorities are still investigating whether the major businessman's death was purely an accident or a case of murder.