Today's news: El Niño begins and oil prices fall
Indonesia is now preparing for the threat of drought and forest fires as the El Niño weather phenomenon begins. On the international stage, tensions have eased after the United States and Iran reached a peace agreement that resulted in a decline in global oil prices. Domestically, student protests continue in various cities amid concerns regarding security within campus environments.
United States scientists have confirmed that the El Niño phenomenon has officially begun. For Indonesia, this condition increases the risk of extreme weather, rising temperatures, as well as forest and land fires (karhutla). The most significant impact feared is a prolonged drought that could lead to crop failure and dead plants, potentially affecting food prices for the public.
In the global market, world oil prices experienced a decline after the United States and Iran reached a peace agreement through Pakistani mediation. US President Donald Trump welcomed this result and requested that oil supplies flow again. Although it brings a positive impact on energy prices, experts warn that the recovery of the world's oil supply may not immediately return to normal in a short time.
A series of student demonstrations are scheduled to continue in Jakarta, Bandung, and other cities. These actions highlight several issues, including the alleged deployment of the Reserve Component (Komcad)—civilians who receive military training to assist in national defense—when handling protests in Jakarta. The use of military force or its reserves in civil protests is considered dangerous for freedom of expression.
Security issues also plague student journalists at the University of Indonesia (UI) who reported intimidation, stalking, and the distribution of personal data (doxing) after publishing content related to LGBTIQ+ issues. Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, the Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP) campus was again hit by stray bullets allegedly originating from TNI training. This incident is the seventh case to occur within the campus environment since 2016.
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