World News Summary: From Fuel Protests in Jakarta to the 2026 World Cup Opening
Students in Jakarta held large-scale protests to reject the fuel price hike. They gathered in the Bundaran HI area despite police attempts to divert the crowd to the DPR building. The students stated that this action was taken so that the public realizes the current economic condition is not doing well.
The price increase of non-subsidized fuel like Pertamax, which reached 30%, has begun to have a wide impact on the community. Many online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers feel heavily burdened by increased operational costs. As a result, many drivers are now switching to Pertalite, which is feared will cause the government's subsidy budget to swell further.
Legal issues involving members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) have also caught public attention. On one hand, a military court has sentenced four soldiers to prison for attacking activist Andrie Yunus. However, in North Sumatra, a mother feels deeply disappointed and has not received justice after the TNI soldier who killed her son was sentenced to only 10 months in prison. These cases have sparked debate regarding transparency in the military justice system.
On the international stage, Donald Trump claimed that a peace deal to end the conflict with Iran was nearly reached. However, the Iranian government immediately denied the claim, calling it speculative news. Meanwhile, tensions between the United States and China continue after the US added the electric car company BYD to a list of companies allegedly linked to the Chinese military.
News from the sports world, the 2026 World Cup has officially begun in Mexico City, Mexico. The opening ceremony was very festive with a performance by famous singer Shakira and various cultural dances, although the event was also marked by protests. To welcome this major tournament, a special guide is also available for beginner football fans so they can better understand the rules and history of this prestigious competition.
In Indonesia, the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program is facing sharp criticism. Observers suggest that the government temporarily halt this program to conduct a thorough evaluation. Issues such as alleged corruption and the closure of several nutrition service units are reasons why a change in leadership alone is considered insufficient to fix the program.
Finally, the security situation in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is reported to be unstable. Riots broke out following a stabbing incident, where hundreds of people began attacking migrant and immigrant groups. Authorities reported that many residents were targeted for violence solely because of their ethnic background, sparking international concern regarding racism.