AGP Executive Report

Education & AI Upskilling: Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education plans to train 361,000 teachers and school staff in 2026 on deep learning, coding, and AI, with a subject-based approach so each field adapts the method differently. Entertainment & Business: Celebrity-backed RANS Entertainment Indonesia debuts on the IDX, jumping 34.12% on its first trading day as it raises Rp429.25 billion and maps funds to events, consumer expansion, and an AI-related venture. Digital Culture & Safety: TikTok is restructuring its global trust-and-safety operations, with new layoffs reported across multiple markets, following earlier Indonesia R&D changes after Tokopedia integration. Viral Media Fact Check: A viral “elephant rescues tiger in Sumatra floods” clip is confirmed AI-generated and not real. Arts & Cultural Exchange: South Korea launches a 2026 youth cultural diplomacy program sending about 700 young creators to 36 countries, including a collaboration at Indonesia’s Bali Arts Festival. Tech for Rural Life: An Indonesian plantation worker goes viral for riding a heavy-lift agricultural drone to commute over fields—sparking both awe and safety debate.

Music & Film Festivals: The New York Asian Film Festival returns for its 25th edition with 69 features and 26 shorts, including Indonesian titles among a lineup spanning China, Japan, and the wider Asian diaspora. Concerts & Live Culture: Fine Arts Guild kicks off its 2026 Performance Park Concert Series this weekend with youth string performances (4 Strings Attached) and an all-vocal fusion set (17th Avenue Allstars). Heritage on the Move: Indonesia and India continue cultural diplomacy around Prambanan, with restoration efforts and shared heritage messaging making headlines across the region. Kids Online Safety: EU lawmakers move closer to restricting children’s social media access, echoing broader debates about age limits and platform design. Indonesia Tech/Climate: Google, McKinsey, and Tencent back Indonesia-linked nature carbon removal deals, spotlighting Sulawesi rainforest restoration as a long-term carbon project. Maritime/Defense News: Indonesia’s Scorpène submarine build-up advances as PT PAL Indonesia prepares domestic construction with France’s Naval Group.

Prambanan Restoration & Cultural Diplomacy: India and Indonesia revived a shared heritage moment as PM Narendra Modi and President Prabowo jointly inaugurated the Prambanan Temple Restoration Project, with India’s Archaeological Survey of India assisting conservation of the UNESCO-listed Hindu mandir complex—positioning heritage as a modern diplomacy pillar. ASEAN Football Branding: Hyundai kicked off the “Hyundai, driving ASEAN as one” campaign for the Hyundai Cup 2026, using football to spotlight regional unity, with the STARGAZER and viral Indonesian “Aura Farming Boy” Dhika as campaign faces. AI & Kids Online Safety: Indonesia moved to block under-16 accounts on high-risk platforms, removing or deactivating 4.8 million suspected underage profiles in the first three months—while critics question whether the approach truly makes children safer. Digital Governance Push: Indonesia warned 22 unregistered platform operators to register as Electronic System Operators, signaling tougher enforcement on compliance. Google Photos Goes AI-Heavy: Google Photos rolled out “Video Remix,” letting users apply AI relighting, background swaps, and stylized effects for shareable clips. Film & Festival Buzz: Locarno unveiled its 2026 lineup, featuring directors Hong Sang-soo, Denis Côté, Basil Da Cunha, and Gurvinder Singh in the main competition. Regional AI Readiness Watch: An ILO report flagged uneven GenAI preparedness across ASEAN, with Cambodia among the least AI-ready—while exposure is already widespread.

Cultural Diplomacy: PM Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the ASI-led restoration of the 9th-century Prambanan Temple, with both leaders framing it as shared heritage and a living symbol of India-Indonesia ties. Music & Pop Culture: Indonesia’s Prabowo gifted Modi an angklung set, and the leaders played “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” together—another reminder of how film music keeps crossing borders. Tech for Everyday Creativity: Google Photos rolled out Gemini-powered “Video Remix,” letting users reimagine videos with new lighting, styles, and background swaps in a few taps. Arts & Emotion: Melbourne’s ACCA opened “Are you lonely tonight? I’m so lonesome I could cry,” an exhibition exploring loneliness in the age of constant connection. Religious Coexistence Spotlight: A piece highlights how Modi’s Prambanan prayers unfolded without backlash in Indonesia, contrasting it with India’s current debates over secularism. Science & Heritage: A study suggests “hobbit” humans on Flores likely survived on Komodo dragon leftovers, reshaping ideas about their behavior.

India–Indonesia Cultural Diplomacy: PM Narendra Modi prayed at Yogyakarta’s 1,000-year-old Prambanan Temple with President Prabowo, calling it a living symbol of shared civilisational ties, and India reaffirmed conservation support for the UNESCO site. Education & Leadership Pipeline: Modi announced IIM Bangalore will open its first overseas campus in Indonesia, aiming to serve students from across ASEAN and deepen tech and innovation cooperation. Defense & Strategic Tech: Jakarta and New Delhi sealed a major BrahMos supersonic cruise missile deal during Modi’s visit, alongside broader pacts spanning defence, maritime, and digital cooperation. AI Governance for SMEs: Indonesia urged inclusive global AI standards at a G20 meeting, warning rules shouldn’t become new compliance barriers for MSMEs. Digital Safety & Youth: A new UN-backed coalition in Geneva targets children’s rights as AI reshapes learning and play, with Indonesia among the founding members. Entertainment Pop Culture: Karan Johar reacted after Modi referenced “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” in Jakarta, framing it as a bridge between India and Indonesia. Online Gambling Crackdown: Indonesia’s OJK ordered banks to enhance due diligence and/or block about 36,000 accounts tied to illegal online gambling. GenAI in Work: The ILO estimates nearly 80 million ASEAN workers face at least minimal GenAI exposure, but large-scale disruption isn’t yet visible.

Bird-singing culture under pressure: A growing wave of lucrative contests is pushing Indonesia’s songbirds toward the brink, raising alarms about sustainability and wildlife protection. Jakarta-India cultural buzz: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto told the Indian diaspora he has “Indian DNA,” saying Indian music makes him move—prompting warm praise from PM Modi and a big pop-culture moment. Defence & tech ties: India and Indonesia signed 14 agreements during Modi’s Jakarta visit, including BrahMos and Astra missile cooperation, plus maritime security, critical minerals, and digital/payment integration. Art & city history: A Jakarta map-focused exhibition at Bartele Gallery traces the city’s transformation over five centuries, using antique maps and rare works to bring Batavia/Jayakarta history to life. Exhibitions to watch: Editors highlight major global shows for July 2026, including photography and contemporary art fairs. Local crime note: Three foreigners were arrested in Malaysia’s Jonker Walk area for alleged pickpocketing, with police citing public tips.

Education & Youth Exchange: PM Narendra Modi announced IIM Bangalore will open its first international campus in Indonesia (Singhasari Special Economic Zone, Malang), targeting ASEAN students and boosting AI/tech/space-linked learning. Defence & Security: India and Indonesia signed deals tied to BrahMos cruise missile systems and air-to-air Astra missiles, alongside broader maritime safety cooperation. Digital Payments for Travel: UPI is set to be integrated with Indonesia’s payment system, easing cross-border spending for tourists and businesses. Cultural Heritage: Modi and Prabowo will launch a conservation project for the 1,000-year-old Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta, with restoration support from India’s Archaeological Survey. Tech for AI Growth: Indonesia’s push for national compute clusters is highlighted as key to moving from AI user to AI player. Local Arts & Sports Note: Pencak silat continues to gain momentum, with a major national championship drawing about 1,500 athletes in Shillong.

Digital Adoption for SMEs: Grab Indonesia says its GrabMerchant AI Assistant has topped 1,083,425 messages and 96.1% satisfaction in under five months, helping merchants make faster decisions from their own sales data. Tourism Rules in Bali: Bali tightens visa enforcement for influencers and content creators on tourist visas, warning that posting for pay or sponsorship can mean illegal work, with fines, deportation, and lifetime bans. India–Indonesia Cultural Spotlight: PM Narendra Modi’s Jakarta arrival included Wayang Kulit Ramayana performances and Bharatanatyam, with Modi praising shared civilisational heritage. Human Rights Watch: Komnas HAM reports a rise in alleged rights violations in 2025, with thousands of complaints and police, corporations, and regional governments among the most cited actors. Public Health & Safety: BPOM flags microplastics as a possible stroke-risk factor, urging international safety standards and lab capacity. Climate Finance: Indonesia’s NEK carbon instrument is projected to pull in up to US$5.8b in green investment and cut an estimated 570m tonnes CO2e, with SERUK registration planned for July 9. Arts & Travel Wellness: Goddess Retreats launches a Creative Goddess Retreat in Bali, blending hands-on arts with slow-living wellness.

Arts & Culture: Indonesian artist Uji “Hahan” Handoko Eko Saputro opens “Days That Slip Away Untouched” at Gajah Gallery, pushing back against algorithm life with paintings, sculptures and sound that blend surreal references to Raden Saleh, Tomás Sánchez and Walter Spies. Floral Spotlight: Gardens by the Bay’s Orchid Extravaganza returns with 7,000+ orchids under “Rhythm of the Rainforest,” spotlighting Indonesia’s native varieties and tiger orchid “queen” blooms, plus wayang kulit and Balinese anyaman sculptures. Local Entertainment & Lifestyle: Gojek launches “Jalan Jajan,” a hyper-local city guide inside the app for school-holiday exploring in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Bali. Music Pop News: K-pop co-ed group KARD announces it will disband after its first album and world tour. Indonesia-Region Watch: Singapore and Indonesia sign new carbon-credits and cross-border energy cooperation plans during the leaders’ retreat in Jakarta. Digital Tourism Rules: Bali tightens enforcement on foreign influencers using tourist visas for online work, with fines, deportation and bans for violations.

Heritage Sports Funding: Malaysia’s MOTAC approved RM400,000 to upgrade the Gasing Pangkah Delima Court in Kampung Pengkalan Renggam, aiming to preserve the traditional sport, boost training for youth, and turn the venue into a heritage tourism landmark after the 2026 DMDI International Gasing Competition. Online Film Access Debate: Bioskopkeren is pitched as a simple way to watch films with a big catalog and easy navigation, but the coverage flags that safety and legality questions still shadow unofficial streaming-style platforms. Digital Child Safety: Indonesia says 3 in 5 children falsify their age to access social media under new child-protection rules, as officials push platforms to improve age assurance while respecting personal data protections. Indonesia-India Spotlight: Ahead of PM Modi’s July 6–11 tour, Indonesia signals interest in Indian defence tech and long-term cooperation, while Indonesia also frames India as a key partner for defence modernisation. Sports in Jakarta: India starts strong at the U-19 Asian Boxing Championships in Jakarta, with Chandrika Pujari and Joyshree Devi winning convincingly on day one. Road Tragedy: Police believe a U-turn sparked a fatal crash in Sarikei, killing three men including an Indonesian national.

Prambanan Jazz Festival 2026: The festival kicked off July 3 at Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta, blending local indie acts, Korean idol rock, and Denmark’s pop-rock legacy—plus highlights like Ali and Lomba Sihir setting the tone on the Guyub Stage. Viral Pop Culture Moment: Indonesian actress Fiona Xie went viral after appearing in TikToker Tokyo Sims’ airport street-interview series, where her witty answers (including saying her “favourite project is being retired”) sparked a wave of netizen reactions. Music & Media Spotlight: Composer Meiro Stamm talked about his journey into composing and his work on Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, focusing on storytelling through music. Sports as Entertainment: France edged Paraguay 1-0 with a Mbappé penalty to reach the World Cup quarterfinals, setting up a Morocco clash after Morocco beat Canada 3-0. Public Safety & Health: Indonesia is drafting a presidential regulation to protect medical and healthcare workers after the death of Dr. Eliza Priscila Utami Pakaenoni, citing intimidation and weak coordination. Urban Life & Culture: A guide to where to art hop this July 2026 points readers to fresh exhibitions and festival programming.

Online Gambling Crackdown: Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Ministry (Komdigi) and Meta have formed a joint team to tackle gambling promo spam, with cyber analysis pointing to bot-driven comment flooding and a sharp recent surge in complaints. Local Governance & Environment: With El Niño fears and landfill blazes already reported near Jakarta, the government has urged regional authorities to boost preparedness for potential repeat landfill fires. Music & Pop Culture: CORTIS’ “REDRED” keeps breaking records on Spotify Korea charts, while the group’s global listener base keeps climbing—Indonesia remains among its biggest audiences. Hospitality & Lifestyle: Gran Meliá Jakarta marks its 30th anniversary with a MURI-recognized 30-meter Beef Rendang Wellington, blending Indonesian flavors with a classic international format. Cultural Heritage: Irau Aco Lun Bawang welcomes back the “pekerur” parade after years away, alongside efforts to train youth in traditional Lun Bawang bamboo music. Tech & Youth Safety: Indonesia also moves to curb underage social media use, including platform actions tied to age-assurance rules. Diplomacy: PM Modi’s upcoming Indonesia-Australia-New Zealand trip is set to spotlight regional ties, including meetings with Prabowo and business engagements in Melbourne.

GoTo Response: GoTo says reports of Tokopedia’s 90% layoffs won’t materially hit its finances, noting it no longer consolidates Tokopedia since its 2024 ownership dilution and expects only limited impact on its share of net profit/loss. Workplace Safety: Penang DOSH issued a stop-work order at a construction site in Bandar Tanjong Pinang after an Indonesian worker was killed by a falling scaffolding platform; investigations are ongoing. Governance & Transparency: Economist Dipo Satria urged Danantara, Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, to publish consolidated financial reports on time to strengthen public trust and governance discipline. Malay Culture Spotlight: Batam hosted the Kenduri Seni Melayu festival (July 3–5), aiming to position the city as a gateway for Malay arts and cultural tourism with performances and workshops from regional partners. Digital Culture & Law: Aceh’s sharia court ordered a couple to be caned 21 times after a TikTok livestream kiss ruling, underscoring how viral content can trigger formal punishment. Tourism How-To: Bali’s 2026 foreign tourist levy (IDR 150,000) is now payable online via the Love Bali portal, with a QR code voucher required on arrival. Entertainment: Crunchyroll confirmed Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle I will stream worldwide starting July 28, with Indonesian subtitles and multiple dub options.

Sharia Law & Viral Social Media: A young couple in Aceh was publicly caned 21 lashes each after kissing during a TikTok livestream, sparking fresh debate over punishment for online “obscenity.” Streaming & Pop Culture: CLOSE YOUR EYES announced new Indonesia stops for its 2026 “BEYOND YOUR EYES” tour—Surabaya (Aug 28) and Jakarta (Aug 30). Animation Buzz: Minions creator Pierre Coffin says George Lucas will appear in the new Minions & Monsters, while Coffin also explains how “Minionese” borrows sounds from multiple languages, including Indonesian. Tech & Platforms: Indonesia has unblocked Reddit after 11 years, citing compliance steps like geoblocking and removal of gambling/pornography content, with continued requirements to register locally. Sports (Regional): Indonesia’s Alas Pilipinas U18 girls’ team was swept by Indonesia in the AVC Girls’ U18 Championship, sending Indonesia into the quarterfinals. Film/Global Industry: Heat 2 casting chatter heats up as reports link Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale to roles in Michael Mann’s sequel.

Papua Conflict: Indonesia’s military says it has recovered and evacuated the body of an American pilot killed by separatists in Highland Papua, after the group claimed the attack was a “message” to the US and Indonesia and that the plane was set on fire. Cybersecurity Law: Lawmakers in Jakarta begin deliberating Indonesia’s long-awaited Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience Bill, with rights advocates warning vague provisions could threaten privacy and free expression. Digital Culture & Travel Rules: Bali tightens oversight of digital nomads and influencer creators, warning that even unpaid barter deals can count as illegal work under tourist visas. Sports Spotlight: Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Japan see Malaysia’s Genevie Lim-Low Zi Yu reach the girls’ doubles semis, while Indonesia’s mixed doubles also advances. Global Arts/Media Buzz: TikTok confirms layoffs in Singapore as it reorganizes trust-and-safety operations. World Cup Fever: Round of 16 matchups take shape, with Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the oldest knockout-stage scorer for Portugal.

Aceh Sharia Enforcement: A young couple in Indonesia’s Aceh province were publicly caned 21 times each after kissing during a TikTok livestream, sparking fresh human-rights backlash over the province’s strict morality code. Telecom & Infrastructure: Indosat completed its fibre carve-out into an open-access wholesale platform, Infra Fiber Teknologi, backed by Arsari Group, aiming to serve operators and digital players across Indonesia. Regional Tech Push: A Korea-ASEAN HPC facility opened in Jakarta to boost AI and data research capacity across Southeast Asia. Live Commerce Growth: AnyMind Group launched a new Bintaro studio hub in Indonesia with about 20 live-shopping studios to help brands scale interactive retail. Digital Policy & Tax: Indonesia’s Finance Ministry will gradually add more marketplace companies as income tax collectors for e-commerce transactions starting Aug. 1, with a 0.5% withholding for qualifying sellers. Arts & Culture Spotlight: MASA Singapore 2026 brings Indonesian fashion, design, art, food, and jamu to Takashimaya and Gardens by the Bay, showcasing the country’s creative scene. Fitness Expansion: VAURA Pilates opened its first Indonesia studio in Menteng, marking its 10th global location.