The Indonesian parliament has approved the budget for 2025, setting the stage for President-elect Prabowo Subianto’s administration. The budget, totaling 3,621.3 trillion rupiah ($237 billion), prioritizes economic growth, fiscal discipline, and key social programs.
Baltimore, Maryland, is considering a ‘baby bonus’ program that would provide new parents with $1,000 to reduce childhood poverty. The initiative, modeled after a similar program in Flint, Michigan, aims to offer financial support to families during a critical period in their child’s development. Supporters argue that the program could have a lifelong impact on children, while critics question its effectiveness and cost.
San Francisco has launched a new grocery market where eligible residents can receive free groceries, a program that aims to ease the burden on food stamp holders and address the city’s homelessness problem. The Food Empowerment Market, which cost taxpayers $5.5 million, supplements food stamp benefits and provides a safety net for families facing food insecurity. The program has drawn mixed reactions, with some critics questioning the effectiveness of providing free food without addressing underlying issues like homelessness and addiction.
Political cartoon by Jeff Danziger highlights the ongoing political divide in the United States, with one side advocating for social programs and the other for military spending.
