Third-largest island, biodiversity hotspot, crosses the equator
A Vietnamese cargo vessel carrying 62 people sank near Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands. Rescue operations are ongoing with Vietnamese, Chinese and Philippine teams coordinating as 44 have been rescued and 18 remain missing.
Wildfires across Indonesia have intensified amid a dry El Niño season. The largest blaze, in Mount Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, has scorched hundreds of hectares of land, prompting park closure and air-ground firefighting operations. Authorities warn the fire season will remain severe through August and September.
Indonesia has faced a spike in wildfires driven by a strong El Niño and dry conditions; fires have burned more than 107,000 hectares and pushed flames within metres of the Yiari orangutan rehabilitation centre in West Kalimantan. Authorities are using cloud-seeding aircraft, water-bombing and local teams to fight blazes as haze reaches neighbouring Malaysian Borneo.
The AP and Independent reports show Indonesia facing El Niño-driven drought with thousands of hot spots across Kalimantan and Sumatra. About 3,000 residents have gathered for a rain-prayer in Palembang as firefighting efforts continue and cloud-seeding and water-bombing aircraft expand to curb the haze.
Fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, have burned tens of thousands of acres, triggering a regional haze that is drifting toward Malaysia and Singapore. Health impacts surge as thousands seek care weekly; authorities revoke permits for suspected burners while policing steps up arrests. The El Niño phenomenon is intensifying the dry season, raising the risk of further blazes.
A Quezon City court has issued an arrest warrant accusing Vice‑President Sara Duterte of three counts of grave threats tied to a 2024 online news conference. Bail was set at 120,000 pesos per count; her lawyers say she will post bail and contest the warrant. The charges sit alongside an ongoing Senate impeachment trial and could bar her from office if she is convicted.
A surge in forest and peatland fires across Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra has intensified toxic haze, fueling health risks and prompting international firefighting assistance. El Niño-driven drought and centuries of land degradation are driving the crisis, with cross-border air pollution affecting neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.
Copernicus confirms August 2026 tied for hottest month on record, with Western Europe enjoying its warmest summer. Global oceans reach new highs as El Niño intensifies. Scientists warn that emissions continue to drive extreme conditions and urge rapid action.
Japan has deployed 300 crew members aboard the landing ship JS Kunisaki with three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Kalimantan, Indonesia. The operation marks the first overseas firefighting mission by the JSDF, aiming to reach areas inaccessible to ground teams amid worsening fires driven by El Niño and a prolonged dry season. The effort complements regional and international firefighting support as Indonesia battles recent air pollution and health impacts.
A passenger ferry, the Virgo Transport 8, has lost contact on its route from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. Rescue teams have recovered 107 survivors and six bodies so far; search efforts are ongoing for the remaining people from a manifest listing about 243 on board. Authorities have deployed ships and a helicopter to the vessel's last known position.
A search for the Virgo Transport 8 remains active as authorities extend the operation for seven days. 108 survivors have been rescued, with 83 still missing. Divers are entering wreckage amid challenging conditions; the salvage plan is under discussion as weather and currents complicate recovery.
The Virgo Transport 8 has capsized in rough Java Sea conditions after sending a distress call. Authorities have confirmed several deaths and a large number of missing, with search efforts spanning multiple ships, aircraft and underwater teams.
Global temperatures have surged to new highs, with August marking the hottest month on record and heatwaves driving wildfires in Europe and the US. Scientists warn that a strong El Niño, coupled with ongoing emissions, will push temperatures higher in coming months.
A collection of articles examines how natural landscapes—bogs, peatlands and woodlands—shape climate resilience. Guardian Country Diary pieces highlight how native habitats slow floods and store water, while a New York Times piece tours bog landscapes around the world. An economist report contrasts regional water scarcity in Uttarakhand with rainfall-driven resilience in the UK.
Haze from Indonesian fires has prompted closures in parts of Malaysia and threatens Singapore’s F1 weekend. Air quality has deteriorated to unhealthy levels in several cities, with regional authorities warning of ongoing health risks as El Niño intensifies fire activity.
Indonesian authorities face mounting pressure as forest and peat fires drive toxic haze across Kalimantan and neighboring countries. A West Kalimantan lawsuit targets top officials, demanding accountability, healthcare coverage, and recovery measures while fires worsen dry-season conditions, prompting regional cooperation and emergency responses.