Southeast Asian republic with vast archipelago and evolving regional clout
A US-backed Board of Peace has presented a six-month, $2.45bn, 66-project recovery plan for Gaza but implementation has not started. Israel has expanded control over much of the Strip, Hamas has not fully disarmed, donor pledges remain largely unpaid and international forces and Palestinian technocrats have not entered to begin reconstruction.
A gunman has opened fire outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, wounding a police officer; the suspect has died after hospitalisation. Ontarios SIU and Belleville police have opened investigations and police have increased patrols near places of worship. Separately, Reform synagogues in Jerusalem and other countries have reported repeated vandalism and harassment targeting LGBTQ-friendly and non-Orthodox communities.
Climate patterns have intensified this year, driving heatwaves, droughts and floods across multiple regions. Governments are mobilising finance, strengthening resilience, and adjusting policies as temperatures and rainfall shift. Aid budgets face pressure while activists warn of rising humanitarian needs.
The Koronea Family Office has spent almost $70 million to take a controlling stake in Atlas Trafo, part of a broader push to build an international power engineering group around ZPUE, a Polish industrial legacy. The strategy reflects a private family-backed move into cross-border acquisitions.
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.
The EPA has rolled back Biden-era power-plant emissions rules as part of a broader deregulatory push. The move, announced at a G20 energy ministers meeting, removes requirements for fossil-fuel plants to install emissions-control technologies and could reshape the nation’s emissions trajectory.
El Niño is strengthening, with forecasts predicting historic intensity. Reports show drought in Central America’s Dry Corridor and a UK weather shift toward wetter, stormier conditions. Scientists warn impacts will extend into 2027 as temperatures rise globally and rainfall patterns shift.
BRICS leaders have adopted the New Delhi Declaration, calling for maximum restraint in the Middle East, protection of civilians and nuclear facilities, and opposing unilateral trade measures. The statement has avoided naming the US, Israel or Iran and authorised a payments task force to ease local‑currency settlements among members.
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.
A 56-year-old man and his two young children were found dead at a Kuta, Bali home after neighbours checked on the family following a call from the wife in Jakarta. Police treat the case as a suspected murder-suicide and are continuing forensic examinations and interviews. The wife remains in shock in Jakarta.
Norway has proposed a bill to criminalize trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem after consultations, aligning with broader Western sanctions. The measure targets goods from settlements, including wine and construction materials, amid escalating regional tensions and international criticism.
Meta has rolled out new paid tiers for its AI tools across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, expanding access to Muse AI capabilities for power users, businesses and creators. Core and Premium consumer plans boost AI usage and add features like AI-generated media tools, Restyle editing, and more extensive analytics and team access for businesses. Early data suggest rising revenue from existing Plus subscriptions, while analysts forecast further revenue growth by 2028-2030.
Global Witness reports 124 killings of land and environmental defenders in 2025, led by Colombia (39) and Brazil (26). Indigenous people and small-scale farmers bear the brunt, with a notable overlap with organised crime. The total since 2012 reaches 2,375, though the rate shows some regional variation.
The BRICS bloc has expanded to include new members and partners, and its leaders are pursuing deeper practical cooperation across politics, economy, and security. Xi and Modi are signaling a push for a multipolar world, with open-source AI, special zones, and service-trade forums on the agenda. The summit in New Delhi is framed as a step toward a broader Global South alliance.
Indonesia has received the former Italian warship Giuseppe Garibaldi, now KRI Gajah Mada/Sriwijaya-100, and will convert it into a mobile base for helicopters and drones to support disaster response and maritime operations. The transfer, part of Italy’s defense engagement, has sparked debate over cost and necessity amid fiscal pressures.
A trio of dispatches examines how language policy, script revival, and religious identity are evolving across the Muslim world—from Algeria’s shift to English as a primary foreign language in schools, to Indonesia’s Pegon script revival, to the Maldives’ commemorations of 900 Hijri years and the enduring place of Islam in national life.
Australia has pressed for stronger AI regulations and digital safety standards at the UN General Assembly, highlighting new online safety laws and a proposed digital duty of care. Prime Minister Albanese has met tech leaders in the United States to discuss algorithm opt-outs and safeguards, while Apple has signalled cooperation on child safety online.
The El Niño weather pattern has intensified, with multiple reports showing record sea-surface temperatures and forecasts of extreme heat. Scientists warn that global impacts will intensify through 2027, affecting temperatures, rainfall, and wildfire risk across regions from the Pacific to Africa and the Americas.
Saudi Arabia hosts 500+ exhibitors from 25 countries for the fourth edition in Jeddah. Indonesia will showcase designers and jumputan textiles to spotlight its modest fashion on a global stage. Indonesian brands expect doors to open for partnerships and market access, with Saudi demand projected to grow toward a $40 billion market by 2029.
Projections show 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally between June and February 2027, with Nigeria, Sudan, Niger and Chad bearing the heaviest impact. The Climate Impact Lab says emergency actions now can save tens of thousands of lives as El Niño intensifies.
Investigators have found more than 10 housing units outside regular prison cells at Cibinong Prison in Bogor, near Jakarta, with amenities such as air conditioning, TVs, fridges, sofas and dining areas. A gym and a golf simulator are under construction. Five officials have been suspended as authorities examine whether inmates received special accommodations through bribery.
Japan hosts a delayed, chaotic Asian Games with logistical issues shadowing standout performances. China leads in diving and tennis through young stars like Yu Zidi and Wang Xiyu; Japan and other nations show flashes of talent while organisers face criticism over accommodation and transport.
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.
India secures multiple medals across disciplines at the Asian Games in Japan, with Neeru Dhanda’s trap gold, Vithya Ramraj’s 4x400m haul, and Sahil Jadhav’s archery success highlighting triumphs against financial and logistic hurdles.
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.
Firmus Technologies has scrapped its planned ASX listing, citing market volatility and a valuation investors deemed excessive. The Nvidia-backed AI-datacentre developer will pursue private funding and alternative public options. Backers include Nvidia, Coatue, Blackstone and Jane Street. The move underscores caution around AI IPOs despite the sector’s hype.