Geopolitical region in the tropics, straddling seismic belts and trade routes
A 14-year-old student has killed his grandparents, opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School northwest of Bangkok and taken his own life. Police have said several teachers and students have died and more than 30 people have been wounded; authorities are treating multiple victims in hospital and questioning witnesses.
A 14-year-old killed eight people at Debsirin Nonthaburi School and his grandparents before taking his own life. Investigators say the gun belonged to the grandfather. Authorities are proposing tighter gun laws as Thailand confronts rising civilian gun ownership and a spate of shootings.
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 is battling widespread wildfires that have scorched tens of thousands of hectares, forcing school closures and online learning in affected provinces. Authorities are deploying cloud-seeding aircraft and firefighting efforts across six provinces with more than 107,000 hectares burned this year. The country faces a harsher dry season linked to El Niño.
A magnitude-7.7 quake has devastated Flores island, Indonesia, killing at least 53 and displacing thousands. Emergency tents replace damaged hospitals as aftershocks and landslides disrupt aid deliveries. Indonesia has deployed thousands of troops and tonnes of aid, while authorities warn the toll could rise amid damaged infrastructure and blocked roads.
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.
Pavinee Supasirivisan has been found guilty under a provision for foreign nationals who commit crimes in Myanmar. She is held at Insein Prison. The case relates to the death of a U.S. diplomat near the U.S. Embassy in Yangon. The sentencing ranges from six months to five years, with murder charges still unclear. Authorities and officials have not provided full details.
Cambodian authorities say they have eradicated large-scale online scam operations and tightened cyber laws after a sweeping crackdown that detained thousands and shut many compounds. Critics warn that fraud networks persist and recruitment continues, highlighting doubts about the scope of the success.
Rainfall is expected to be highly unusual for Israel this season, with the IMS forecasting heavy showers, thunderstorms and possible urban flooding in northern coastal areas, Tel Aviv and surrounding regions as part of a strong El Niño-driven pattern in fall 2026.
Leaders have convened in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th‑anniversary summit. Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin bilateral ties have grown "more solid" and promised "even brighter" prospects. The summit has drawn over a dozen heads of state while bilateral talks are focusing on economic cooperation, visa regimes and security topics as wars in Ukraine and between the US and Iran shape the agenda.
UK food scene sees sweetcorn crossing into desserts and drinks as trend forecasters note swavoury pairings and experimental recipes. From corn milk lattes to danishes, bakers and cafes are testing sweet treats that blend sweet and savoury flavors.
The wasp spider has been spotted in Worcestershire and other areas, expanding its range northward amid warmer winters. Experts say the species is spreading from the south and establishes itself when weather stays warm, with female spiders laying eggs before winter. Public reporting and careful monitoring are urged.
British nationals arrested abroad for drug smuggling have surged, according to government figures. Since 2023, arrests rose from about 80 to over 340 in 2025, with cannabis from Thailand and Southeast Asia driving the spike. Authorities warn of harsh penalties and dangerous conditions for those detained. A separate case in Australia involves two Britons charged with large-scale drug distribution.
The Langtang Lirung glacier has collapsed, unleashing floods that have killed and displaced thousands along the Nepal‑Tibet border. A World Weather Attribution study finds climate change is a destabilising factor, with warming, glacier thinning and permafrost thaw preconditioning the slope, while a historic 2015 earthquake may have weakened the rock. July–August 2026 were the warmest on record in the region, intensifying meltwater and stress on mountain walls.
Oil prices have fallen after data showed Asia is set to import its highest monthly crude volume since the US–Iran war began, while traders continue to monitor UN‑level diplomacy and regional tensions. Brent has slipped near $102 a barrel and U.S. crude is trading in the low $90s as markets weigh rising Asian flows against Middle East risks.
Heavy rain has dumped roughly 300–330mm across Bangkok since late September, forcing the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to declare all 50 districts disaster zones. Major roads and canals have flooded, about 52,000 households and thousands of residents have been affected, airports and businesses have suffered disruptions, and authorities have opened shelters and emergency relief funds.
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.
A review of recent articles shows the Malacca Strait crisis is intensifying, with maritime blockades constraining energy flows and testing international law. Analysts say diversifying routes and boosting military presence will shape global trade and security dynamics.
Indonesia’s intense forest and peatland fires persist as El Niño drives drought, triggering cross-border haze that harms air quality and public health across Southeast Asia. Regional governments deploy firefighting personnel and aircraft while communities demand accountability and action to stop the cycle of fires and costs.
The haze crisis driven by Indonesian forest and peatland fires has prompted Singapore to consider enforcement under its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. Singapore and regional partners are coordinating with Indonesia, with regional leaders promising action to address root causes as air quality remains unhealthy.
The IUCN has classified 96% of the world’s shallow-water coral reef systems as critically endangered and warned of possible ecosystem collapse by 2075 if current warming continues. The assessment, presented at COP17, blames heat stress from climate change and adds that reefs still show pockets of resilience that stronger emissions cuts and local conservation can protect.
Indonesian authorities have seized about 1.2 tons of liquid methamphetamine and 1.16 tons of ketamine hydrochloride in linked operations in Aceh and North Sumatra. Eight crew members—seven Indonesians and one Taiwanese—are in custody, as police trace links to international traffickers amid broader crackdowns on Southeast Asia’s drug networks.
China has held its fifth plenum and adopted a resolution targeting a culture of passive officials known as lao hao ren. The Central Committee has vowed to revive and enforce criticism and self-criticism sessions, intensify anti-corruption measures and promote loyal cadres, while promoting military anti-graft chief Zhang Shengmin to the Politburo.
The Lancet Countdown shows health harms from climate change have grown since the Paris Agreement. Heat-related deaths rose globally, with 2023 linked to 710,000 deaths and drought affecting half the world’s land in 2025. Clean energy investment rose, but fossil fuels still dominate energy supply. Experts call for placing health at the centre of climate decisions ahead of Cop31.