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Indonesia Court Weighs Bid to Remove Vice-President Gibran
Indonesia’s Constitutional Court is considering a petition seeking to annul Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s election over his foreign education credentials. The case could remove him from office, although opponents argue that only Parliament can initiate the constitutional process.
World Bank Raises South Asia Growth Forecast to 6.9%
The World Bank has raised South Asia’s 2026 growth forecast to 6.9%, largely because of India’s stronger-than-expected performance. India is projected to grow 7.1% in FY27, but the region excluding India will expand by only 3.6%, exposing a widening economic divide.
Drones Strike Two Ships in Bulgaria’s Black Sea Zone
Two cargo ships were struck by drones in Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone, sinking one vessel and prompting an emergency security meeting in Sofia. Eighteen sailors from the second ship were rescued, while the fate of the sunken vessel’s crew remained unclear.
Fighting Resumes in Northern Ethiopia After Mekelle Changes Hands
Federal and allied forces have retaken Mekelle after the TPLF withdrew from the Tigrayan capital, but airstrikes and artillery exchanges continue across northern Ethiopia. The escalation threatens to destroy the fragile peace established in 2022.
Australian Opposition Proposes Country’s Largest Immigration Reduction
Australia’s opposition Coalition has proposed cutting net overseas migration to 100,000 and reducing the temporary-visa population by approximately 650,000 over four years. Graduate, student and humanitarian visas would face the largest reductions.
India and Switzerland Sign Five Agreements as Defence and Nuclear Talks Expand
India and Switzerland signed five agreements covering mobility, transport, research and start-ups as Modi and Guy Parmelin opened talks on defence production, military exchanges and nuclear cooperation. The visit builds on the India-EFTA trade pact and its major investment target.
Nigerian Military Aircraft Crash Kills All 32 People Aboard
A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 has crashed near Igbokoda in Ondo State, killing all 32 people aboard. President Bola Tinubu has declared three days of national mourning and ordered an investigation into the cause of the disaster.
Yemeni Forces Retake Bab el-Mandeb Coast From Houthis
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces say they have retaken Mocha, Dhubab and key positions along the Bab el-Mandeb coast, reversing recent Houthi gains. The status of strategically important Perim Island, however, remains uncertain.
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel Win 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine for discoveries behind optogenetics, a revolutionary technique that allows scientists to activate or silence selected brain cells using light.
Russian Lab Worker Dies After Suspected Plague Exposure
A 28-year-old technician at Russia’s Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute has died after reports of accidental exposure to plague bacteria. Nearly 200 contacts are being monitored, but Russian authorities deny a laboratory accident and say no workplace-linked pathogen was detected.
Whistleblower Who Exposed Lutnick’s Epstein Links Dies
British financial whistleblower Simon Andriesz has died aged 57, months after uncovering records that challenged Howard Lutnick’s account of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Suicide has been reported, but no official cause or evidence of foul play has been released.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Convene Mecca Pact Committee
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are convening the Mecca Pact’s strategic committee in Riyadh to discuss Houthi attacks, a possible political channel with the group and the alliance’s military structure as Yemen’s war intensifies.