Indonesia’s former education minister and ex-Gojek CEO Nadiem Makarim has been detained as a suspect in a high-profile corruption probe linked to a procurement programme involving Google’s Chromebook laptops, with state losses estimated to be US$120 million.
Centred on the country’s digital education push from 2019 to 2022, the case took a dramatic turn on Thursday when Nadiem was taken into custody by the Attorney General’s Office after a third round of questioning.
He will be held for 20 days…
UK gender pay gap reporting requirements face further shift
The UK’s gender pay gap reporting has helped improve transparency around workplace pay disparities, with many organisations demonstrating measurable progress in narrowing the gap – but the Employment Rights Bill will compel large employers to go further by publishing targeted gender pay gap action plans.
Is Trump’s Quad absence a sign of ‘fragile’ US-led alliances?
The anticipated absence of US President Donald Trump from this year’s Quad summit in India is likely to “highlight cracks” in American-led alliances and raise fresh concerns over Washington’s dependability, according to analysts.
While observers say the United States is unlikely to abandon the Quad altogether, they suggest its engagement may fall short of the intensity seen under the previous administration – at a time when regional anxieties over China’s assertiveness remain high.
Citing…
Indonesian working at Asean body fired for ‘inciting’ police HQ to be burnt
An Indonesian staff member of an Asean parliamentary body has been fired and named a criminal suspect after allegedly posting a video urging protesters to set fire to the national police headquarters in Jakarta, amid escalating unrest triggered by a fatal accident involving a police armoured vehicle.
Laras Faizati Khairunnisa, 26, was arrested on Monday and detained a day later following a police investigation into her social media post, which authorities said had incited demonstrators to burn…
EU-US Privacy Shield 2.0 survives legal challenge
A legal challenge against a framework that facilitates the flow of personal data from the EU to the US has failed, in a development a legal expert said businesses will welcome.
Missing Malaysian airman was hiding at girlfriend’s home for 10 days
A Royal Malaysian Air Force personnel member who was reported missing since August 24 was found at a condominium on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. According to police, Muhammad Ammar Mohd Ariffin, 27, was discovered at his girlfriend’s residence.
“The airman, who had earlier been reported missing, was found together with his girlfriend at her unit,” Serdang police chief Muhamad Farid Ahmad said.
The discovery was made by an investigative team from the Serdang police headquarters….
Techno-nationalism is now the critical battlefront in geopolitics
The revival of techno-nationalism is reshaping strategies across continents. The European Union has embraced technological sovereignty with the EU Chips Act and investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology. Japan and South Korea are diversifying supply chains and boosting domestic capacity. India is positioning itself as an alternative hub through the Make in India and Digital India initiatives, aimed at reducing reliance on both China and the West.
Export controls,…
400 Indonesian children ill after eating Prabowo’s free school meals
Around 400 children have fallen ill after eating free school meals in Indonesia’s western Bengkulu Province in the worst case of mass food poisoning to date linked to President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship food programme.
Prabowo launched the programme of free meals for children and pregnant women in January, but the initiative has been marred by mass food poisoning across the archipelago, affecting hundreds of people.
Last month, 365 people fell ill from free school meals in Central Java….
Is Malaysia about to choose a side in the US-China tech war?
Malaysia’s tech sector could risk further US scrutiny over a plan to deepen ties with Chinese semiconductor firms, as it looks to move up the value chain while maintaining access to the world’s biggest consumer market, according to analysts.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is currently on a four-day official visit to China, held high-level talks in Beijing on Tuesday with senior leaders in the Chinese tech sector.
Anwar earlier said the meeting aimed to “discuss and work on the formula” to…
Saudi Arabia law change opens door to foreign property ownership
A recently issued law is set to transform Saudi Arabia’s real estate market from early 2026, unlocking new opportunities for foreign residents and international investors, experts have revealed.