India and Indonesia have commenced the 48-hour validation exercise of joint military drill GARUDA SHAKTI 2026 in East Java. The Special Forces are testing combat skills, jungle warfare tactics, endurance, drone operations and coordination to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation
Four people died and two suffered severe burns while fighting a wildfire in Indonesia’s Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Rising fire hotspots, prolonged dry conditions and El Niño have intensified forest fires, worsening regional haze and prompting school closures in Malaysia
Five people were killed and 41 remained missing after the Mutiara Santosa 2 caught fire in the Java Sea off Indonesia's East Java province. Rescue teams evacuated 225 people, while search operations continued to locate the missing passengers and crew.
