Indonesian authorities arrested Susanto, the newly appointed chief ombudsman, on bribery charges just six days after he assumed the role. The case centers on allegations that he accepted 1.5 billion rupiah ($87,309) from a nickel company during his tenure as a board member at the ombudsman office between 2021 and 2026. The arrest is notable both for its speed and its target: the ombudsman is Indonesia's primary public oversight body, charged with investigating maladministration and corruption in government services. The alleged payment from a nickel sector actor draws scrutiny to Indonesia's critical minerals governance at a moment when the country is central to global nickel supply chains and attracting significant foreign investment in battery metals. Investors and policy observers will watch whether the case triggers broader reform pressure on Indonesia's oversight institutions or complicates the government's pitch to international partners on governance standards in its resource sector.
Venezuela's earthquake death toll has reached 1,430 with the US Geological Survey warning fatalities could top 10,000, placing it among Latin America's deadliest in a century. US military planes are landing in Caracas, Washington is mobilising $150 million in aid, and rescue teams from 17 countries are on the ground.
Iranian armed forces attacked a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, briefly halting traffic through the waterway. The strike threatens a fragile US-Iran arrangement and could push shipping insurance costs and oil prices higher.
The US has struck Iran, with President Trump citing an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz as justification. The action raises immediate risks for global oil flows through one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.
The US struck ten Iranian targets on the second consecutive day of military action, putting a fragile ceasefire under serious pressure. The escalation raises immediate risks for Gulf shipping, global oil supply, and regional stability.
