Postcard from Jakarta

With around 42 million people across its sprawling metropolitan area, Jakarta is now the world’s largest city by population, according to recent UN research. But how does a city of that scale keep moving, while tackling challenges from transport and housing to waste, water and energy? On a recent visit for the ASEAN Think Tanks Summit, the Foundation’s Track II Manager Dr James To got a glimpse of how digital technology and innovation are helping Jakarta tackle some of its biggest urban challenges.

China's Clean Energy Boom Looks Different from the Global South

China’s clean-tech dominance may be causing concern in Washington and Brussels, but the view from the Global South is very different. Jawad Khalid looks at how affordable Chinese technology is changing the economics of the energy transition, and the challenge this creates for countries such as New Zealand.

Inside Southeast Asia's Scam Compounds – Book Review

Scam centres have emerged from shadowy criminal outposts into a vast, industrialised global enterprise that prey on human vulnerability. In our latest article, the Foundation's Alex Smith reviews a recent book examining the inner workings of Southeast Asia's rapidly proliferating scam compounds.

Which interesting stories about our region are being reported? Here's a roundup from the past week:

US AND CHINA DISCUSSING RECIPROCAL NUCLEAR SITE VISITS AMID CONCERNS ABOUT A NEW ARMS RACE | CNN

The Trump administration has discussed beginning reciprocal nuclear site visits with China and plans to continue pushing for that possibility during in-person meetings in the coming months, according to sources familiar with the matter.

PHILIPPINE SECURITY COUNCIL LOOKING INTO CHINA-LINKED REMITTANCES TO DUTERTE FAMILY FIRM REUTERS

The Philippines' National Security Council said it is looking into information presented during the impeachment trial of Vice President ​Sara Duterte alleging that a company linked to her ‌husband had received remittances from China and Hong Kong, it said on Tuesday.

AIR QUALITY IN PARTS OF SINGAPORE IN UNHEALTHY RANGE | CNA

Air quality in central, eastern and western Singapore remained in the unhealthy range on Wednesday (Oct 7), with hourly PM2.5 readings in the elevated band. At 7am, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading was 130 in central Singapore, 118 in the east and 117 in the west. The same regions also registered elevated 1-hour PM2.5 readings: 68, 61 and 85, respectively.

INDONESIA SAYS IT WILL HALT FOREST DESTRUCTION FOR RICE PADDIES | THE STRAITS TIMES

Indonesia said on Oct 6 it will halt a project to raze several million hectares of forest to clear land for rice production, saying it had reached self-sufficiency levels of the staple grain. The government launched a programme in 2024 to stop relying on rice imports within five years by clearing three million hectares of land for paddies.

Senior leaders of India's opposition, including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, were taken into police custody in New Delhi on Tuesday during a march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the latest escalation in a weeks-long confrontation over the integrity of the country's voter rolls.

Members of the Parliament from INDIA bloc gathered at Parliament's Makar Dwar and set out on foot for Nirvachan Sadan, the Election Commission of India's (ECI) headquarters. Security personnel stopped the leaders and MPs from proceeding to the commission's building, and MPs from the Biju Janatap Dal (BJD), which is not part of the INDIA bloc, also joined the march, which was halted at Parliament Street. 

While most opposition MPs were held back, Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and othter Congress members entered the grounds of Akashvani Bhawan, about 200 metres from the commission's office, insisting they be allowed to meet the election commissioners. Gandhi climbed over layered steel barricades, waving the national flag, before slipping through police cordons into the All India Radio premises. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MPs Abhishek Banarjee and Derek O'Brien were among those detained after police stopped the march. 

The sit-in began around noon and lasted past 8pm, when police removed Gandhi and others into vans and buses as the MPs resisted. They were released after nearly two hours in custody, ending roughly nine hours of protests in central Delhi. Although some outlets described the leaders as "arrested", Indian police and most domestic reports used the term "detained," which typically referes to temporary custody without formal charges. 

Accounts of the incident differed. Gandhi said he was standing with 300 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, while Delhi Police said no permission had been sought or granted for the rally and that, after repeated non-compliance, around 260 people were detained, including 10 MPs.

Competing claims

Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat of having "hijacked" the country through "vote chori" (vote theft), with Kumar's help. The Congress party said Gandhi had been dragged from a peaceful sit-in.

The Election Commission disputed the opposition's account of a refused meeting. It said no political party had sought an appointment until 4 pm, and that police later informed it that the proposed meeting was with a group of 240 MPs at the Parliament House complex. The commission described the venue and manner of the request as unusual under its established protocol. Police said the leaders were detained from Akashvani Bhavan to maintain law and order, having entered the premises without permission.

The governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed the protest. BJP leaders characterised it as "daily drama" and "street anarchy" and accused Gandhi of attacking constitutional institutions, while national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that the opposition was trying to create anarchy and weaken constitutional bodies for Gandhi's political benefit.

Background: the voter-roll revision

The dispute centres on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a nationwide re-verification of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have long argued the exercise risks disenfranchising eligible voters. Similar marches have happened before: in August 2025, around 300 opposition leaders marched from parliament to the election panel and were detained, at a time when the BJP and the Election Commission rejected the accusations, with the commission saying changes to voter lists are shared with parties and complaints are investigated.

The current wave of protest was triggered by a newspaper investigation. The Indian Express reported on September 23 that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded 14 objections over a 10-month period concerning decisions and procedures within the poll panel. Their objections reportedly concerned changes to Form 6 for new voters, access to electoral-roll databases and the centralisation of election software, including complaints that some orders were issued without their knowledge.

The commission pushed back. It said it was normal procedure for a commissioner to raise questions during discussion, and that all three commissioners have an equal say. Sources also noted that ECI decisions bear the signatures of all three members, and that a majority view prevails when two of the three agree. Notably, Outlook India cautioned that the investigation establishes that the objections were raised, but does not establish proven misconduct by Kumar or the ECI.

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-Asia Media Centre

Asia Insight: Common Ground

The Asia Media Centre marks 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand with a special three-part Asia Insight podcast series.

Sports journalist Stephen Hewson speaks with NZ sports figures  about how sport has helped build connections between the two countries, on and off the field. Hear from Priya Bhika, the first woman of Indian heritage to play hockey for New Zealand; Ramesh Patel, a member of the 1976 Olympic gold medal-winning team; and Selwyn Maister, fellow 1976 Olympian and hockey historian. Keep an eye on the website for more episodes - also available wherever you get your podcasts . 

Listen to the first three episodes in the series, exploring a sporting relationship shaped by community, camaraderie and connection.