🌊 Floods, fashion, and futures: Southeast Asia’s week of turning points
From Vietnam’s climate crisis to Jakarta’s Gen Z runway, the region reflected on survival, style, and sustainability
Your curated wrap-up from The Southeast Asia Desk.
🇻🇳 Vietnam flood crisis: Death toll reaches 143
Catastrophic floods have claimed at least 143 lives and displaced tens of thousands in central Vietnam. Heavy rains continue to batter the region, devastating crops and infrastructure. The disaster underscores Southeast Asia’s mounting climate vulnerability. Read more
🇮🇩 Where do Indonesia’s MSMEs stand in financial literacy?
Micro, small, and medium enterprises remain Indonesia’s economic backbone, yet most still lack access to financial education and tools. A new study highlights the urgency of literacy programs as digital banking and e-commerce reshape the sector. Read more
🥋 Southeast Asia’s martial arts royalty: Champions and cultural icons
From Indonesia’s silat legends to the Thailand’ muay masters, the region’s fighters are gaining global recognition, preserving heritage while pushing the boundaries of modern combat sports. Read more
🎮 Azrealon wins Minecraft championship
The Indonesian gamer Azrealon triumphed at the international Minecraft tournament, beating competitors from Japan and Korea. His victory adds another milestone to the region’s fast-rising e-sports scene. Read more
👗 What Gen Z wears, they mean: Jakarta Youth Summit 2025
Jakarta’s Youth Summit turned fashion into activism, as Gen Z designers used runway collections to comment on climate change, identity, and social justice, signaling how Southeast Asia’s youth blend creativity with conscience. Read more
🌍 The dream of a net-zero future
This week’s The Desk Podcast explored what it would take for Southeast Asia to reach net-zero emissions, from renewable breakthroughs to community-led solutions. Listen to how local innovators are reshaping global sustainability. Read more
🧠 2026: The year AI becomes real
Experts predict 2026 will mark AI’s true breakthrough, not just in labs, but in logistics, healthcare, and governance across Southeast Asia. The challenge: balancing automation with human-centered progress. Read more
🚒 SGFPC 2025: where the world’s best lifesavers meet
The Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) held the Singapore-Global Firefighters & Paramedics Challenge (SGFPC) 2025. 19 emergency responder teams from Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East joined the annual event to compete in scenario-based challenges and highlight international cooperation in firefighting and paramedicine. Read more
☕ Weekend Brew: Threads of resilience
From flooded fields to fashion runways, this week revealed a single thread weaving through Southeast Asia, the quiet determination to adapt, create, and dream forward.
✨ Stories to linger over, one week at a time.
(QOB/ELS)