🌊 Waters Rising, skills shining: Southeast Asia’s week of extremes
From climate emergencies to global stages, the region faced mounting risks while showcasing resilience and talent
Your curated wrap-up from The Southeast Asia Desk.
🌧️ A region under water: Southeast Asia’s flood emergency
Unrelenting rains have submerged large parts of Southeast Asia, displacing hundreds of thousands from Vietnam to Indonesia. Experts warn that climate-driven flooding is no longer episodic but structural, demanding urgent shifts in urban planning, disaster readiness, and regional cooperation.
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🇮🇩 Driving power & resilience in Indonesia’s energy transition
Indonesia is accelerating investments in grid resilience and clean energy infrastructure amid increasingly frequent extreme weather events that disrupt power supply. Policymakers say energy security and climate adaptation must now move in tandem. Yana Haikal, Country Manager and President Director of PT Eaton Industries Indonesia, delivers his views on this on our Regional Line.
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🇮🇩 ISS 2025: Driving growth in Indonesia’s sports industry & sports tourism
Indonesia hosted the Indonesia Sports Summit (ISS) 2025 on 6–7 December at Indonesia Arena, Jakarta — gathering 20 speakers and 100 partners from government, industry, and sports to map the country’s sports and sports-tourism strategy. The goal: align stakeholders and push Indonesia’s sports sector from informal enthusiasm to structured economic growth.
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🛠️ Southeast Asia shines at WorldSkills
Competitors from across Southeast Asia delivered standout performances at WorldSkills, reinforcing the region’s strength in technical and vocational education. The results spotlight ASEAN’s human capital as a key driver of future growth.
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🏅 SEA Games 2025: Unity on display
Preparations for the 2025 SEA Games are gaining momentum, with organizers emphasizing regional unity, youth participation, and sustainability. Beyond medals, the Games are shaping up as a diplomatic and cultural showcase.
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🎬 AIFFA 2025: Southeast Asia’s cinema steps forward
The ASEAN International Film Festival & Awards (AIFFA) 2025 highlighted the growing confidence of Southeast Asian cinema. Filmmakers are increasingly telling local stories with global appeal — and being recognized for it.
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🏙️ Megacities on the edge
In this week’s The Desk Podcast, experts unpack the future of Asia’s megacities — from Jakarta to Manila — as climate pressure, housing stress, and population density collide. The question is no longer growth, but survivability.
Listen here
☕ Editorial notes: Talent amid the tides
As floods rise and cities strain, Southeast Asia continues to produce world-class skills, stories, and solidarity. From workshop floors to film screens, the region’s people remain its strongest defense against an uncertain future.
✨ Stories to linger over, one week at a time.