LATEST PULSE

The controversial documentary Pesta Babi (“Pig Feast”), which focuses on West Papua, has ignited debate across Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Indonesia. Humanitarian organizations argue the film sheds light on long-standing issues in the region, while critics say it promotes narratives that undermine Indonesia’s sovereignty and national unity.   The dispute has now moved far beyond film criticism. It has become a broader cont...

Donald Trump’s financial world has entered a new phase. His well‑timed stock trades, fast‑growing crypto portfolio, and a sudden Justice Department settlement that blocks the IRS from auditing his past tax returns have created a storm that mixes politics, markets, and legal power. These developments show how personal wealth and public authority can collide in ways that shape trust in national institutions.   A Settlement That Cha...

Indonesia’s anti corruption campaign has entered a new phase after authorities arrested several senior officials in early June, including Deputy Immigration Minister Silmy Karim and former leaders connected to the country’s flagship free meals program.   The arrests serve as a test of President Prabowo Subianto’s pledge to strengthen government institutions, raising questions over whether his campaign reflects a genuine e...

China is flooding global markets with low-cost robots. The concern is not just that these machines are becoming cheaper, smarter, and more widespread. It is that they are increasingly mobile, networked, and packed with sensors capable of seeing, mapping, moving, transmitting data, and interacting with the physical world.   As robots become more connected and autonomous, some security analysts warn that foreign-made systems operating inside...

Central Asia has long depended on rivers fed by mountain glaciers to support its cities, farms, and industries. Today, that system is under pressure.   Rising temperatures, shrinking glaciers, and growing demand for water are creating new challenges across the region. While Central Asia is often described as water-rich, experts increasingly warn that the real problem is not only how much water exists, but whether enough will be available w...