Young voters who helped elect Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto are increasingly disappointed with his government. Some say they feel complicit in backing him. Critics point to a free school meals program that has left thousands of recipients ill, and to a weakened rupiah. Protests have also erupted over the government's response to forest fires on Sumatra and Kalimantan. The government says it is evaluating policies and achieving results, and Mr Prabowo says he is proud of what has been delivered in two years.
The UK government will create an AI unit to spot wildfires after a record-breaking summer of blazes across the country. Andy Burnham is due to unveil the plan at the government's first wildfire resilience summit on Friday. The prime minister will also announce £45m for fire crews to buy wildfire-specific protective equipment, after a Guardian investigation found that more than half of 29 fire services that responded had none. Military planes and helicopters will also be made available to fight fires in hard-to-reach terrain.
Students across Kalimantan and Sumatra have taken to the streets to demand that the government be held accountable for wildfires and the toxic haze covering the region. Indonesia often faces wildfires during the dry season, but these fires are the most intense in more than a decade. Farmers use slash-and-burn methods to clear land for agriculture, including palm oil, and Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil. The fires have been made worse by these practices.
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Firefighters have told MPs that limited water supplies slowed their response to wildfires during the UK's hottest summer on record. Phil Garrigan, chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, said fires spread faster because of the shortage. A survey found 81% of fire and rescue services had changed emergency plans where water access was a concern. A parliamentary committee has called for a national framework setting out water companies' duties during major fires. The government says it is holding a summit on wildfire preparedness.
Wildfires across parts of Indonesia's Borneo island have left endangered orangutans struggling to survive, prompting rescuers to evacuate injured and stranded animals. A young female orangutan nicknamed Novita was found clinging to a nearly leafless tree in Central Kalimantan province. Her palms and the soles of her feet were burned. She was taken to a rehabilitation centre in Nyaru Menteng, where she will be assessed for release once her burns heal. Government data showed more than 202,000 hectares burned between January and July.
Flooding along the California coast last week has prompted warnings that a tumultuous winter may follow as a strong El Niño continues to build in the Pacific Ocean. Forecasters say there is a more than 90 per cent chance the event will be very strong. Storms, landslides and high tides could hit at the same time, and burn scars from recent wildfires face higher risks of debris flows. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on 21 September.
Australia's high court has dismissed an appeal by MACH Energy against a ruling that the approval of the Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion was unlawful. Retired teachers Wendy Wales and Tony Lonergan brought the legal challenge. MACH Energy said it accepted the decision. The judgment sets a legal precedent for fossil fuel approvals across Australia. Elsewhere, a new therapy combining gene therapy with light-stimulating goggles showed a clinically meaningful increase in light sensitivity in six of 10 participants with advanced retinitis pigmentosa.
Provisional data shows July 2026 was the worst on record for wildfires in England, with 624 fires recorded. This year is the second worst on record, with 1,354 wildfires so far, including a fire near the Sizewell B nuclear power station. The summer was the UK’s hottest on record, with 40 days above 30C. A 70-year-old man died in a wildfire in Gloucestershire, the first such death recorded. The government has faced criticism for scrapping wildfire preparedness plans and lacking protective gear for fire crews.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Indonesian government over its handling of wildfires in West Kalimantan. The plaintiffs, including civil society organisations and Indigenous groups, allege negligence and failure to prepare for the annual fires. The fires, which began in July, have caused widespread haze and respiratory infections, with over 200 active fire spots still burning. The defendants include the president, ministers, and local authorities, with the government respecting the right to legal action.
