The death toll from a landslide in Indonesia’s West Java province rose to 17 on Monday, as search and rescue operations entered a third day, disaster officials said. The landslide, triggered by heavy rain, struck a village in West Bandung regency early on Saturday, burying homes and forcing dozens of residents to evacuate. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said around 80 people were still missing as of Sunday, with no updated figure provided. Rescuers are working cautiously amid unstable ground and ongoing bad weather, which have raised fears of further landslides. Thousands of personnel and heavy equipment have been deployed to locate victims.

Indonesia finishes second at ASEAN Para Games with 135 gold medals

Indonesia finished second in the final medal standings of the 2025 ASEAN Para Games , winning 135 gold, 143 silver and 114 bronze medals across 18 sports contested from January 19 to 25 in Thailand. The result exceeded the government’s target of 82 gold medals and surpassed expectations after consistent performances throughout the week-long competition. Para athletics led Indonesia’s medal haul with 44 golds, followed by para swimming with 29 golds. Strong contributions also came from para badminton, para powerlifting and para judo. Indonesia had aimed to finish at least in the top three.

Environment ministry sues six firms over North Sumatra disaster

Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment has filed a civil lawsuit against six companies in North Sumatra, seeking Rp4.9 trillion (US$282 million) in damages for allegedly worsening hydrometeorological disasters in the province. Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said the case is being processed in court and more lawsuits will follow against other entities. The ministry is also investigating possible criminal offences by companies in Aceh and North Sumatra with the National Police. Authorities are monitoring 68 companies across Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, all of which have received administrative sanctions requiring mandatory environmental audits as part of wider enforcement efforts nationwide.

ATM numbers fall as digital banking accelerates

Indonesia’s ATM network is expected to keep shrinking as digital banking and cashless payments gain ground, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) said. OJK chief banking supervisor Dian Ediana Rae said banks are cutting physical infrastructure in response to changing customer behaviour driven by financial technology. OJK data show the number of ATMs and related machines fell to 89,774 units in the third quarter of 2025, from 91,173 a year earlier, a net drop of nearly 1,400 machines. Rae said mobile and online banking have reduced the need for cash withdrawals, while banks are prioritising efficiency by expanding digital services. The shift supports Indonesia’s move towards a more cashless economy.

Indonesia receives first batch of fighter jets from France

Indonesia has received three Rafale fighter jets from France, marking the first delivery under a 2021 defence deal, the defence ministry said on Monday. The aircraft arrived on Friday, with a formal handover ceremony to be held later. Three additional jets are expected to arrive this year. Indonesia has ordered 42 Rafales worth $8.1 billion as part of efforts to modernise its military amid rising regional tensions. Jakarta has also agreed to buy two French-made Scorpene-class submarines, to be built domestically with technology transfer.

According to Japanese media reports, the Philippines has signalled interest in buying the system as part of efforts to strengthen its military defences.

China’s irritation stems partly from the symbolic importance of the Type 03 system. Japan plans to deploy the same missiles to the island of Yonaguni, situated only 110km from Taiwan . Beijing condemned that deployment last month as “extremely dangerous,” accusing Tokyo of fuelling regional confrontation.

The talks with Manila come as Japan’s government moves to rewrite its Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology, rules that for decades restricted weapons exports to avoid becoming involved in international conflict. 

The proposed revision, which could be approved next year, would allow Tokyo to export a broader range of military hardware beyond the current non-combat categories such as rescue and surveillance equipment.

Strategically, the Philippines occupies a key position along the so-called First Island Chain, which stretches down the western Pacific, close to Taiwan and bordering the contested South China Sea, where China and the Philippines frequently clash. 

Any increase in Philippine air-defence capability is therefore closely watched in Beijing, which sees such strengthening as part of a broader containment effort led by the United States and its allies.

Japan and the Philippines have rapidly deepened their defence cooperation in recent months. The two US treaty allies signed a new defence pact in September allowing Japanese troops to deploy to Philippine territory for the first time since the Second World War. 

Additionally, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP by March next year — faster than earlier plans — and Japan has already exported domestically made Patriot missile interceptors to the US, a move that Chinese commentators have called another “dangerous signal.”

Beijing has long accused Japan’s political right of seeking to rewrite its pacifist constitution and normalise the military. For Japan and the Philippines, however, supporters argue that growing cooperation is a defensive response to China’s increasingly assertive behaviour in surrounding seas.

Background

On Tuesday, both the White House and the Pentagon confirmed the decision to pause certain military aid to Ukraine, with White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stating that the move was made to prioritise U.S. interests. "This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," Kelly said in a statement.

The move follows increasing concerns over the strain on U.S. military stockpiles, which have been heavily depleted due to continuous aid to Ukraine, as well as military operations in other regions such as Yemen and Iran . Last month, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a comprehensive review of munitions stocks, particularly focusing on weapons promised to Ukraine over the past three years of conflict. Reports have indicated that some stocks have fallen too low, raising alarms about U.S. military readiness.

The Pentagon’s strategy and future implications

The Pentagon's undersecretary for policy , Elbridge Colby, emphasised that while some aid would be halted, the department would continue to offer "robust options" to the president in support of Ukraine while balancing the need to preserve U.S. military readiness.

Colby stated , "At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving U.S. forces' readiness for administration defence priorities."

The decision also coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in The Hague. Trump revealed that Ukraine had expressed strong interest in acquiring U.S.-made Patriot air defence missiles, a request he indicated may be met despite acknowledging that the U.S. itself also needed the systems.

Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the U.S. has provided over 66 billion dollars in military aid to Ukraine.