RCEP Expansion Watch: Sri Lanka’s pathway to joining RCEP is gaining momentum, with Indonesia flagging the Indian Ocean logistics potential and export diversification benefits—though the bloc’s rules mean Sri Lanka must adapt its trade and investment system fast. Nickel Investment Tension: Chinese investors are pushing back on Indonesia’s nickel rule changes, warning that higher costs, tighter FX rules, reduced quotas, and tougher enforcement are eroding downstream certainty after years of heavy Chinese smelter and EV-battery investment. Tourism Diplomacy: Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are moving to boost two-way tourism flows, including expanding experiences for Hajj/Umrah travelers and setting up an Arabic language and hospitality center in Lombok to scale workforce readiness. Economic Diplomacy Push: Kadin says stronger economic diplomacy is key to winning foreign investment, pointing to Prabowo’s France visit and a new high-level business council that generated major deal value. Infrastructure & Logistics: Indonesia is expanding its rail network to 10,524 km, aiming to cut logistics costs and congestion while tailoring upgrades across Java, Sumatra, and beyond. Finance in Local Currencies: Bank Indonesia and China’s central bank agreed to deepen local-currency and cross-border payment cooperation, reflecting a broader regional shift toward resilience. Climate & Energy Signals: El Niño has officially returned, raising extreme-weather risks; meanwhile, wind and solar hit a record share in global power generation, underscoring the energy transition’s growing economic relevance. Digital Safety Regulation: Canada’s proposed under-16 social media restrictions add to a global regulatory wave that is already reshaping platform access debates across countries. Capital Markets: Indonesia’s Danantara (sovereign wealth fund) raised US$1.5bn in its debut international bond, drawing strong orders and signaling investor appetite despite tougher global conditions. Student Protests & Macro Pressure: Indonesian students again rallied in Jakarta over fuel-price hikes and budget spending, as the rupiah weakens and economic stress feeds political pressure. Wildlife Crackdown: Indonesia foiled an attempt to smuggle nearly 100 protected birds from Papua, expanding investigations to dismantle the trafficking network.