Since the beginning of April, Bali’s main landfill at Suwung has been closed to most organic waste as part of Jakarta’s push to phase out open landfills nationwide, a policy formally introduced in 2013 but only now being enforced more aggressively.

With limited replacement infrastructure in place, residents and businesses say waste is accumulating on roadsides, attracting rats and prompting some people to burn rubbish in the open, sending smoke through densely populated neighborhoods.“As a business owner, this is a real nuisance,” said Yuvita Anggi Prinanda, who runs a flower stall in Denpasar and generates several large bags of plant waste each day.

She said she had paid a private company to remove garbage near her shop after the smell began driving away customers.Bali produces an estimated 3,400 tons of waste daily, a figure driven in part by tourism on an island that welcomed around seven million visitors last year, far exceeding its local population of about 4.4 million.

At Kuta beach, one of Bali’s busiest tourist areas and a location frequently affected by marine plastic debris, rubbish bags have been stacked high in parking areas as collection systems struggle to cope.“You have many rats here at nighttime.

The smell is not very good it’s not a good look,” said Australian tourist Justin Butcher.Authorities have warned that people caught illegally dumping or burning trash face up to three months in jail and fines of 50 million rupiah ($3,000), according to Bali public order agency head I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi.But sanitation workers say the restrictions have left them with few practical options.

“If we don’t collect our client’s trash, we are in the wrong, if we collect it, where do we dispose it?” said I Wayan Tedi Brahmanca, one of hundreds of workers who drove garbage trucks to the governor’s office in protest on April 16.

Following the demonstration, the provincial government said limited disposal at Suwung would be temporarily allowed until the end of July.From August, however, Indonesia plans to fully end the use of open landfills nationwide, despite uncertainty over replacement systems.

Waste management expert Nur Azizah of Gadjah Mada University said Suwung receives about 1,000 tons of waste per day and has been operating beyond capacity for years.She said up to 70% of the waste was organic material, which can produce methane gas over time, creating fire and landslide risks.

Such incidents have occurred repeatedly in Indonesia, including a collapse in March at the country’s largest landfill outside Jakarta that buried trucks and food stalls and killed seven people.Indonesia’s environment ministry says the country’s 284 million people generate more than 40 million tons of waste annually, with nearly 40% made up of food waste and almost one-fifth plastic.

Only about one-third of that waste is formally managed through recycling or processing, according to researchers, while the rest is often dumped into rivers, landfills or open land.

Fewer than one-third of Indonesia’s 485 landfills have shut since the open-dumping ban was introduced more than a decade ago.“We have not been managing waste properly, resulting in an emergency in all cities and regencies,” former environment minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said recently.

The government plans to begin construction in June on several waste-to-energy projects, including one in Bali expected to process around 1,200 tons of waste per day, though officials say such facilities may take years to become operational.

The selloff follows a sharp rise in global oil prices toward $100 a barrel, intensifying pressure on Thailand, which relies on the Middle East for nearly half of its oil and gas imports, according to Krungsri Research.

Data showed foreign investors were net sellers of $823 million in Thai equities in March, while bond outflows reached $705 million, marking the largest combined outflow since October 2024. The reversal came after a brief resurgence in inflows earlier this year, including $1.7 billion in equity purchases in February.

Investor optimism had been buoyed by the election of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, whose victory raised expectations of political stability and economic reform.

However, the outbreak of the Iran conflict at the end of February triggered a rapid reassessment of risk.Analysts say Thailand faces a more acute challenge than many regional peers due to its economic structure and policy constraints.

The economy had already been struggling, with growth of 2.4% last year and a prolonged period of deflation that prompted a rate cut by the central bank in February.“The risk remains that higher fuel costs hit consumption and disrupt exports and tourism,” said Daniel Tan, a portfolio manager at Grasshopper Asset Management, highlighting concerns about key growth drivers.

Thailand’s heavy reliance on natural gas, which accounts for more than half of its power generation, adds to its exposure. Rising liquefied natural gas imports are expected to further increase costs as energy markets tighten.

The Thai baht has weakened nearly 3% since the conflict began, though it has recovered some ground following a recent ceasefire. Analysts say the currency is acting as a key adjustment mechanism, helping absorb external shocks.

Market participants also point to limited policy flexibility. With public debt nearing the government’s self-imposed ceiling of 70% of gross domestic product, fiscal space is constrained, while monetary policy faces a trade-off between supporting growth and containing inflation.

“There’s a broad consensus among investors that Thailand is in a policy bind,” said Gary Tan of Allspring Global Investments, noting that the central bank has limited room to tighten or ease policy without adverse consequences.

Inflation, which had been contracting earlier this year, is now projected to rise as much as 3.5% depending on how the conflict evolves, marking a sharp shift in the economic outlook.

While a temporary ceasefire has supported a rebound in Thai equities and the baht, analysts caution that prolonged high energy prices could further weigh on growth, consumption and the external balance.

Air quality monitors recorded PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 900 micrograms per cubic meter in parts of Pai, roughly 60 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended 24-hour exposure limit, according to monitoring data cited this week. Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city, consistently ranked among the world’s most polluted major cities during the period.

Residents reported acute health effects linked to prolonged exposure. Pon Doikam, a 36-year-old vendor working outdoors in Chiang Mai, said she experienced nasal bleeding and persistent respiratory irritation after spending hours in polluted conditions. “It feels like you’re trapped in the smoke constantly,” she said.

The pollution surge is part of an annual haze season affecting much of Southeast Asia, driven by crop burning and forest fires. However, locals described current conditions as unusually severe. Geographic factors have compounded the situation, with mountainous terrain trapping smoke and hindering firefighting access to remote forest areas.

Field observations confirmed multiple active fires along routes between Chiang Mai and Pai. Volunteer firefighter Maitree Nuanja said local response capacity remains limited, relying heavily on donated supplies. He noted that teams are operating with constrained fuel and equipment support while facing prolonged exposure to hazardous air.

Authorities confirmed the death of a volunteer firefighter earlier this week, citing suspected exhaustion combined with heat exposure and pre-existing health conditions.Public health risks are particularly acute for vulnerable groups. In Chiang Mai, authorities have set up “dust-free rooms” equipped with air filtration systems to protect residents, including elderly populations.

Watwilai Chaiwan, an 82-year-old resident of a care facility, said the pollution has worsened symptoms such as dizziness and migraines and discouraged outdoor activity.Medical professionals warned of broader health implications.

Thanakrit Im-iam, a doctor in Chiang Mai, said fine particulate matter can penetrate deep into the body, carrying toxins and heavy metals. He reported common symptoms including eye irritation, respiratory inflammation and mucus buildup, adding that long-term exposure could have severe consequences.

The haze has also weighed on tourism, a key economic driver in northern Thailand. Local transport operator Chakkrawat Wichitchaisilp reported a noticeable decline in visitors during what is typically a peak travel season. Visibility across Chiang Mai has been significantly reduced, with skyline views obscured by dense smog.

Government officials held discussions this week to address the crisis, while some districts in Chiang Mai declared disaster zones to expedite financial assistance. However, environmental groups said policy responses remain insufficient.

Kanongnij Sribuaiam of the Thailand Clean Air Network urged faster progress on stalled clean air legislation, warning that delays could force the process to restart if deadlines are missed.

The recurring haze crisis underscores ongoing challenges in managing cross-border pollution, agricultural practices and forest fire control across the region.

The outage, described by the state-run utility as a “total disconnection” of the national system, was triggered by a failure at a thermoelectric power unit that caused a cascading breakdown across the grid. The Cuban Electric Union said micro-grids were being activated to restore electricity to critical services such as hospitals and water treatment facilities.

Cuba’s power generation relies on eight thermoelectric plants, many operating for more than four decades and prone to repeated breakdowns and maintenance shutdowns. The system has struggled to meet demand, resulting in prolonged daily blackouts.In Havana, outages can last up to 15 hours, while in other parts of the island they can exceed 40 hours, according to local accounts.

As night fell during the latest outage, much of the capital was left without lighting, with residents relying on mobile phone flashlights to navigate streets.Some businesses in tourist areas remained open using generators, but residents described growing frustration with the frequency of disruptions.

“This is becoming unbearable,” said one Havana resident, reflecting widespread fatigue over recurring outages.

The energy crisis has intensified since disruptions to fuel supplies earlier this year. No oil shipments have reached Cuba since January 9, placing additional strain on electricity generation and forcing cutbacks in sectors including aviation and tourism.

The situation has been compounded by geopolitical tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, while also making remarks supporting political change in Havana. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has warned that any external aggression would be met with resistance.

Maritime tracking data indicated that tankers carrying Russian oil and diesel may be en route to the island, though their status remains unclear.

The repeated outages come amid broader shortages of food, medicine and basic goods, contributing to rising public discontent. Demonstrators vandalised a provincial office of the ruling Communist Party last weekend, underscoring growing tensions.

Despite the disruption, some residents continued working under difficult conditions. Small shopkeepers operated by flashlight, while fishermen cast lines along the darkened coastline, reflecting the persistence of daily life even as the energy crisis deepens.

The statement, shared by MoFA’s official spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi read, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan categorically condemns the recent attack on tourists in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses our condolences to the bereaved families. Such incidents undermine efforts to ensure regional security and stability.”

While the Afghan ministry did not specify the details of the attack, sources indicate that the incident involved a violent assault on a group of tourists, allegedly backed by elements linked to Pakistan.

Pahalgam, a picturesque town in Jammu and Kashmir, has long been a hotspot for tourism, attracting visitors from across the globe for its natural beauty and cultural significance. However, the region has also been marred by decades of conflict, with militant groups often targeting civilians and security forces in a bid to destabilize the area.

The Taliban’s condemnation marks a notable shift in its public stance, as the group has historically been accused of harboring ties with various militant organizations operating in the region. Analysts suggest that this statement could be an attempt by the Taliban to project a more responsible image on the international stage, especially as it seeks to gain legitimacy and foster diplomatic ties since taking control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Experts believe that by condemning an attack backed by Pakistan, the Taliban is signaling that it wants to distance itself from regional militancy and focus on governance and stability. It’s a message not just to the international community but also to its neighbors, including Pakistan, with whom relations have been strained in recent years.

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been on the rise, particularly over issues like cross-border militancy and the Durand Line dispute. The Taliban has repeatedly accused Pakistan of supporting groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has launched attacks inside Afghanistan. In turn, Pakistan has blamed the Taliban for providing safe havens to TTP fighters.

The IEA-MoFA’s statement on the Pahalgam attack could further complicate this already fragile relationship, as it indirectly points the finger at Pakistan for its alleged role in the violence.

However, critics remain skeptical of the Taliban’s intentions. They suspect that this could just be a rhetorical move to gain favor with the international community. The Taliban has a long history of supporting militant groups, and a single statement doesn’t erase that.

As the situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains tense, the international community continues to call for dialogue and de-escalation between India and Pakistan. The Taliban’s unexpected condemnation of the Pahalgam attack adds a new layer of complexity to an already volatile region, raising questions about the group’s evolving role in South Asian geopolitics.

For now, the families of the victims in Pahalgam are left to mourn their loss, while the people of the region brace for the long-term consequences of yet another act of violence. The path to peace in Jammu and Kashmir remains elusive, but the Taliban’s statement serves as a reminder of the interconnected nature of security challenges in the region—and the urgent need for collaborative efforts to address them.