Tessa Wong

Adoptive parents in Singapore fear losing their Indonesian-born son after authorities linked his adoption to a trafficking network responsible for illegally obtaining and exporting babies. Indonesian prosecutors accuse multiple individuals of buying infants, falsifying documents and placing them for adoption abroad, with at least 20 babies believed to have reached Singapore. Evidence reviewed by reporters suggests the couple’s child may be among the victims, prompting scrutiny of Singapore’s adoption oversight and Indonesia’s inconsistent enforcement against trafficking. Indonesian officials and activists argue trafficked babies should be returned to their biological families, while experts warn that removing children from long-term caregivers could cause lasting psychological harm. Both governments have yet to decide the children’s fate as legal proceedings continue.

Heavy rainfall across Bangladesh has caused flash floods and landslides that have killed at least 51 people and affected more than one million. Cox’s Bazar, home to a large Rohingya refugee population, accounts for over half the deaths, including several students and a teacher. Flooding has disrupted life in Dhaka, where drainage failures have left streets waterlogged. Authorities have issued warnings, evacuated high‑risk areas, postponed exams, and opened government shelters. While conditions may improve in the southeast, officials warn that ongoing monsoon rains could worsen flooding in the country’s northern regions.

Heavy rainfall and flash floods across Bangladesh have killed at least 51 people and affected more than a million, with Cox's Bazar suffering the highest casualties. Flooding and landslides have displaced thousands, forcing many into government shelters. Dhaka has experienced severe waterlogging, prompting criticism of drainage infrastructure. Authorities have issued warnings, evacuated high‑risk areas, and postponed exams, while experts note that climate change is intensifying monsoon rains. Conditions in the southeast may soon improve, but further inundation is expected in northern regions.

Singaporean parents who adopted an Indonesian baby face the possibility of losing him after Indonesian authorities linked his case to a trafficking syndicate that supplied infants illegally for adoption abroad. Investigators in West Java are prosecuting 19 suspects accused of obtaining, transporting and forging documents for at least 20 babies, with several already in Singapore. The case has prompted scrutiny of both countries’ adoption processes, raising questions about oversight by Singaporean agencies and the economic pressures in Indonesia that make families vulnerable to exploitation. Indonesian officials argue that trafficked babies should be returned to their biological parents, while Singaporean adoptive parents fear the trauma such separations could cause. Coordination between the two governments continues as courts determine the legal status and future placement of the affected children.

Singaporean parents who adopted Indonesian babies may lose them after revelations that at least 20 children were trafficked into Singapore through forged documents and illegal arrangements. Indonesian authorities have arrested 19 suspects, accusing them of running a trafficking network that sourced infants, fabricated paperwork and bypassed adoption rules. One child, Marcus, adopted by a Singapore couple, appears on court documents as among those trafficked. Both governments have not said whether children will stay with adoptive parents or be returned to their biological families. Activists warn of long-term trauma if children are relocated, while Indonesian officials emphasise principles of child protection and national interest. Singapore has pledged to review adoption procedures as investigations continue.