The Adhyatma Ramayana, the 'Spiritual Ramayana', is a Sanskrit text that interprets the story of the Ramayana allegorically within the framework of Advaita Vedanta. It is embedded in the latter portion of the Brahmanda Purana, and its author is considered to be Vyasa; Hindu tradition also attributes it to the Bhakti saint Ramananda. Its seven books, 65 chapters and about 4,500 verses take the form of a dialogue between Shiva and Parvati. The text presents Rama as the supreme Brahman, raising each of his everyday acts to a spiritual level, and re-interprets the struggles of Rama and Sita in an abstract spiritual form. It is meant as a guide for the spiritual seeker, who is invited to see outer life as a metaphor for the eternal journey of the soul. The Bala Kanda opens with Rama's cosmic form as an avatar of Vishnu who descended to earth as a human being, and the Uttara Kanda includes a conversation between Rama and his brother Lakshmana known as the Rama Gita. Where Valmiki's Ramayana emphasizes Rama's human nature, the Adhyatma Ramayana tells the story from the perspective of his divinity.

Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka handed his resignation to parliament after questions were raised about his eligibility for office and his academic credentials. Gibran is the son of former president Joko Widodo, and his resignation came as Widodo publicly backed the president, Prabowo Subianto. Gibran had been elected vice president in 2024 as Prabowo's running mate. His candidacy was made possible by a 2023 Constitutional Court ruling on the minimum age for candidates, which was itself controversial. Parliament will now consider the resignation.

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.