Seabird droppings were so valuable that the Chincha Kingdom of coastal Peru built wealth and power on them roughly 800 years ago. The islands off the Peruvian coast hold some of the largest guano deposits in the Pacific, because the dry climate stops the piles from washing away and they grow many metres tall. Guano is far richer in nitrogen and phosphorus than cow dung, so it boosted maize harvests. Chemical analysis of maize from Chincha graves shows many samples fertilised with guano, suggesting Chincha traders supplied it to farmers and merchants.

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.