Finger lengths differ because each finger has a job, and evolution and development shaped those roles. The middle finger is usually longest and acts as the hand's central axis, working with the ring finger to hold grip steady. The index finger is shorter and more independent, which suits pointing and precise movements. The pinky steadies the outer edge of the hand when holding large objects. The thumb is about three-quarters the length of the index finger, but its rotating joint lets it oppose the other fingers for pinching. Genes guide how fast each finger bone grows before birth, and hormones such as testosterone and estrogen influence proportions, which is why families often share hand features.

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.