June is widely recognized as Pride Month, during which celebrations take place worldwide to commemorate and support the LGBTQIA community. These festivities often include large-scale carnivals and events centered around the theme of promoting gender equality and advocating for equal… Read More »LGBTQIA Rights in Southeast Asia
Bangkok, Thailand – In an effort to address the conflict in Myanmar, Thailand hosted an informal regional peace talk with Myanmar’s military junta on June 19. Representatives of Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Vietnam, India, and China gathered at the conference to… Read More »Growing Frustration on Myanmar Fuels Regional Split in ASEAN
NUSA DUA, Bali – The 20th ASEAN Chief Defence Force Meeting (ACDFM) was successfully run in Bali on 5-9 June 2023. All military chiefs of the bloc were in attendance except for Myanmar, instead represented by Brigadier General Phyo Zaw… Read More »ASEAN’s First Joint Military Drills: ASEAN Centrality or Lost in Translation?
The unique geographical position of Southeast Asia at the center of the Indo-Pacific region has made it geopolitically significant. With a coverage area of 4.49 million square kilometers and a population of over 660 million, the Association of Southeast Asian… Read More »Opportunities for ASEAN Within the Brewing Global Superpower Maelstrom
It cannot be denied that people with autism are flourishing these days — thanks to collaborative efforts between civil society groups and the government. They are now exposed to countless opportunities so they can live life and show their potential,… Read More »Autism in the Workplace: Why is It Beneficial and 4 Tips to Work with Them
East Nusa Tenggara – Timor Leste Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, set foot in Indonesia on Tuesday afternoon, May 9, 2023, to attend the 42nd ASEAN Leaders’ Summit — marking the country’s first participation in Southeast Asia’s foremost regional grouping.… Read More »Path to A Brighter ASEAN: Timor Leste’s Membership Journey
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)’s declaration of the country’s bauxite ban from June 2023 was widely seen by many observers as an attempt by the government to ensure higher national sovereignty in processing these raw materials. This decision is the… Read More »The Indonesia Bauxite Ban – A Look Inside The Ban Of The Industry -Essential Material
Singapore – Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, Singapore continued to host the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue on 2-4 June 2023, bringing together ministerial-level delegates, senior defense officials, and academics from 41 countries, including the United States Secretary… Read More »The Shangri-La Dialogue 2023: Intensified Sino-American Tensions and Indonesia’s ‘Strange Move’ in Charting the Ukraine Peace Plan
Washington, June 3, 2023 (Saturday) – U.S. President Joe Biden signed an agreement to temporarily suspend the U.S. government’s debt ceiling at $31.4 trillion (Hunnicutt, 2023). This critical move was made to avoid an unprecedented default, with two days remaining… Read More »Balancing Act: Understanding The U.S. Debt Ceiling and Its Ripple Effects on ASEAN Economies and The World
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — On May 15, 2023, the National Election Committee (NEC) had disqualified the Candlelight Party from registering for the election because it had submitted a photocopied version rather than an original copy of the 1998 registration documents… Read More »Constitutional Council Ends Roar: Cambodia’s Top Opposition Party Failed to Overturn Poll Ban