Region
Southeast Asia
Vietnamese Blogger Reportedly Kidnapped in Bangkok
By Sebastian Strangio
The kidnapping, which coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Vietnam last week, highlights the gaps in interests and perceptions between Washington and Hanoi.
The Ghost Town of Thantlang in Myanmar’s Chin State
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
Since control over this strategic town will give the military an advantage, it is being relentlessly bombed – displacing the entire population.
Is the US Going Too Far in Its Alliance With the Philippines?
By Sarang Shidore
The strengthening Philippines-U.S. alliance should remain focused on the South China Sea – and not overreach on Taiwan.
In the Philippines, COVID-19 Is Still Taking a Toll on the Informal Economy
By Felix Iglesias
The pandemic may have waned, but its economic impact continues to reverberate on the nation's streets.
The China-brokered Iran-Saudi Peace Deal: Implications For Indonesia
By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat and Yeta Purnama
The prospects of China acting as a peace mediator are much less likely closer to home.
German Chancellor Pledges Progress on EU-Indonesia FTA
By Sebastian Strangio
Olaf Scholz said that the domestic processing of vital minerals, a key goal of the Indonesian government, be included under any future trade pact.
In Malaysia, Conservative Forces and Police Crackdowns Are Putting LGBTQ Lives at Risk
By Robin Vochelet
Police investigations into the involvement of LGBTQ protesters in last month’s Women’s March reflect growing prejudicial attitudes in Parliament, activists warn.
Papuan Separatists Ambush Indonesian Forces Searching for Kidnapped Pilot
By Sebastian Strangio
In addition to one confirmed death, nine soldiers have reportedly been taken hostage by separatist rebels.
NUG Warns ASEAN Not to Negotiate with Myanmar Junta
By Luke Hunt
The call came as the death toll from last week's airstrike on Kanbalu township rose to 168.
Indonesia Has Another Shaman Serial Killer – and the Phenomenon Is More Common Than You Think
By Aisyah Llewellyn
The frequent occurrence of such crimes speaks to Indonesians' widespread belief in the occult and the lure of get-rich-quick schemes in a country with widespread poverty.
Blinken Bound for Vietnam as US Pushes for Upgrade in Relations
By Sebastian Strangio
Washington wants to raise relations to the level of a "strategic relationship," but Vietnamese leaders are moving cautiously, in light of the likely reaction from China.
2 Years of Turmoil: Myanmar’s Grinding Stalemate
By Naw Theresa
The military says things are under control, while the resistance insists total victory is just around the corner. But the state of the battlefield suggests otherwise.