Region
Southeast Asia
US Adds Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei to Human Trafficking Blacklist
By Sebastian Strangio
The State Department's 2022 Trafficking in Persons report gave five out of 11 Southeast Asian nations its lowest Tier 3 rating.
Qatari Telecoms Firm Ooredoo Negotiating Exit From Myanmar: Report
By Sebastian Strangio
News that the Doha-based company is seeking to offload its Myanmar unit follows the exit of Norway’s Telenor earlier this year.
Timor-Leste Hopes to Join ASEAN When Indonesia Chairs in 2023
By Achmad Ibrahim and Niniek Karmini
The nation officially applied for full membership of ASEAN in 2011, but the rest of the bloc has yet to make a final decision.
Military-Ruled Myanmar Facing Second Year of Negative Growth
By Sebastian Strangio
The risk assessment group Fitch Solutions predicts that the country's lost economic output won't be recouped until 2028.
EU, ASEAN to Hold First Inter-Bloc Summit in December: Report
By Sebastian Strangio
According to EU diplomats cited by Reuters, the two blocs will hold their first full summit in Brussels in December.
Ample Opportunities to Level Up Australia-Vietnam Relations
By Huynh Tam Sang and Pham Do An
With the election of a new Australian government, the chance to elevate ties between Hanoi and Canberra to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership is within reach.
China Won Over Southeast Asia During the Pandemic
By Dominique Fraser and Richard Maude
The United States failed to match Beijing’s intense, coordinated diplomacy across Southeast Asia during the COVID-19 crisis.
9 Killed in Attack in Indonesia’s Papua Province, Say Police
By Sebastian Strangio
The killings came amid protests over an Indonesian government plan to create new provinces in the eastern region.
The Scandal at Indonesian Charity Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT)
By James Guild
An investigation by the news magazine Tempo highlights the importance both of a free media and an empowered financial watchdog.
Duwa Lashi La on the State of Myanmar’s Resistance
By Sebastian Strangio
“Despite the challenges, I have never seen a more promising time for our people to find common ground.”
Deadline Looms for Indonesia’s Harsh New Internet Content Restrictions
By Sebastian Strangio
The regulation grants the authorities the power to fine or block social media platforms that fail to comply with government content moderation orders.
Thai Activists Targeted With Pegasus Spyware, Claims Report
By Sebastian Strangio
The Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity group, claims that at least 30 prominent activists had their devices infected with the spyware between October 2020 and November 2021.