Southeast Asia & Oceania
A Moment of Reckoning for ASEAN Tech:The Changing Economic Landscape Signaling the End of an Era
In their March report, the Indonesian super-app provider, GoTo, said that its 2022 net loss widened by 56% to 40.4 trillion rupiah ($2.6 billion) as the company continues to struggle to turn a profit.
Singapore’s Growing Role as a Production Hub in the Chip Industry Supply Chain
Big Western chipmakers are increasingly turning towards Singapore as a production hub, both to meet growing demands and to diversify their supply chain risks.
The Philippines Commemorates 37th Anniversary of People's Power Revolution
On Feb. 25 last week, the Philippines marked the 37th anniversary of the People’s Power Revolution.
The Central Bank’s Balancing Act in Australia: Managing Inflation without Crashing the Housing Market
In early December, The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted interest rates for the eighth consecutive month, taking its benchmark to 3.1%.
FTX Collapse Brings about Reputational Damage to Singapore’s Temasek
Singapore’s state-owned investment company Temasek has decided to write down the value of its investment in FTX to zero.
The Losing US Strategy in Southeast Asia and How to Fix It
Amidst the ongoing political tug of war between the US and China, Biden has to establish what ASEAN centrality means.
US-ASEAN Tops Agenda as ASEAN Leaders Prepare to Meet
President Joe Biden met with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders on Nov. 12, marking the 45th year of U.S.-ASEAN cooperation and raising issues of U.S. support in the region amidst increasing intervention from China.
Rising Labor Scams in Southeast Asia
These are but some of the common ways scammers operate. Protected by the anonymity of the internet, there has been a significant rise in individuals falling for these scams all across Asia.
The Battle to Monopolize Southeast Asia’s Embedded Finance Ecosystem
Japanese megabank Sumitomo Mitsui and U.S. tech giant Microsoft are teaming up to provide financial services to digital platforms in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia’s Problem With Capital Relocation a Warning to the Rest of the World
The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is sinking and it is sinking fast. Parts of the megacity could be entirely submerged by 2050, with 95% of North Jakarta estimated to sink. In addition to this, Jakarta has been continuously plagued by traffic congestion, air pollution and land subsidence – all of which contribute to increasingly damaging floods in the region.
Race to the Top: How F1 in Singapore has Increased its International Prestige
Singapore is known for many things: the filming location for Crazy Rich Asians, the country where selling chewing gum is illegal, and the place with the world’s best airport. But Formula 1 (F1) fans may know it for a different reason: with humid temperatures, sharp turns, and narrow roads, the Marina Bay City Circuit has captured the hearts of F1 fans. Just two weeks ago, on Oct. 2, a rainy race caused six drivers to crash out, and fan favorite Max Verstappen to narrowly miss the championship title.
Indonesia Bans Palm Oil Exports as World Faces Food Insecurity Crisis
On Friday, Indonesia announced an export ban on palm oil to combat spiking global food prices. In a letter sent to government leaders Monday, the nation’s agriculture ministry clarified that the ban would exclude crude palm oil, but include refined, bleached and deodorized palm olein.
Indonesia Passes Historic Sexual Violence Prevention Bill
On Tuesday, the Indonesian House of Parliament in Jakarta passed the historic Sexual Crimes Bill (TPKS).
Myanmar Military Continues Arson Campaign Against Resistance Fighters
Since the start of 2022, the Myanmar military has burned over a hundred villages across Myanmar as the junta attempts to stifle opposition to its February 2021 coup.
Nuclear Legacy and Strategic Future: The Marshallese to Renegotiate their Relationship with the United States
Talks over the renewal of the Marshall Islands Compact of Free Association– a military and economic agreement between the Marshall Islands and the US– have been stalled for months, leaving the US struggling to defend its interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Balikatan Exercises: US-Philippine Relations Deepen
Since March 28, roughly 9,000 American and Filipino soldiers have been conducting the two countries’ most extensive joint military exercises in seven years as part of the annual Balikatan drills.
Philippine Presidential Election Campaigns Face Social Media Disinformation and COVID Restrictions
This year's Philippine electoral candidates are facing increasing barriers to a free and fair election, despite the significance of this election to the democratic state of the nation.
The Solomon Islands: A New Focus in US-China Relations
While the geopolitical focus has shifted towards Europe in the last few months, the Indo-Pacific region and its constituent nations remain in an increasingly competitive environment.
Vietnam Reopens to Tourists Amid COVID Surge
Vietnam is facing a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases as it fully reopens its borders to international tourists. Vietnam’s Health Ministry announced 161,479 new COVID cases nationwide on Friday, including 52,000 cases that had been previously detected but not yet added to the national database.
Australia Declares East Coast Flooding A National Emergency
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared the country's east coast flooding a national emergency this Wednesday.