Stefano Vecchia

Thailand has downplayed the incident, while Cambodia has not yet issued a statement. No one was killed or wounded during the 10-minute exchange. Quick action by the military of the two countries avoided escalation. The incident stems from unresolved border disputes, which also concern Laos.

Life expectancy in Vietnam tops 74 years, but chronic diseases are up among the over 60s, particularly men. Public health authorities are grappling with high costs, inadequate services, and a rapid demographic transition. By 2050, one in four Vietnamese will be elderly.

The Filipino president has announced a "cabinet reshuffle" to "adjust our actions to the expectations of the people." The failure to elect five out of eleven candidates for Senate seats, crucial in the battle against the "Duterte clan," weighs heavily. The goal is to revitalise the administration’s initiatives to overcome poverty, inadequate public services, and limited opportunities for young people.

Population growth has put pressure on the school system. The Department of Education plans to spend almost US$ 80 million to create new teaching positions. However, according to official statistics, 11 per cent of children and young people up to the age of 14 do not go to school due to household poverty. At present, 60 per cent of the 77.3 million Filipinos of working age are employed.

About 570,000 Vietnamese live in Japan, many attracted by promises of qualified jobs linked to the Gijinkoku visa. Yet many are employed as trainees and underpaid. In Chiba, 150 workers are suing an agency for unpaid wages. The story puts the spotlight on a murky and abusive recruitment system.

Almost 70 million voters cast their ballot in midterm elections for Congress and local government. The outgoing majority in Congress should consolidate its hold. Local elections are a mixed bag with differences and divisions, with local coalition building the name of the game.

The leader of the Nation Power Party was one of the few critical voices still free, opposed to the Hun clan, which has ruled Cambodia of 40 years. The court found him guilty of "incitement". His "crime" was that of defending peasants from land grabs and of criticising government policies.

The Philippine Islamic Burial Law fills a regulatory gap that has been a source of tensions with Christians. In compliance with Islamic religious precepts, burial can take place within 24 hours, while violations will be sanctioned with jail time or fines. This success for the Muslim religious minority has sparked reactions among some Catholics.

Singapore’s unicameral legislature is set for renewal. A divided electorate could decree the end of the hegemony of the People’s Action Party. Fears of instability are likely to affect the economy, while negotiations with the United States on tariffs are underway. In a country with an aging population, immigration remains an unresolved issue.

With the publication in the Royal Gazette, Thailand becomes the 68th country in the world to ban physical and psychological violence for disciplinary purposes. This comes after years of international and domestic pressure, but cultural resistance among many Thais remains. UNICEF calls on the government to accompany the change with adequate educational measures.

To reach an upper-medium level of development this decade, greater investments in energy are needed. For supporters, nuclear plants would guarantee stable and "clean" energy, and improve the environment at a critical juncture for traditional renewables. Moscow and Beijing would partner in infrastructure development.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared by video link before the ICC, charged as “co-perpetrator” in the killing of 43 people between 2011 and 2019, many summarily executed during his “war on drugs”. The Court rejected the defence's objections and set the next hearing for 23 September.