Stefano Vecchia

She remains vice president but pulls out of the alliance that saw her run in 2022 with the son of the Philippines’ former dictator. The break stems from political differences on issues like relations with China and the United States and public order, as well the personal ambitions of the two political dynasties.

The government wants to induce Indonesians living abroad to come home, especially the highly skilled and professionals. A draft proposal under examination would provide incentives and concessions to non-Indonesians while allowing them to keep their foreign citizenship. National security is preventing changes to the existing Citizenship Nationality Law.

A report by the United States Institute of Peace highlights the danger. Since 2021, the growing influence of criminal groups has affected individuals and the national security of individual states. For experts, more coordination between Beijing and Washington is needed. Such criminal networks have a turnover of US$ 64 billion.

The Philippines marks 126 years since Spanish rule ended. The authorities are worried about China's territorial claims. President Marcos orders the military to be “well prepared" for any situation. The Catholic Church is also afraid that the country “might lose our independence.”

The journalist and intellectual was picked up before an event in Hanoi, but news filtered out only recently. He is the latest victim in an anti-corruption “blazing furnace” campaign leading up to the nomination of the future leader of the Communist Party (and the country). Trần Đình Triển, a lawyer, has also been detained.

City authorities crack down on a practice that remains popular despite official bans on grounds of health and hygiene. In Vietnam, an estimated four million animals end up on the dinner table every year. Concern is also heightened by recent outbreaks of rabies causing death among humans.

After the collapse of Myanmar’s economy due to the civil war, more and more capital is fleeing the country, like in Russia after the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis. The ruling military junta recently arrested dozens of people for money laundering through foreign real estate purchases.

In its biennial report, the National Economic and Social Development Council depicts a complex reality. About 40.5 per cent of people of reproductive age had no desire to marry in 2023, up from 35.7 per cent in 2017. Government policies have been ineffective so far in reversing the trend. For more and more Thais, the “Single Income, No Kids” lifestyle is very attractive.

Thousands are camped at the airport, especially from Bangladesh and Nepal, waiting. The old quota system has been cancelled. Some 15 countries with specific agreements with Malaysia are involved. Foreigners are expected to cover about 15 per cent of the labour force by next year.

First a case against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin over the appointment of a minister, then accusations of ‘lese majesty’ directly against Thaksin Shinawatra, who has returned to the political scene: the alliance between the arch-enemies that wiped out Move Forward's election victory a year ago is creaking in Bangkok.

A new report notes that returns from cyber scams generate an estimated at US$ 12.5 billion in a country whose GDP is below US$ 30 billion. This is keeping foreign investors away, weakening economic development. While the authorities have started to crack down, they can only go so far since many of those involved are Chinese nationals, protected by their country’s economic involvement in Cambodia.

Since 2016, Tô serves as public security minister. With him, the top leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam takes on a new face; now the National Assembly has to rubberstamp the party’s choice.