On September 4, the Quezon City (QC) Regional Trial Court Branch 98 issued an arrest warrant against the Philippine Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte after finding probable cause to proceed with three counts of grave threats arising from remarks she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Category: Politics
Vietnam Arrests Deputy Health Minister Thuấn Over Alleged Bribery in Smuggling Probe
On September 2, Vietnamese authorities arrested and prosecuted Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn on allegations of receiving a large amount of bribes, as part of an expanded investigation into alleged accounting violations and smuggling.
Malaysia’s AUKU Replacement Must Guarantee Academic Freedom and Student Voice
The Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti 1971), or known locally with its abbreviation AUKU, has been in operation for over half a century in Malaysia. It was enacted with the purpose of providing a legal mechanism for the establishment, administration and governance for public universities, but gradually became intertwined with a larger debate on student activism, political participation, freedom of expression and academic freedom.
Vietnam Revises Cross-Border Trade Rules Following US Trade Review
Vietnam will introduce revised regulations governing cross-border trade from September 5, alongside a new prohibition on imports of goods produced wholly or partly using forced labour under Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP.
Thailand to Revive 450-Baht Tourist Entry Fee for High-Value Tourism
Thailand, one of the most visited destinations in Southeast Asia, is attempting to leap to the next stage of tourism development by shifting its focus towards enhancing travel quality and safety. A chief endeavour currently underway is a proposal to revive an entry fee for foreign visitors, amounting to 450 Thai baht (17 US dollar).
Deadline Set for Indonesia’s Asset Forfeiture Bill As Thousands Rally at Parliament
Indonesian authorities deployed more than 18,500 security personnel across capital Jakarta on August 27 as thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the House of Representatives (DPR) in the district of Senayan, demanding lawmakers pass a long-stalled bill allowing the state to seize the assets of corruption convicts.
Coordinated Attacks Expose Limits of Thailand’s Deep South Security Strategy
Countering insurgent attacks in its southern region has always been on the agenda of successive Thai administrations in 1948, as the conflict has historically inflicted severe casualties on civilians and dealt a heavy blow to public resources. Yet, it seems like the counter-measures deployed thus far have merely scratched the surface, chronically overlooking the root causes of the unrest.
Growth, Stability and Synergisation Pledged by Indonesia’s Central Bank Governor Nominee
The sole gubernatorial candidate, Destry Damayanti, presented her vision for leading Bank Indonesia (BI) on August 26, pledging to support economic growth and job creation while firmly maintaining the central bank’s independence.
Chinese Foreign Minister’s Jakarta Visit Deepens Ties with Call for Favourable Business Climate
Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono co-chaired an inaugural Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue (CSD) with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Jakarta on August 21.
ASEAN’s Space Problem Is ASEAN Itself
In space, ASEAN’s non-interference principle is doing precisely what it was built to do and that is the problem. In March 2026, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn spoke in Manila, pointing to a new tracking station on Biak Island, Indonesia, as a critical step in building out a regional space economy projected to hit 100 billion US dollar by 2030.