The third official peace talks between the US and Iran on June 14 produced a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU), the details of which were released by White House officials on June 17 following its electronic signing by both respective presidents
Category: The Brief
Corruption arrests reach the heart of Indonesia’s government
Indonesian authorities launched sweeping arrests in early June, detaining President Prabowo Subianto’s inner circle officials, detaining several high-ranking officials from the newly-formed National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services. These arrests have become one of the most striking blows within his administration.
Malaysia builds a chip industry but may lack the workers to run it
Malaysia is trying to climb the semiconductor value chain to become a highly lucrative Integrated Circuit (IC) design and wafer fabrication hub, leaving behind its conventional Assembly, Testing and Packaging (ATP) branding.
Timor-Leste races to build a post-oil economy before the fund runs dry
Timor-Leste has recently been on a flurry of high-level engagements.
Why Thailand’s roads keep killing
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Thailand ranks among the highest in the world for road fatalities as traffic accidents claim approximately 20,000 lives annually, meaning an average of 50 deaths per day.
Is Indonesia becoming Southeast Asia’s new online gambling hub?
A recent police raid in Jakarta uncovered a large online gambling operation involving 320 non-Indonesian nationals and dozens of gambling website\s. The case quickly drew national attention because of the international scale of the network.
South China Sea and Strait of Hormuz dominate discussions at 48th ASEAN Summit
The 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, culminated on May 8 with member states’ leaders formally signing outcome declarations throughout the plenary and retreat sessions, concluded by a symbolic gala dinner.
Balikatan 2026 drills test missiles, cyber defense in the Philippines
The Philippines, along with the US, Australia, Japan, Canada, France and New Zealand, formally commenced Exercise Balikatan 2026, marking the 41st iteration of the biggest annual joint military drill across Southeast Asia on April 20.
Vietnam’s president chooses Beijing for first official visit
On April 17, Vietnam’s newly-elected President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Tô Lâm, concluded his four-day visit to China with substantial outcomes, advancing the bilateral ties between the two countries.
Indonesia stages high-level visits to Moscow, Paris and Washington in a show of hyperactive hedging
In mid-April 2026, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto embarked on a wave of state visits which represents Jakarta’s attempt to navigate an increasingly uncertain global condition.