Indonesia’s benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (JCI)—dommestically known as IHSG—closed down 41.01 points (0.8%) on October 30, hovering precariously in the red zone at 5,057 level.
Category: The Brief
ASEAN’s Energy Outlook Promises Security but Hides the Bill
On October 8, ASEAN energy ministers endorsed the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO9) at their annual meeting in Manila. The ASEAN Centre for Energy report identifies stronger regional connectivity as a pathway towards a more secure energy future, but it leaves open the question of who pays for that connectivity and who benefits from it.
Laos’ Stubborn Brain Drain Continues as Inflation Remains High
“Higher wages” plainly appears to be the main reason the majority of Laotians choose to work abroad. However, the government remains perverse in rolling out the wrong countermeasures to avoid an increasing brain drain. The policy disconnect was once again evident when Lao Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Phoxay Sayasone addressed the second ordinary session of the 10th National Assembly on October 9.
El Niño Is a Climate Threat, but the Philippines’ Bigger Test Is Economic
Drought brought by the El Niño phenomenon. (FAO) By the end of 2026, the Philippines is bracing for a potentially very strong El Niño, with […]
Indonesia Faces Thailand in First-Ever FIFA ASEAN Cup Final After 9-2 Win
The Indonesian national team officially secured their final ticket in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup after a 9-2 victory over Bangladesh at their home ground, the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, on October 1.
Cambodia’s Scam Raids Disrupt Operators but Leave Wider Networks Intact
On September 21, Cambodian authorities revealed that more than 20,900 suspects had been detained in a nationwide crackdown on online scams during the first half of the year, just two days before Cambodia hosted an international conference on combating online scams in Phnom Penh.
Bangsamoro’s First Election Delivers Turnout but Not a Majority
After decades of conflict, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in the Philippines’ southern region, held its first parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026. It marked the first electoral test of a historic 2014 peace agreement between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that granted the region autonomy.
Southeast Asia’s AI Race Has a Governance Problem
Artificial intelligence (AI) is growing at an unprecedented level, far beyond what humanity can comprehend, much less to control. The brakes on this development must therefore be pulled in the nick of time as the alternative threatens human extinction.
Indonesia’s Disasters Do Not Wait Their Turn
On August 23, the head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, was in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, inspecting the national logistics post for the deadly Flores earthquake. Yet part of the operational update he gave that day concerned a crisis more than 1,000 kilometres away.
Southeast Asia’s Defence Partnerships Are Expanding Beyond Bilateral Alliances
On August 30, the Philippines and US marked the 75th anniversary of their Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT), reaffirming an alliance that has evolved from a Cold War security pact into an expanded defence partnership. The relationship now covers military exercises, operational coordination, capability development, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster response, while increasingly coupling the Philippines with wider regional security networks.