Pharmally redux
The writer says that many Filipinos are eager to know how the Pharmally cases that stank of corruption during the pandemic under the Rodrigo Duterte presidency, would play out in…
The Asian View
Gen-Z discontent in Asia can affect geopolitical shifts
Although the protests—Sri Lanka's Aragalaya protests, Bangladesh's 2024 July uprising, Nepal's Gen-Z revolution and Indonesia's anti-corruption protests— differ in their…
Some signals from Pyongyang
Overall, the messages from Kim Jong-un’s latest parade appear more flexible, moderate, and engagement-oriented than before, the writer observes.
Chasing high growth: Indonesia’s risky economic leap
Chasing high growth without structural reform, institutional strength, and sound fundamentals risks imbalances, rising inequality, and eroded credibility.
Palestine – a cause for all
The writer says: "Not every Palestinian is a terrorist or a Muslim, not every Jew is a Zionist, not every Arab nation has been sincere in wanting to save Palestine, and certainly…
Duterte, ICC, and the Philippines’ broken justice system
The writer argues: "Unless we invest in and modernize our judicial institutions, the triple evils of corruption, impunity, and incompetence will continue to sink our democratic…
Why Bangladesh should end the death penalty
Claims of broad support for the death penalty in Bangladesh often rest on observations from these moments of outrage, the writer observes. However, she adds, evidence for public…
Nobel Peace Prize: The politics of peace, sponsored by the powerful
The writer says: "Russia’s Vladimir Putin, not usually known for his love of peaceful resolutions, praised US President Trump for 'doing a lot to resolve complex crises.'"
The power of one case
For a while, Zara Qairina’s death became one of the most consuming public issues in Malaysia. It was more than a news story; it became a national flashpoint, the writer says.
Two political forces and the Philippines’ future
As for the 2028 election option, the anti-Duterte forces lag behind the pro-Duterte group in preparations because of the absence of a clear successor candidate that they can…