The writer says: "Tragically, in our desperation to become Singapore, we ended up with Dutertismo—a cynical 'burn down the house' form of politics."

The incoming government will have to make austerity a top priority at the leadership level for fiscal consolidation, says the writer.

The Marcos administration’s economic team need not be distracted by the corruption scandal and should focus on bringing the economy back on the growth track.

As Cambodia emerges as a dynamic player in Southeast Asia and South Korea continues to lead in innovation and technology, their strategic alliance holds immense potential to drive sustainable development, enhance security, and promote people-to-people connections, says the writer.

The writer says: "In the end, whether we are sipping a Singaporean brew sold as a Moroccan legend or voting for an elite politician rebranded as an everyday hero, some of us are customers/voters who can be won over merely with the right branding."

The writer says that British PM Keir Starmer's China visit "is not about revisiting the past, rather it is about "aligning with the realities of the next 20 years."

The writer says: "The long era of the liberal international order seems to be fading, replaced by a new and colder reality that could be best described as pragmatic transactional realism."

As inflation soars and the rial crumbles, Iran’s streets erupt in protest, while the world waits to see who will step in, or stir the fire.

US President Donald Trump’s Venezuela gamble exposes new risks for Korea’s security and energy.

Polio eradication is not a technical impossibility. It is a test of governance. If 2026 is to mark the beginning of the end, Pakistan must match its campaign scale with political will, community trust, and unwavering security.

While free meal programmes offer a vital safety net, true child welfare is only sustainable when anchored by the dignity and security of a parent's decent work, the writer says.