Scrapping direct regional elections in Indonesia shifts power to elites, analysts warn
President Prabowo argues direct elections are costly and prone to vote buying, but surveys indicate 77.3% of Indonesians prefer direct elections.
Special Report
Karachi’s Gul Plaza, SBCA, and the human cost of bad governance
Buildings become death traps not because the rules are unclear, but because enforcement has been deliberately neutralised.
China eyes rare earth foothold in Malaysia to maintain dominance
The Malaysian government estimates its domestic rare earth reserves at about 16.1 million tonnes.
Why everything costs more
Across Southeast Asia, economists and policymakers increasingly point out that domestic prices are shaped as much by global developments as by local decisions, particularly…
‘Funny is funny’: Indonesian comedians keep calm and carry on amid police report against Netflix show
Comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono faces a police report for jokes in his Netflix special "Mens Rea" about alleged government quid pro quo with Islamic organisations.
‘Tiger Tiger, burning bright’: The scourge of AI-generated wildlife videos in India
Experts warn that these fake videos distort animal behaviour understanding, increasing human-animal conflict and risking retaliatory killings.
Two cases reveal high cost of South Korea’s score obsession
Experts have long warned that Korea's exam-centered culture incentivizes unethical behavior.
Indonesia President Prabowo turns lush, private sanctuary into command outpost
Located some 60 kilometres from Jakarta, the Hambalang estate has served as his sanctuary for years.
Bhutan’s city farms grow, but support stalls
Concerns are being raised over a lack of continuity, institutional backing, and long-term planning.
‘Limited options’ for Pakistan to circumvent US punitive tariff on Iran
According to the writer, what distinguishes this move from previous sanctions regimes is its breadth.