Intern Doctor Deaths Reveal Dark Side of Indonesia’s Medical Training System
Four Indonesian housemanship doctors died in 2024, sparking scrutiny of a grueling internship system that often forces 12‑hour shifts and limits sick leave. Interns earn roughly $184‑$368 a month, far below regional minimum wages, and report bullying, hazing, and unsafe workloads. The Health Ministry has pledged to enforce an eight‑hour daily limit, raise stipends to about $430, and overhaul supervision. Professional bodies are urging stricter enforcement, compulsory monthly leave, and a shorter training period to curb burnout and fatalities.
Amid Middle East Conflict, ASEAN Countries Eye More Coordinated Response to Future Crises
Southeast Asian foreign and economic ministers met at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu to launch a crisis communication protocol aimed at coordinated responses to future emergencies. The dialogue focused on bolstering energy and food security, diversifying supply routes, and...
Commentary: Deepening Iran War and Hormuz Crisis Have Left India Sidelined
Iran’s recent drone strike on a UAE oil port injured three Indian nationals and earlier attacks on two Indian‑flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have exposed India’s diplomatic vulnerability in the Middle East. New Delhi condemned the attacks, summoned...
Commentary: The Heat Is on Thailand to Not Just Muddle Through
Thailand’s economy is confronting a perfect storm of falling tourism arrivals, a weakening baht and an unprecedented heatwave that is straining electricity use. Inflation, long stuck near zero, is projected to climb to about 3% this year, while GDP may...
Middle East Conflict Set to Test ASEAN Unity as Leaders Gather in Cebu for Summit
ASEAN leaders convene in Cebu amid the escalating Iran‑Israel conflict that threatens global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The summit’s agenda is dominated by energy security, with member states weighing the impact of disrupted supplies on their economies....
‘Reset’ or ‘Calculated Stabilisation’? Why Ties Between China and the Philippines Appear to Be Warming
After four years of friction, Manila and Beijing are moving toward a tentative thaw, but analysts describe it as a calculated stabilisation rather than a full reset. The shift is driven by energy‑supply shocks, the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship, and the...
From Jakarta to Klang Valley, Why Is It so Hard for Southeast Asia to Fight This Invasive Catfish?
Suckermouth catfish, dubbed “janitor fish,” have overtaken polluted waterways in Jakarta and the Klang Valley, comprising up to 90% of fish populations in parts of Malaysia. Municipal crews in Jakarta have netted more than 10 tonnes in a week, while volunteers...
Commentary: Washington Courts Manila, but the Rest of Southeast Asia Is Watching
Washington is quietly deepening economic ties with the Philippines despite a broader focus on the Iran war and rising oil prices. A $60 million aid package fuels the Luzon Economic Corridor, including a 4,000‑acre high‑tech hub in New Clark City and...
JB Food Guide: Hossan Leong’s Picks at Taman Sentosa’s Nostalgic Open-Air Hawker Street
Taman Sentosa’s Sentosa Street Food, an open‑air hawker lane just ten minutes from the Malaysia‑Singapore Causeway, was spotlighted by Singaporean entertainer‑entrepreneur Hossan Leong. He sampled the original Grandma Ong pushcart, where hand‑torn mee hoon kueh bowls cost RM8 (≈ $1.80), smoky BBQ chicken...
EU, ASEAN Need to Be 'Doubling Down' On Multilateralism as Free Trade Fractures: Vivian Balakrishnan
Singapore’s foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan warned that globalisation and free‑trade are under siege, urging the EU and ASEAN to double down on multilateral cooperation. He called for an accelerated EU‑ASEAN free‑trade agreement and a broader dialogue that could link the bloc...
Bangkok Set for Region-Topping Temperatures in Years to Come: Study
Bangkok has deployed a network of 313 air‑conditioned cooling centres and 279 outdoor shade sites, serving more than 120,000 residents in the past month as the city endures a record heat wave. A new ASEAN Centre for Energy report projects...
Commentary: Beijing Intensifies Diplomatic Isolation of Taiwan’s President
Taiwan President Lai Ching‑te cancelled a planned visit to Eswatini after Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles denied his plane airspace at Beijing's request, marking the first time China successfully blocked a Taiwanese diplomatic trip. The move isolates Taiwan's last African ally...
Snap Insight: Indonesia in Need of Rail Safety Overhaul After Fatal Train Crash
A fatal crash on a Jakarta‑area level crossing on April 27 killed 15 people and injured more than 80 after an electric taxi broke down and was struck by a commuter train, which then collided with a stationary long‑distance train....
Commentary: Japan Lifts Ban on Arms Exports – Can It Build the Free World’s Defence Industry?
Japan has officially lifted its post‑World War II ban on lethal arms exports, a policy first imposed in 1967 and tightened in 1976. The move, championed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, follows a decade of incremental liberalisation and reflects heightened security...
Commentary: Get Ready for Another Summer of Rage in Asia
Asia’s Gen Z faces a summer of economic strain as the Iran war drives up fuel, food and fertilizer prices, deepening already fragile job prospects. The price shock has sparked strikes in the Philippines, protests in India and Pakistan, and threatens...