ASEAN Confronts Myanmar Crisis At Foreign Ministers Retreat In The Philippines

Foreign Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter: ASEAN) gathered in the Philippines for their annual retreat as the bloc faces mounting pressure to manage internal divisions and escalating regional security challenges. Held under Manila’s 2026 chairmanship, the meeting focused heavily on the unresolved political crisis in Myanmar, alongside maritime tensions in the...

Myanmar Military Government Pardons Thousands Ahead of Disputed Election as UN Warns of Crimes

Myanmar’s military government has announced a sweeping amnesty for thousands of individuals convicted or charged under anti-dissent laws, positioning the move as a necessary step towards the general election scheduled for late December. On 27 November 2025, state media reported that the junta would drop the prison sentences of 3.085 people convicted under Section 505(A)...

Yaba: The Drug That Is Shaping Geopolitics In Southeast Asia

In 2023, a record 190 tons of methamphetamine was seized in Southeast Asia, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (hereinafter: UNODC). This methamphetamine-based stimulant, known as the “madness drug” or “Nazi speed,” has swept through Southeast Asia like wildfire, leaving a trail of addiction, crime, and political turmoil...