LATEST PULSE

China’s large military drills near Taiwan have raised tensions in the Taiwan Strait, drawing US criticism and renewed global concern over regional stability.

In a major step toward easing tensions, Thailand has released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war after holding them for five months. The release follows a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, bringing an end to months of deadly clashes along their shared border.   The ceasefire was signed on December 27, 2025, by the defense ministers of both countries. Under the agreement, Thailand committed to freeing the Cambodian soldiers if t...

Iran is facing a growing wave of unrest as a collapsing currency and rising inflation push protests beyond Tehran into cities across the country. What began as strikes by shopkeepers has turned into nationwide demonstrations, violent clashes with security forces, and increased pressure on Iran’s leadership at a sensitive geopolitical moment.   How and Why the Protests Started The protests began after the Iranian rial plunged to a re...

Malaysia has achieved a major milestone in its fight against the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. According to a new Mutual Evaluation Report released on December 11, between 2019 and February 2025, the Malaysian government recovered $9.5 billion in assets, with 75 percent of these directly linked to the 1MDB case.   The 1MDB scandal, which rocked Malaysia for almost a decade, involved the theft of $4.5 billion from a governmen...

2025 has been one of the most turbulent years for democracy in Africa. Across the continent, protests, disputed elections, and military takeovers exposed deep failures in governance. From deadly crackdowns on demonstrators to the rise of military-led governments, political instability has become a defining theme of the year.   As governance analyst Mo Ibrahim warned, “The increase in coups, the return of military governments, and the...