Nation & Identity

Brunei is approaching a turning point it can no longer avoid. In 2026, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah will turn 80 after nearly six decades in power and more than forty years as absolute ruler since independence in 1984. At the same time, the oil and gas wealth that kept the country stable and comfortable for generations is slowly running out. As pressure builds on both of these fronts, Brunei must confront questions it has spent decades postponing. &n...

Southeast Asia is entering 2026 facing a more complex and uncertain risk environment, shaped by intensifying competition between the US and China, global economic tensions, and climate change threats.   According to the State of Southeast Asia: 2026 Survey Report by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Southeast Asia is increasingly concerned not just with individual risks, but with how they overlap and reinforce each other.   T...

A court in Thailand has ruled that a major gold mining company is responsible for toxic pollution affecting hundreds of villagers, in a landmark decision that could reshape environmental lawsuits across Southeast Asia.   The case, filed in 2016, accused operators of the Chatree Gold Mine in northern Thailand of causing serious contamination. After years of legal battles, the Bangkok Civil Court found the company liable for environmental da...

For over 25 years, the United Nations has recognized that women are essential to peace and security. Since UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, women have been acknowledged not only as victims of conflict but as active agents in preventing, resolving, and rebuilding after war. Their participation makes peacebuilding more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of women and communities.   Peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro ...

Malaysia is ramping up its fight against forced labor aiming to completely eliminate it by 2030. In January, the government unveiled a new National Action Plan on Forced Labor for 2026–2030, designed to strengthen policies and practices to protect workers, especially migrants. Stronger Actions to Protect Workers and Stop Forced Labor A workshop held in November 2025 brought together experts, government officials, and workers’ groups...