Gilberto Teodoro, also known as Gibo, is a former congressman, lawyer, and presidential candidate who was appointed as the Secretary of National Defense by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in June 2023. Teodoro, 59, is the first permanent defense chief under the Marcos administration, after two former military chiefs served as officers-in-charge.  He is also the first person to hold the …

Ali Imron, also known as Ali Ghufron, is one of the convicted perpetrators of the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people and injured more than 200 others in Indonesia’s popular tourist island. The bombings, which targeted two nightclubs and the US consulate, were carried out by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a militant Islamist group linked to al-Qaeda, which aimed to …

The Philippines and China have a long-standing and complicated relationship, marked by both cooperation and conflict. The two countries have maintained diplomatic and economic ties, and have worked together on various issues, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the ASEAN-China dialogue.  However, the two countries have also clashed over the South China Sea, where they …

S. Iswaran, the former transport minister of Singapore, was charged on January 18, 2024, with 27 offenses, including two counts of corruption, one count of obstructing justice, and 24 counts of receiving gratification as a public servant. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. Iswaran, 61, is the first key minister to get embroiled in a graft probe …

Mentega Terbang is an independent, low-budget film that tells the story of Aishah, a 15-year-old Muslim girl who becomes curious about other religions’ views on the afterlife after her mother falls terminally ill.  The film depicts Aishah’s journey of exploring Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism, and her interactions with people of different faiths and backgrounds. The film, which was directed …

Taiwan is a self-ruled island that has its own government, military, and currency, but is claimed by China as part of its territory.  China considers Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. China has never renounced the use of military force to achieve this goal, and has repeatedly warned other countries …

The Houthis are a rebel group that controls much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, and has been fighting a civil war against the internationally recognized government of Yemen since 2014.  The Houthis are backed by Iran, which provides them with weapons and training, and are opposed by a Saudi-led coalition, which supports the Yemeni government and conducts airstrikes …

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority group that have faced persecution and violence in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and basic rights.  Since 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, where they live in overcrowded and squalid camps. Many of them have also attempted to seek refuge in other countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, often …

Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of North Korea, is facing a series of domestic troubles and challenges that threaten his grip on power and his legitimacy. Some of these troubles and challenges include: The economic crisis and the food shortage, caused by the international sanctions, the Covid-19 pandemic, the natural disasters, and the mismanagement of the regime. According to …

When Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in 2016, he shocked the world by declaring his “separation” from the United States, the Philippines’ long-standing ally and former colonial master, and his “realignment” with China, the Philippines’ historic rival and rising power.  Duterte said that the US had “lost” and that China was the “only hope” for his country’s development. …