Geo Politics

THAILAND: Thailand’s lawmakers passed four pieces of legislation on same-sex unions in first reading on Wednesday, June 15, putting the country one step closer to becoming Asia’s second country to legalize same-gender weddings. However, campaigners claim that Thai laws and institutions have yet to reflect shifting social attitudes and that LGBT people and same-sex couples continue to face discrimination. Each …

INDONESIA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced a cabinet overhaul on Wednesday, June 15, in response to outrage over a series of policy shifts on palm oil exports. During an official ceremony at the presidential palace, the president named Zukifli Hasan, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and a former forestry minister, as the country’s new commerce minister. The …

CAMBODIA: In a major trial denounced by the United States and rights groups as politically motivated, a Cambodian court sentenced roughly 60 opposition activists to prison on, including famed lawyer Theary Seng, for planning to commit treason. More than 100 members of the defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) were charged with treason and incitement, including Theary Seng, a Cambodian-American …

TAIWAN: The box office smash — which is by far Tom Cruise’s most successful commercial debut — now incorporates the flag on his iconic bomber jacket, including in the Taiwanese edition. The film’s teaser from 2019 initially suggested otherwise. During the preview, the patches on Cruise’s jacket looked to have been swapped out and replaced with two unclear symbols in …

PHILIPPINES: Groups campaigning for energy sector changes urged President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pick the country’s next energy secretary with prudence. The Institute for Power Sector Economics (IPSEC), based in Mindanao, said on Thursday, June 16, that the next Secretary of Energy should be able to steer the country toward renewable energy dependency in the future years. IPSEC director Dave …

MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s government has announced that it will abolish the death penalty and put an end to all executions, in a rare gesture against capital punishment in Asia that has been praised by human rights organizations. Malaysian law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced in a statement that mandatory death sentences for major crimes would be replaced with “alternative punishments” …

SRI LANKA: Shorter work weeks are becoming popular in places like Iceland and the United Kingdom, with the goal of increasing worker productivity and happiness. However, in crisis-stricken Sri Lanka, the notion is to deal with crippling food and fuel shortages. The South Asian country, which is grappling with shortages in the midst of its worst economic crisis in decades, …

Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced that it will strengthen rules regarding the use of electric bicycles and scooters. We will do this because of the increasing number of motorbike accidents. Victor Núñez, MMDA’s Department of Traffic Discipline, said authorities were tolerant of enforcing regulations on the use of electronic bicycles due to the lack of …

Beijing – On Wednesday, June 15, President Xi Jinping assured Vladimir Putin of China’s support for Russian “sovereignty and security.” This prompted Washington to warn Beijing that they risked ending up “on the wrong side of history.” China has declined to denounce Russia’s unprecedented military assault on Ukraine and has been accused of providing diplomatic cover for Moscow by criticizing …

Philippines – Some online users reminded  that  English could be used for public purposes after the newly elected Senator Robin Padilla stated that he wanted to discuss only  in  the Philippine Senate. The 52-year-old self-proclaimed “Best of the State-of-the-art Education” and new Senate freshmen are ready to discuss in the plenary on Tuesday, June 14, when reporters hold the 19th …