A year ago, The Southeast Asia Desk began with a relatively simple idea.

Southeast Asia did not need another publication racing to repeat what had already happened.

It needed more spaces willing to stop, verify, connect the dots, and ask a different question:

What does this development actually mean for the region?

We started small.

There was no large newsroom behind us. No extensive infrastructure. No guarantee that readers would find us.

There was only a conviction that Southeast Asia deserved journalism that treated the region not as a collection of disconnected national stories, but as a shared political, economic, cultural and human space.

One year later, that conviction remains.

But today, it is accompanied by something we did not have when we started: evidence that people are willing to read, return, participate and grow with us.

And before speaking about any number, milestone or future ambition, we want to begin with the most important part.

❤️ First, Thank You

To everyone who opened one of our newsletters.

To those who found an article through Google while trying to understand something happening somewhere in Southeast Asia.

To those who shared our work with a colleague, a student, a friend or a family member.

To the readers who followed us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

To those who listened to The Dispatch.

To the journalists, researchers, students, diplomats, civil-society workers, professionals and curious readers who sent us corrections, suggestions, invitations and questions.

And especially to those who simply kept coming back:

Thank you.

The Southeast Asia Desk exists because you decided that regional journalism was worth your time.

We do not take that attention for granted.

🌱 What One Year Has Taught Us

Our first year was, in many ways, an experiment.

Could a small independent newsroom produce regular regional journalism without chasing every breaking headline?

Could explanatory reporting about ASEAN, climate, economics, culture, energy, politics and everyday life find an audience?

Could readers discover us without enormous advertising budgets?

The answer, cautiously, has been yes.

Between January and early August 2026, our website recorded 25,398 active users and 34,882 sessions. Across its first 50 reported weeks, our Substack generated 85,998 views. On LinkedIn, the Desk gained 1,470 followers organically and generated more than 102,000 impressions during the reporting year.

These are modest numbers compared with major media organisations.

For us, however, they mean something important.

The model has begun to validate itself.

Even more encouraging is how readers found us.

Around 44.1% of website sessions came through organic search, while another 35.6% came through direct traffic. Together, those channels accounted for nearly four-fifths of recorded sessions.

That matters because it suggests our growth is becoming less dependent on whether one social-media algorithm happens to favour us on a particular day.

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People are searching for issues.

They are finding our work.

And some are returning directly.

For a publication built around context rather than clicks, that may be one of our most meaningful achievements.

🧭 We Also Learned What Readers Come to Us For

Our most-read stories did not belong to one narrow category.

They included climate risks, Southeast Asian representation in global entertainment, Indonesia’s proposed Biak spaceport, Malaysia’s tourism growth, the Strait of Hormuz and regional energy security, artificial intelligence governance, and currency pressures in Indonesia.

That diversity helped clarify what The Southeast Asia Desk should be.

We are not trying to become a publication about one government, one policy field or one professional community.

Our strongest work often sits between categories:

🌏 regional politics and everyday consequences
⚡ global crises and Southeast Asian vulnerabilities
💹 economics and human livelihoods
🎬 culture and representation
🌱 climate and development
🤖 technology and governance

The common thread is not the subject.

It is the lens.

Southeast Asia first. Context before noise. Verification before speed.

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📰 From Newsletter Experiment to Newsroom

Another transformation took place behind the stories.

What began with relatively simple writing, editing and publishing roles gradually developed into a more structured production system involving editorial meetings, writing, editing, SEO, visual design, social distribution, podcasts, regional contributors and quality checks.

Our editorial portfolio now includes products such as The Daily Angle, Weekend Brew, The Desk Briefing, The Regional Line, The Dispatch, The Centripetals, and other experimental formats.

We have also begun documenting the less visible parts of journalism:

How contributors are assigned.

How work is valued.

How corrections should be handled.

How sponsorship should be separated from editorial judgment.

How AI may assist our work without replacing human editorial responsibility.

How we protect the independence of the newsroom as the organisation grows.

This institutional work may never generate the most clicks.

But without it, there is no durable newsroom.

⚖️ We Are Proud of the Progress; but We Know What Has Not Been Solved

Our anniversary is not an announcement that we have figured everything out.

We have not.

Audience growth has outpaced our institutional capacity.

Our first-year review identified recurring challenges involving financial sustainability, administrative capacity, workload concentration, and the need for a clearer business development function.

A small group of people still carries a significant share of the work.

Some products remain difficult to sustain consistently.

Original reporting requires time and resources that a volunteer-heavy model cannot always provide.

Revenue has not yet grown at the same pace as readership.

These are not problems we want to hide behind anniversary graphics.

They are precisely why our second year needs to be different from our first.

Year One was about proving that the idea could work.

Year Two must be about building something capable of lasting.

🌿 Year Two: From Proof of Concept to a Durable Regional Institution

Our next phase will not be defined by publishing as much content as possible.

Our internal Year Two masterplan deliberately takes the opposite position:

Sustainability cannot simply mean producing more.

Publication volume must match the resources, time and people available to produce journalism responsibly.

Instead, we intend to concentrate on several deeper priorities.

🔎 1. Building a Searchable Southeast Asian Knowledge Platform

Hundreds of stories disappear from public attention simply because the news cycle moves on.

We want some of our journalism to do the opposite.

Year Two will place greater emphasis on evergreen reference journalism: carefully sourced, regularly updated explainers designed to remain useful beyond the day they are published.

Areas we intend to develop include:

🌏 ASEAN Explained
💹 Regional Economy
🌱 Climate & Energy
🧳 Moving Southeast Asia
🎬 Media & Culture
🗺 Regional Power Map

Our goal is to gradually build an archive where students, journalists, researchers, policymakers and everyday readers can return when they need reliable regional context; not merely yesterday’s headline.

👥 2. Turning an Audience Into a Community

Numbers tell us how many people arrived.

They do not tell us whether we have built a relationship.

That is one of the biggest tasks ahead.

Our Year Two plans include stronger newsletter pathways, reader surveys, virtual roundtables, regional expert networks and opportunities for readers to participate more directly in shaping the questions we investigate.

We also want to create more spaces where our journalists meet the people who read their work.

Because journalism should not only speak to a community.

Good journalism should also listen with one.

🧪 3. Investing in Verification and Original Journalism

As AI-generated information, synthetic media and manipulated narratives become easier to produce, verification cannot remain an occasional newsroom exercise.

It must become infrastructure.

We intend to gradually strengthen fact-checking, source verification, newsroom AI governance and deeper original reporting through initiatives including The Desk Truth Lab and expanded Centripetals investigations and analyses.

The long-term ambition is straightforward:

When information becomes easier to produce, trustworthy journalism must become harder to compromise.

🏛️ 4. Building the Institution Behind the Journalism

Perhaps the most significant Year Two project will happen behind the bylines.

We are preparing the institutional foundations needed to move The Southeast Asia Desk from an informal independent newsroom toward a durable media organisation.

Our current planning explores establishing Koperasi Media Ruang Asia Tenggara, with The Southeast Asia Desk/SEA Desk Common Cooperative as its public identity.

The documents remain in development, and the legal transition is not yet complete.

But the principle guiding the process is already clear:

The institution supporting the journalism should reflect the collaborative values of the journalism itself.

The proposed cooperative framework is designed around collective participation, professional independence, transparent governance, fairer recognition of contributors, and a firm separation between commercial interests and editorial decision-making.

🤝 Toward a Common Cooperative

The word common matters to us.

Southeast Asia is too large, too diverse and too complicated to be understood from one desk, one city or one perspective.

A regional newsroom should therefore be built through a network.

Journalists.

Editors.

Researchers.

Photographers.

Visual storytellers.

Fact-checkers.

Podcast producers.

Translators.

Academics.

Students.

Community members.

And readers who care enough about Southeast Asia to help sustain serious journalism about it.

Our proposed cooperative model is intended to create a stronger institutional home for that ecosystem while preserving one boundary we consider non-negotiable:

Those who fund, administer or support the institution must not control independent editorial decisions.

That separation is written into the principles we are currently developing for our governance structure.

Because sustainability without independence would defeat the purpose of building the institution in the first place.

🌏 And We Would Like You to Be Part of What Comes Next

This anniversary is therefore not only a moment to look backwards.

It is an invitation.

If you have been reading quietly for the past year, we would like to hear from you.

If you are a journalist somewhere in Southeast Asia who believes an overlooked local story deserves a regional audience, talk to us.

If you are a researcher who can help readers understand a complicated issue, work with us.

If you are a designer, photographer, translator, fact-checker, producer or creator who believes in regional public-interest journalism, introduce yourself.

If you represent a university, newsroom, civil society organisation, research institute, or responsible institution interested in knowledge exchange, media literacy, research, or public-interest collaboration, our door is open.

And if you are simply a reader:

Stay with us.

Subscribe.

Reply.

Correct us when we are wrong.

Tell us what we have missed.

Join our future reader discussions.

Recommend the Desk to someone who wants to understand Southeast Asia a little better.

And as the SEA Desk Common Cooperative develops, we will open more structured opportunities for those interested in contributing to, supporting and helping shape this shared experiment.

🧭 What Will Not Change

Institutions evolve.

Products change.

Formats come and go.

Technology certainly will.

But several principles should remain constant.

We will continue to value verification over velocity.

We will continue to distinguish reporting from promotion.

We will continue to approach Southeast Asia as a region of many voices rather than a single narrative.

We will continue trying to explain not only what happened, but why it matters.

And we will continue believing that regional journalism can be serious without becoming inaccessible, analytical without becoming detached, and sustainable without surrendering editorial independence.

Our Year Two masterplan describes our direction as a transition “from proof of concept to a durable regional institution.”

That is an ambitious destination.

We know we have not arrived.

💚 One Dispatch at a Time

The first year of The Southeast Asia Desk was built from hundreds of small acts.

Someone pitched a story.

Someone checked a number.

Someone edited a paragraph late at night.

Someone translated an idea.

Someone designed a visual.

Someone recorded a podcast.

Someone opened a newsletter.

Someone clicked through from a search result.

Someone decided to come back the following week.

That is how this newsroom grew.

Not through one viral moment.

Not through one person.

But gradually.

Collectively.

One dispatch at a time.

To everyone who helped bring us through our first year:

Thank you for trusting us with your attention.

For our second year, we hope to earn something even more valuable:

Your participation.

The Southeast Asia Desk began as an attempt to understand this region better.

Our next chapter is about building the institution, community and common space capable of doing that work for years to come.

Come build it with us.

Again, thank you, and thank you

- The Editorial Team

The Southeast Asia Desk
Curating the Region, One Dispatch at a Time.

(QOB/ELS)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

ASEAN’s 59th anniversary, or ASEAN Day, under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together”, put people at the heart of regional cooperation.

Beyond politics, the celebration brought diverse communities together through one universal language: food.

ASEAN’s external partners also joined the festivities, turning the table into a space for friendship and cultural exchange.

📡 Why Its on Our Radar

• 🌐 ASEAN’s wider circle: The table brought together ASEAN Member States and external partners, reflecting the bloc’s broad network of relationships.

• 🍽️ A different kind of diplomacy: The festival shows how food can create connections beyond formal meetings and political dialogue.

• 👥 People at the centre: By making diplomacy accessible through food, the celebration puts people-to-people ties into practice.

🌏 More Than Just a Meal

ASEAN’s food diversity reflects centuries of migration, trade and cultural exchange across Southeast Asia.

• 🧳 Migration: People, recipes and culinary traditions travelled across borders and took root in new communities.

• 🍜 Shared heritage: Foods like laksa, satay, rendang, sticky rice and noodles appear in different forms across the region.

• 🌶️ Local twists: The same dish can taste different depending on local ingredients, traditions and interpretations.

• 🤝 Cross-border connections: Food shows how Southeast Asian cultures have influenced, adapted to and grown alongside one another.

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🍽️ Spotted! Southeast Asia’s Flavours

The Southeast Asian countries’ stalls featured a diverse selection of traditional dishes, snacks and drinks such as:

• 🇧🇳 Brunei: Kuih sapit, a thin and crispy wafer, and kuih bahulu, a small, soft sponge cake, showcased two traditional Bruneian treats.

• 🇱🇦 Laos: River weed (khai pen), made from edible freshwater algae, offered a taste of Laos’ river-based food traditions.

• 🇸🇬 Singapore: Hainanese chicken rice, featuring poached chicken served with fragrant, seasoned rice.

• 🇵🇭 The Philippines: An ube halo-halo brought a refreshing, sweet touch to the spread, featuring the vibrant purple-coloured root crop commonly used in Filipino desserts and drinks.

• 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste: Fehuk da’an, a traditional pumpkin-based dish, was among the foods on display, alongside katupa, rice wrapped in woven palm leaves similar to Indonesian local food.

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🌍 A Taste from ASEAN’s Partners

The food festival also brought flavours from beyond Southeast Asia, with ASEAN’s partners showcasing dishes and treats from their own culinary traditions. Among those on display were:

• 🇨🇳 China: Mooncakes, traditionally enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

• 🇮🇳 India: Rose lassi, samosas and chicken tikka, offering a mix of refreshing, savoury and spiced flavours.

• 🇷🇺 Russia: A berry-based drink, adding a fruity and refreshing option to the spread.

• 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea: Tteokbokki, chewy rice cakes served in a characteristically spicy and savoury sauce.

• 🇺🇸 United States: Pistachio brownies and cookies, bringing a sweet twist to the partner showcase.

📸 The Bigger Picture: Different Versions of Familiar Food

Across Southeast Asia, familiar food formats often take on their own local twists, creating dishes that feel both distinctly local and recognisably connected.

• 🧊 Shaved ice: Indonesia’s es serut and the Philippines’ halo-halo both turn shaved ice into colourful, refreshing desserts, with different toppings and flavour combinations.

• 🐟 Fish snacks: Indonesia’s pempek and Malaysia’s keropok lekor both turn fish into popular snacks, but with distinct preparations and textures. Malaysia’s keropok lekor combines ground fish with sago flour.

• 🍢 Satay: Satay appears across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, with each culinary tradition giving the skewered dish its own interpretation.

• 🍜 Rice noodles: Thailand’s pad Thai and the many flat-rice-noodle dishes found across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore show how a similar staple can become very different plates. Thailand’s pad Thai is traditionally stir-fried with ingredients including tofu, dried shrimp, egg and peanuts.

🌍 ASEAN Day isn’t celebrated the same way everywhere

Not only at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, but the 59th anniversary of ASEAN was also celebrated in various ways outside Southeast Asia, ranging from cultural festivals and food fairs to the illumination of historic monuments.

• 🇲🇦 Rabat – ASEAN’s cultural bazaar: The ASEAN Cultural Festival combines food, traditional performances, handicrafts and cultural display, giving Moroccan audiences a more direct introduction to Southeast Asian culture. The 2026 edition, held on 25 July, was also the festival’s second edition, with part of the proceeds donated to charity.

• 🇮🇳 New Delhi – ASEAN takes over a landmark: A projection of colours and the ASEAN emblem, accompanied by the ASEAN Anthem, at Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The projection offers a highly visual way of bringing ASEAN to a major public landmark.

• 🇬🇷 Athens - ASEAN around the dinner table: A celebration at the Thai Residence combined traditional performances and food stalls showcasing ASEAN cuisine, whilst bringing together ASEAN diplomats, Greek officials and representatives of Dialogue Partners.

🧐 So, What Does This Tell Us About ASEAN?

Food shows that ASEAN’s diversity does not exist in isolation. Flavours, recipes and culinary traditions have travelled across borders, evolved locally and created connections that long predate the region’s political institutions.

Meanwhile, celebrations in cities beyond Southeast Asia show how ASEAN’s identity can travel beyond its borders through culture, food and people-to-people connections.

Different plates, shared connections.

📌 Bottom Line

The various ways in which ASEAN’s 59th anniversary has been celebrated demonstrate that regional connections are not limited to formal diplomacy, but can also be forged through everything from the flavours of shared family meals to cultural festivals and public celebrations. As ASEAN looks to the future, these connections between people and cultures can help foster inclusive and relevant regional cooperation. Different plates, different celebrations, but shared connections continue to bring ASEAN together. 🤝

📰 Need More Angle?

• The ASEAN Magazine The Spices and Flavours of a Shared Cultural Identity

• The ASEAN Magazine ASEAN Street Food: A Culinary Journey

• Athens Royal Thai Embassy The Royal Thai Embassy in Athens Organised a Ceremony to Celebrate the 59th ASEAN Day in the Hellenic Republic

• The Economic Times "Ties will continue to grow guided by Act East policy": Jaishankar reaffirms India-ASEAN partnership on 59th ASEAN Day

• Morocco World News Thai Embassy Hosts ASEAN Cultural Festival in Rabat to Mark Bloc’s 59th Anniversary

#ASEANDay #ASEAN59 #FoodDiplomacy #SoutheastAsia #ASEANCommunity #CulturalDiplomacy #FlavoursOfASEAN #ASEANPartners #Jakarta #ASEANSecretariat

(DHM/BRZ/ELS)

🎯 Main Takeaway

The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) officially opened an exhibition at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on 11 August 2026. The exhibition, which runs from 11 to 13 August 2026, marks the first exhibition stand under a new initiative by the ASEAN Secretariat to provide a dedicated space for ASEAN Centres of Excellence and ASEAN-accredited entities to showcase their work, expertise and contributions to the public and stakeholders.

The exhibition also marks the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, showcasing how ASEAN-Japan relations have evolved. The focus has shifted from trade, investment and tourism towards people-to-people exchanges, youth development, cultural exchange and sustainable cooperation.

At the same time, the role and involvement of the younger generation in the ASEAN-Japan Young Environmental Leaders Network (AJYELN) demonstrate how this cooperation is preparing to tackle new challenges such as climate change and technological developments like Artificial Intelligence (AI).

📡 Why its in Our Radar

The ASEAN-Japan Centre was established in 1981 by the Japanese government and the ten ASEAN Member States, with the aim of strengthening ASEAN-Japan relations; for over four decades, it has played a role in promoting trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

In 2023, to mark 50 years of friendship and cooperation through the Tokyo Commemorative Summit, ASEAN and Japanese leaders agreed to deepen the ‘heart-to-heart’ ties between ASEAN and Japan and to jointly build a peaceful, sustainable, inclusive and prosperous society.

Therefore, the 45th anniversary of the AJC in 2026 is not only an opportunity to look back on the long journey of ASEAN–Japan cooperation, but also a moment to reflect on how these relations have evolved and remain relevant in the face of new challenges in this era.

🌏 Where is the ASEAN-Japan Centre Heading?

After 45 years as the primary bridge between ASEAN and Japan, the AJC is seeking to expand its role through AJC 5.5, a medium-term strategy leading up to 2030. Under this strategy, the AJC’s new direction is to act as a regional catalyst and bridge-builder for more inclusive, sustainable and people-centred ASEAN–Japan relations through heart-to-heart partnerships, co-creation and innovation.

This strategy is built upon five key objectives:

1. Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Trade

2. Sustainable Impact Investment

3. Sustainable and Responsible Tourism

4. Leadership and People exchange

5. Advocacy, Communication, and Partnership for Change.

These five objectives are implemented through five transformative pathways: community empowerment; creating a sustainable and digitally connected future; strengthening regional resilience; utilising evidence and innovation for policy-making; and knowledge diplomacy and strategic visibility.

The AJC has also identified five economic sectors as enablers: the digital economy, the green and blue economy, the creative economy, the nature-positive economy, and the wellness economy. Thus, the AJC’s existing mandate is retained, but placed within a new context of digitalisation, sustainability, resilience, and more people-centred development.

🤝 From Economic Ties to People-to-People Connections

For 45 years, the AJC has served as a bridge between ASEAN and Japan through four key areas:

• Trade & Investment: The AJC expands access for ASEAN products and businesses to Japan through a range of activities, including trade promotion, investment, business matching and capacity building. Recent examples include the Vietnam–Japan Investment and Trade Cooperation Conference, a programme to help Vietnamese MSMEs enter the digital trade sector, and the Indonesia–Japan circular value chains collaboration in 2026.

• Tourism: In the tourism sector, the AJC promotes tourist flows as well as the exchange of best practices across the industry. Programmes such as the ASEAN-Japan Sustainable Tourism Best Practices Knowledge Sharing initiative bring together tourism stakeholders to share experiences on how the sector can grow more sustainably.

• People-to-People Exchange: The ASEAN-Japan Centre strives to bring closer ties to the public through various cultural exchange programmes, educational activities, and youth and leadership programmes. One example is the AJYBB Youth Co-Creation Lab 2026, which invites young people from ASEAN and Japan to meet, talk and create through the exchange of ideas and collaboration.

• Youth & Sustainability: The ASEAN-Japan Young Environmental Leaders Network (AJYELN) programme brings together young people from ASEAN and Japan to develop solutions to plastic pollution. Some of its initiatives have included coastal clean-ups, plastic reduction campaigns, and circular economy projects across various ASEAN countries.

👥 Youth as the Next Generation of ASEAN–Japan Partnership

Young people play a vital and central role in AJC 5.5 Goal 4. The AJC specifically prioritises the empowerment of young people and women, including through leadership exchanges and cooperation on marine plastic waste. The aim is not merely to bring together young people from ASEAN and Japan, but also to encourage them to develop concrete solutions to issues at the community, national, regional and global levels.

This is being realised through the ASEAN-Japan Young Environmental Leaders Network (AJYELN), which was launched in 2023 as the AJC’s flagship youth leadership programme. The programme equips young people with training, mentoring, networking opportunities and seed funding to develop and implement environmental projects in their communities.

The impact is beginning to show. According to data presented at the exhibition, AJYELN recorded 182 activities, reached 44,279 people, and involved 153 supporting organisations between 2023 and 2025. The programme also recorded 4.9 tonnes of waste collected and US$2.2 million in seed funding utilised.

In 2026, AJYELN 2.0 brings together young people from ASEAN and Japan to deepen their understanding of plastic-related issues, turn ideas into action, and build networks to work towards shared solutions. Under the theme “Youth for a Plastic-Resilient Region: Action. Innovation. Transformation”, the programme emphasises concrete action and innovative solutions for regional sustainability.

Their presence at the exhibition symbolises that people-to-people exchange is no longer merely a cultural exchange or a visit. The younger generation is also positioned as co-creators in addressing shared challenges.

“Their enthusiasm and commitment reaffirmed my conviction that investing in young people is indeed investing in the future of our partnership,” – ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.

🌏 Bigger Picture

ASEAN–Japan relations now exist in a different context compared to when the AJC was first established in 1981. While early cooperation was largely built on trade, investment and tourism, the relationship now increasingly encompasses more cross-border issues—ranging from climate change and sustainability to digital transformation and AI.

This demonstrates that maintaining long-term relations requires more than simply preserving existing cooperation. The partnership must also continue to adapt to new challenges, whilst strengthening connections at the grassroots level. In this context, the AJC serves as a platform that transforms ASEAN–Japan relations from economic cooperation into broader regional cooperation.

📌 Bottom Line

The exhibition, which also marks the 45th anniversary of the AJC, is not merely a look back at what ASEAN and Japan have built over more than four decades. It also serves as a reminder that this partnership must continue to evolve in response to the region’s challenges and those of the next generation.

From trade and tourism to youth-led environmental action, this exhibition highlights a common thread: keeping the ASEAN–Japan relationship connected, relevant and forward-looking.

🔍 Need More Angle?

ASEAN-Japan Centre ASEAN-Japan Centre

(DHM/AKS/ELS)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Indonesians around the world celebrated the 81st anniversary of independence on 17 August 2026, with embassies from Yaoundé to Washington, D.C., hosting events that brought together diaspora communities, local friends, and international partners.

From the streets of Madrid to the islands of Nouméa, the red-and-white flag flew high, carrying the spirit of unity, mutual cooperation, and cultural pride.

The celebrations showcased Indonesian culture, from Reog Ponorogo in Washington to Betawi performances in Rabat, while also demonstrating solidarity with disaster victims back home.

But in Jakarta, the day after the celebrations, hundreds of students from Universitas Indonesia took to the streets, carrying eight demands that questioned the very nature of independence.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

Indonesia’s Independence Day is not only a national event but also a moment of global significance.

The celebrations highlighted Indonesia’s soft power and its ties with countries across the world, with events spanning Africa, Europe, the Americas, the Pacific, and East Asia.

The diversity of activities, from the Indonesian Market in Rabat to the Red-and-White Walk in Madrid and the Indonesia Fair in Beijing, demonstrated the creativity and enthusiasm of the diaspora in keeping Indonesian culture alive far from home.

Yet the student protests in Jakarta on 18 August offered a stark reminder that for many, the promise of independence remains unfulfilled. The BEM UI (Universitas Indonesia Student Organisation) demonstration raised eight demands concerning economic hardship, corruption, land reform, and the concentration of power.

🌍 Celebrations Across the Globe

🇨🇲 Yaoundé, Cameroon:

The Indonesian Embassy hosted a vibrant celebration attended by Indonesians, the ASEAN community, and Friends of Indonesia. The event began with a solemn flag-raising ceremony commemorating both the 81st Independence Day and the 59th anniversary of ASEAN, followed by traditional games that brought together Indonesians and Cameroonians in laughter and camaraderie.

The celebration concluded with a tumpeng cutting ceremony, while a Culinary Safari on 12 August introduced local communities to Indonesian snacks.

🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia:

The 81st Independence Day celebration was marked by a grand ceremony attended by around 250 Indonesians and Colombians, including ambassadors, mayors, and university rectors.

A symphony orchestra from the Tocaima Mayor’s Office performed Indonesia Raya and Indonesian patriotic songs, adding a unique musical touch to the flag-raising ceremony.

The event also featured traditional Indonesian games such as tug-of-war, marble races, and a Tobelo dance chair competition. Colombian students trained by the embassy performed traditional dances, inviting attendees to join the festivities.

Ambassador Tatang Budie Utama Razak delivered a speech in Spanish, highlighting Indonesia’s journey from independence to its current role in international forums.

🇲🇦 Rabat, Morocco:

The Indonesian Embassy transformed its premises into a traditional Indonesian market under the theme “Experience Indonesia without leaving Rabat.”

The event featured traditional arts performances, Indonesian cuisine, handicrafts, and tourism information.

Visitors received a special “L’Marché Indonésien” passport and were invited to explore Indonesian traditions while sampling traditional snacks and drinks.

The event also included a fun walk, a Betawi cultural performance featuring Ondel-Ondel, and live performances by Indonesian students.

The event marked the launch of Bersa.ma, an appointment application for consular services, which became widely available to Indonesians in Morocco on 15 August.

🇪🇸 Madrid, Spain:

The Indonesian Embassy organised a Red-and-White Walk on 9 August, during which participants dressed in Indonesia’s national colours and walked past the city’s most famous landmarks.

At El Retiro, the celebration continued with traditional Indonesian games, including sack races, a pen-and-bottle challenge, a penalty-kick game, and a best-costume competition.

On 17 August, around 150 diaspora members and Friends of Indonesia gathered at the embassy for a flag-raising ceremony. For many, it was their first experience of Indonesian culture, including the Paskibra team, traditional attire such as Dayak clothing, and Indonesian cuisine such as tumpeng, kue lapis, and rawon.

🇫🇷 Nouméa, New Caledonia:

In the city of Nouméa, on an island in the Pacific Ocean, the Indonesian community gathered to celebrate Independence Day despite the ceremony falling on a working day, bringing together members of the Indonesian diaspora, including some of Indonesian descent who are now French citizens.

The gathering highlighted how distance and differences in citizenship have not prevented the Indonesian diaspora in Nouméa from maintaining their connection to Indonesia. Sports competitions were held on 25–26 July leading up to the main celebration.

🇨🇳 Beijing, China:

Indonesia Fair 2026 attracted around 6,000 visitors on 15 August. The event featured performances by popular musicians from eastern Indonesia, including Chesylino, Wulan Sari, and Rizky Teng, who performed hits such as Tor Monitor, Terserah, Maumere, and Yamko Rambe Yamko.

The event began with a moment of silence for earthquake victims in East Nusa Tenggara. The Trio Obras, featuring Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun and his family, performed national and eastern Indonesian songs.

The fair featured around 30 stalls offering Indonesian handicrafts, batik, and food products. The event also marked the launch of a book on Bali by Chinese author Yen Lu and the second phase of the V Start Snack Video programme.

🇺🇸 Washington D.C., USA :

The Indonesian Embassy organised a vibrant community celebration under the national theme “A Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia.” A mesmerising Reog Ponorogo performance featuring a towering lion mask captivated the audience, bringing festive energy to the celebrations.

The flag-raising ceremony featured a newly inducted Paskibra team that included Indonesian youth born and raised in America. The celebration also featured a best national dress competition and classic Independence Day games such as cracker-eating contests, musical chairs, and marble races.

🇧🇪 Brussels, Belgium:

About a thousand diaspora members attended the celebration, which incorporated fundraising and prayers for earthquake victims. The celebration featured 21 stalls offering Indonesian food, beverages, and traditional textiles, along with traditional games and live performances of popular Indonesian songs.

A special booth from the DKI Jakarta government, featuring Abang and None Jakarta 2025 in Betawi attire, promoted Betawi culture.

🇸🇷 Paramaribo, Suriname:

Ambassador Agus Priono urged the Indonesian community to always be grateful for the blessing of independence. The embassy held a flag-raising ceremony and conferred awards upon Indonesian citizens and diaspora members who have contributed to diplomatic efforts in Suriname.

The celebration featured a talent showcase, badminton and table tennis tournaments, and served as a platform to nurture the potential of the Indonesian diaspora.

⚠️ The Celebration Aftermath: Student Protests in Jakarta

While diasporas celebrated abroad, hundreds of UI students marched to Bundaran HI on 18 August with eight demands:

The students’ eight demands included:

• Stop the colonisation of the state over its own people

• Stop Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism (KKN)

• Achieve genuine agrarian reform

• Lower prices of basic goods and fuel

• Evaluate all National Strategic Projects (PSN) and stop the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) and Red and White Village Cooperative (KDMP) programmes

• Stop the concentration of power and the reduction of Transfers to Regions (TKD), and restore regional autonomy

• Declare a national disaster status for Sumatra and Flores and accelerate recovery for affected areas

• Stop repressive actions and TNI-Polri intervention in civilian spaces, and disband YON TP

The students were initially intercepted at Sudirman and prohibited from using vehicles to reach Bundaran HI. They then continued on foot in a long march toward the protest site.

Approximately 5,836 security personnel were deployed, and traffic flow was managed as needed.

🏁 The Bottom Line

From Yaoundé to Nouméa, the 81st Independence Day celebrations demonstrated the enduring connection between Indonesia and its diaspora, reaffirming that the spirit of Indonesia is not confined by geography.

The celebrations also showed remarkable solidarity, with fundraising and prayers for earthquake victims across several embassies.

But in Jakarta, the student protests reminded the nation that independence is not just a historical achievement; it is an ongoing struggle.

The students’ eight demands reflected a deep questioning of whether the promises of 81 years ago have been fulfilled.

These complementing narratives: diaspora pride and student critique are not contradictions. They are the reality of a diverse, complex nation marking its 81st year.

For the Indonesian diaspora, Independence Day is not just a commemoration; it is a reaffirmation of identity, a celebration of culture, and a promise to keep Indonesia's spirit alive wherever they may be.

For the students in Jakarta, it is a reminder that the work of independence is never truly finished.

(TSEAD)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Indonesia commemorated its 81st Independence Day on 17 August 2026 with a markedly sombre tone, as President Prabowo Subianto redirected the nation’s focus from celebration toward compassion for citizens affected by recent natural disasters.

The commemoration was observed across multiple sites: the official ceremony in Jakarta, diaspora gatherings in Southeast Asian cities Yangon, Dili, and Kuching, and a grassroots “People’s Ceremony” in Pati, Central Java.

These distinct events reflected the diversity of how Indonesians, at home and across the region, chose to mark the occasion.

The president’s decision to scale back festivities and prioritise disaster victims highlighted the government’s acknowledgement that national celebration cannot ignore national suffering.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

The 81st Independence Day celebrations reflected a nation and a diaspora navigating multiple realities: official commemoration, disaster response, regional diaspora pride, and grassroots critique.

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🇮🇩 In Jakarta: A Ceremony of Empathy

President Prabowo, serving as ceremony inspector, urged the nation to honour founding heroes while extending thoughts and prayers to disaster victims.

Several cabinet ministers travelled to Manggarai Regency, NTT, to mark Independence Day directly alongside displaced communities.

The government also adjusted planned evening celebrations: the fireworks display at the HI Roundabout was postponed, and the 360-degree video mapping at the National Monument (Monas) will carry messages of condolence and support.

🇲🇲 Yangon: A Solemn Flag-Raising Among Friends

In Yangon, Myanmar, the Indonesian Embassy hosted a flag-raising ceremony on 17 August, attended by Indonesian citizens, students, and Friends of Myanmar. The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Novan Ivanhoe Saleh, acted as Inspector of Ceremony.

The flag was raised by a student squad from the Indonesian School in Yangon, comprising seven students who played a key role in fostering nationalism among young Indonesians abroad.

Service awards were also presented to two embassy staff members for 30 and 20 years of dedicated service.

The ceremony strengthened community ties among Indonesians in Myanmar while introducing Indonesian nationalism to the local community.

The flying of the Red and White flag affirmed that the spirit of unity and mutual cooperation remains alive wherever Indonesians may be, including across Southeast Asia.

🇹🇱 Dili: From the Community, for the Community

In Dili, Timor-Leste, the Indonesian Embassy organised a series of community-oriented events leading up to 17 August under the theme “From the Community, for the Community.”

The celebrations began with a blood donation drive, badminton and futsal tournaments, and a Community Festival featuring traditional games and competitions.

The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim emphasised the importance of mutual cooperation (gotong-royong), reminding the diaspora that they remain part of one Indonesian family, even far from home.

A solemn tribute was held at the Seroja Heroes Cemetery to honour fallen heroes.

The flag-raising ceremony on 17 August featured a newly inducted Paskibra team and attendees in traditional attire.

The event strengthened social solidarity and fostered harmony between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, demonstrating that the spirit of Indonesian independence is not confined by borders; it extends across the region.

🇲🇾 Kuching: A Community Gathering in Sarawak

In Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Indonesia’s Consulate General hosted a celebration on 17 August, attended by more than 300 members of the Indonesian diaspora, as well as guests and staff.

The event began with a flag-raising ceremony to the accompaniment of Indonesia Raya, followed by a tumpeng cutting ceremony as an expression of gratitude to commemorate the 81st Independence Anniversary.

The diaspora also had access to free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and Body Mass Index checks, reflecting a commitment to the community's health and well-being.

Ratna Wiryawan, 76, an Indonesian citizen who has lived in Kuching for more than 20 years, shared that she has attended the Independence Day ceremony at KJRI Kuching every year.

She said her participation is a way of expressing gratitude to God for the blessing of a long life and a reflection of her enduring love for her homeland.

The gathering in Kuching highlighted the strong ties between the Indonesian diaspora and their host community in Sarawak, reinforcing the spirit of mutual cooperation and cultural pride.

🇮🇩 East Nusa Tenggara: Ministers Mark Independence Day at Disaster Site

Several of Indonesia’s cabinet ministers skipped the Jakarta ceremony to commemorate Independence Day and instead joined displaced communities in Manggarai Regency, NTT, the epicentre of the recent earthquake.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, emphasised that the government’s presence was critical to the ongoing disaster response.

“Since the first day of the event, we have been in NTT to survey the field and discuss accelerating recovery,” Pratikno explained.

BNPB Head Suharyanto confirmed 69 fatalities and instructed local governments to expedite damage assessments, insisting that recovery must begin immediately without waiting for complete data.

The response includes two logistics hubs in Labuan Bajo and Maumere, distributing 50,000 basic food packages personally donated by President Prabowo.

A fleet of over ten aircraft and helicopters has been deployed for medical evacuations and supply drops to remote islands.

⚠️ A Voice from the Voiceless: The People’s Ceremony in Kendeng

In Pati, Central Java, a “People’s Ceremony” organised by the Jaringan Masyarakat Peduli Pegunungan Kendeng (JMPPK) offered a contrast to official commemorations.

Led by Gunretno, a traditional leader of the Sedulur Sikep community, the ceremony brought together farmers, civil society groups, and academics who have resisted limestone mining in the Kendeng Mountains for more than 20 years.

“This ceremony exists to realise Pancasila so that it does not merely remain text.”
— Gunretno, Sedulur Sikep community leader

Civil society groups in attendance included Kabinet Bayangan (Shadow Cabinet), Konferensi Republik, Forum Intelektual Antar-Disiplin (FIAD), LBH Semarang, and Masjid Nurul Asri.

Participants raised concerns about the allocation of village funds (up to 70% directed to the Red and White Village Cooperative), food poisoning cases in the Free Nutritious Meal programme, civil servants' welfare issues, and inadequate disaster response due to budget constraints.

The ceremony offered an alternative perspective on independence, arguing that freedom is not a historical achievement but an ongoing struggle for land, livelihood, and the right to shape their own future.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

Independence Day is a moment when Indonesians, whether in Jakarta, disaster-stricken NTT, or diaspora communities across Southeast Asia, come together as one.

In Yangon, Dili, and Kuching, the red-and-white flag flew high, carried by students, families, and elders who have kept Indonesia's spirit alive far from home.

The government’s decision to scale back festivities and redirect attention to disaster victims reflected an acknowledgement that national celebration cannot ignore national suffering.

The presence of ministers on the ground in NTT underscored a commitment to action, at least in principle.

Yet the People’s Ceremony in Pati raised a different question: for communities long marginalised by extractive industries, what does independence actually mean?

For the farmers of Kendeng, it means the ability to protect their land, water, and livelihoods from development that benefits distant corporations more than local residents.

🏁 The Bottom Line

In Jakarta, the government projected empathy and restraint.

In Yangon, Dili, and Kuching, the diaspora reaffirmed cultural pride and national belonging.

In disaster-stricken East Nusa Tenggara, ministers demonstrated that some official duties are best performed far from the capital.

In Pati, a different kind of commemoration unfolded, one that challenged the official narrative.

For the farmers and activists gathered on Bukit Selo Montro, freedom is not a historical achievement but an ongoing struggle for land, livelihood, and the right to shape their own future.

(TSEAD)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Indonesia's airline commercial corporation, TransNusa Aviation Mandiri, has officially launched its inaugural international route between Jakarta and Bangkok as of August 6, 2026.

The airline now operates twice-daily direct flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport, marking a major milestone in its expansion strategy and ASEAN regional connectivity.

The opening of this international route has expanded Transnusa’s operational network in the Asia-Pacific region to include Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia and Thailand.

This opportunity would provide ever-stronger connectivity between Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region, whilst opening up more opportunities for growth in tourism, trade, investment and inter-country relations.

📡 Why it Matters

This expansion is a critical component of the Indonesia–Thailand Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2026–2030, which aims to hit a US$20 billion bilateral trade target by 2030.

However, this step could also be a significant milestone for bilateral and regional advantage:

• This expansion marks a pivotal moment for regional integration under the ASEAN Open Skies agreement, which has liberalised air travel between member nations and reduced average fares by 40% since 2010.

• The move aligns with a 7.3% Asia-Pacific passenger traffic growth forecast for 2026, supported by an ASEAN middle class projected to reach 200 million people by 2030

• From Thailand's side, the move directly targets high-value tourism segments, which are central to Thailand’s goal of attracting 890,000 Indonesian visitors this year.

• From an Indonesian perspective, Thailand is classified as a “Star” market, having shown a 71% increase in its contribution to Indonesia's tourism revenue in 2024 alone.

“The inaugural Jakarta–Bangkok flight marks a significant milestone in Transnusa’s journey. For the first time, we are offering twice-daily flights to Thailand from Jakarta to Bangkok. The introduction of this route not only strengthens connectivity between Indonesia and Thailand but also opens up wider access to the international flight network via Bangkok as one of the region’s key hubs,” said Datuk Bernard Francis, Transnusa’s Group Chief Executive Officer.

🛫 Southeast Asia Airline Potential Markets

Asia Pacific is known as the busiest region for airlines, with 33.5% of the world's air passenger market and 12.1% of regional traffic growth by cabin class, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Furthermore, Airbus also forecasted that Southeast Asia would account for 20% of global traffic in 2040.

Recently, several Southeast Asian countries (Led by Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, which account for the region’s largest share of growth) were among the top 50 countries by airline passenger numbers, and their growth potential would increase significantly in the future.

Especially Indonesia and Thailand, which are expected to be the most emerging markets in Asia Pacific and enter the Top 10 in 2042, according to Airports Council International.

More on that: ASEAN countries themselves account for the largest share of international arrivals in the region, rising from 37% in 2019 to 45% in 2024.

🏁 The Bottom Line

Transnusa’s Jakarta–Bangkok route marks more than an expansion of its international network; it strengthens Indonesia–Thailand connectivity and supports broader ASEAN regional integration.

With growing air passenger demand, rising tourism potential, and the ASEAN Open Skies framework, the route creates opportunities for tourism, trade, investment, and people-to-people relations.

As Indonesia and Thailand emerge as key aviation markets in the Asia-Pacific, Transnusa’s expansion positions the airline to benefit from the region’s long-term growth in connectivity and economic integration.

Need More Angles

Airports Council International Joint ACI World-ICAO Passenger Traffic Report, Trends, and Outlook

Antara Indonesia-Thailand ties gain momentum with US$20B trade target by 2030

International Air Transport Association (IATA) Air Passenger Market Analysis

International Air Transport Association (IATA) Global Outlook Trade, AI, and the Energy Transition​

Official Airline Guide (OAG) Intra-ASEAN Travel: A Constant Amid Global Turmoil

Safe Fly Aviation Why Southeast Asia Is One of the Fastest Growing Aviation Markets

World Population Review Airline Passengers by Country 2026

(ADE/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The Middle East crisis that began in March 2026 has exposed Southeast Asia’s vulnerability to fossil fuel supply shocks. According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) energy outlook for Southeast Asia in 2026, 60% of the region’s crude oil and a third of its gas imports came from the Middle East before the crisis.

Governments have responded with subsidies and cooperation agreements to cushion the impact of rising prices on households and firms. But these measures create their own problems. Southeast Asia’s energy import bill could rise to US$245 billion by 2035, up from US$80 billion in 2024—without addressing the underlying issue of import dependence.

The result is a race toward renewable energy that promises both energy security and environmental sustainability. Across the region, initiatives are emerging: nuclear and solar power, wind energy, hydropower in Laos, and waste-to-energy projects in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

Waste-to-energy has become one of the region’s most popular approaches to tackling two major issues at once. As renewable energy demand surges, governments are investing in projects that can reduce waste while generating power—particularly attractive for densely populated urban centres in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The Bali waste-to-energy project, launched on 8 July 2026 by Danantara Investment Management, is one of Indonesia’s flagship programmes. Malaysia’s Malakoff launched the Sungai Udang plant on 2 April 2026. Thailand’s On Nut plant achieved first synchronization on 10 April 2026. Singapore expanded the Tuas South Incineration Plant on 19 March 2026. And in Vietnam, a new plant in Hung Yen province was announced on 6 March 2026.

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⚠️ Why It’s Important

The waste crisis is urgent. According to Greenpeace in 2026, six out of ten ASEAN countries generate 31 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, harming health and disrupting economic sectors. Waste-to-energy, if done correctly, can help address both the energy and waste crises.

But experts warn of risks. 8mSolar, a renewable energy construction firm, cautions that improper management can further degrade the environment and increase pollution. Emissions from waste-to-energy facilities—including nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide—require proper emission controls and residue management to minimise environmental harm.

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🇮🇩 Indonesia: Bali Waste-to-Energy Project

On 8 July 2026, Danantara Investment Management (DIM) began construction on a waste-to-energy power plant in Denpasar, Bali. The facility will process more than 500,000 tonnes of waste annually with an investment of IDR 3 trillion (roughly US$184 million), built through Danantara in partnership with China’s Weming Group.

Officials said Bali was chosen to help preserve the island’s tourism economy. The plant is expected to be completed by late 2027.

🇲🇾 Malaysia: Sungai Udang Plant

On 2 April 2026, Malakoff—Malaysia’s largest independent power producer—announced the launch of the Sungai Udang plant as part of the country’s integrated waste management strategy. The move was supported by the Chief Minister of Malacca and the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

The plant is designed to process 1,056 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily and generate 22 MW of gross renewable energy.

🇹🇭 Thailand: On Nut Plant

On 10 April 2026, the managing director of New Sky Energy (Bangkok) announced that the On Nut plant had achieved first synchronization. The facility can process 1,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily.

The plant is set to become operational on 14 November 2026 and is expected to generate 35 MW of electricity per month.

🇸🇬 Singapore: Tuas South Incineration Plant Expansion

On 19 March 2026, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) contracted an upgrade for the Tuas South Incineration Plant (TSIP)—the city-state’s second-largest waste-to-energy facility—to extend its operation until 2035.

The upgrade, valued at approximately SGD 890 million, will enable the plant to incinerate 3,000 tonnes of waste daily and treat high-calorific waste, safeguarding reliability over the next decade.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Hung Yen Plant

On 6 March 2026, the northern province of Hung Yen announced a new waste-to-energy plant covering seven hectares in Doan Dao commune. The plant will treat 1,600 tonnes of waste daily and generate 40 MW of electricity, invested by China’s CNTY-EUZY Group through Thien Y-Huy Anh Environment Energy JSC.

Hung Yen province has a population of about 3.5 million, generating an estimated 3,000 tonnes of waste daily from households and businesses. The plant is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

For Southeast Asian households, waste-to-energy projects represent a shift in how cities manage daily life. In densely populated urban centres, waste collection and disposal are persistent challenges. These plants promise to turn a local problem—overflowing landfills and plastic pollution—into a local solution: electricity that powers homes and businesses.

But the risks are equally local. Communities near waste-to-energy plants have expressed concerns about emissions, air quality, and health impacts. Without transparent regulation, rigorous monitoring, and genuine community consultation, these projects risk repeating the environmental injustices that have accompanied industrial development elsewhere.

🏁 Bottom Line

Waste-to-energy initiatives present a potential solution to two of Southeast Asia’s most pressing problems: energy dependence and waste pollution. But they are not without risks. The emissions and residue from these plants require careful management. Without proper safeguards, the cure could be worse than the disease.

#WasteToEnergy #RenewableEnergy #SoutheastAsia #EnergyTransition #PlasticWaste #CircularEconomy #GreenEnergy #ASEAN #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #WasteManagement #Indonesia #Malaysia #Singapore #Thailand #Vietnam

Need More Angles

• International Energy Agency Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026

• Greenpeace Confronting the Plastic and Waste Crises in Southeast Asia: Systemic Drivers, Impacts, and Policy Imperatives

(FRD/ELS)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul paid a two-day official visit to Indonesia on 3–4 August. During his visit, he met ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta on 4 August.

The visit marked a historic milestone, as Anutin became the first Thai Prime Minister to visit the ASEAN Headquarters in 17 years, following Abhisit Vejjajiva’s visit in 2009.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ASEAN unity and enhancing regional co-operation to promote peace, stability, resilience, and prosperity in the face of current and future challenges.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

Thailand has played a significant role in ASEAN since its founding, including:

• Founding Member: Thailand, alongside Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, established ASEAN by signing the ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok on 8 August 1967.

• Free Trade Initiator: Thailand proposed the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1991, which came into force in 1993. The initiative aims to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, increase intra-ASEAN trade, enhance competitiveness, and deepen regional economic integration.

• Regional Forum Pioneer: Thailand hosted the first ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bangkok in 1994. The forum promotes dialogue on political and security issues, builds confidence among participating countries, and supports preventive diplomacy across the Asia-Pacific.

• Human Rights Champion: Thailand hosted the establishment of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) during the 15th ASEAN Summit in October 2009. The commission promotes and protects human rights across ASEAN, with particular attention to women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons.

Since then, Thailand has remained a key contributor to ASEAN’s development, advancing regional connectivity, deepening economic integration, promoting sustainable development, and supporting initiatives that foster a more inclusive, resilient, and people-centred ASEAN Community.

⚠️ The Bilateral Meeting

The two leaders also discussed several key regional issues, including:

• Myanmar Crisis: Political instability has persisted since the 2021 military coup, more than 100,000 people killed and millions displaced. General elections were held in late 2025, Min Aung Hlaing was elected President on 3 April 2026

• Thailand–Cambodia Border Issue: Border clashes in July and December 2025 ended with a ceasefire agreement on 27 December 2025. The ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) is overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s visit to the ASEAN Headquarters is expected to reinforce regional co-operation in addressing these challenges while promoting peace, economic resilience, and ASEAN unity.

🇲🇲 Myanmar Crisis

According to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand has advocated a calibrated re-engagement approach that keeps dialogue open, responds to the realities on the ground, and encourages tangible progress towards resolving the crisis.

He also reaffirmed that ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus remains the bloc’s primary framework for addressing the conflict and achieving lasting peace, stability, and national reconciliation in Myanmar.

The approach has shown encouraging progress. On 3 August, Arnaud de Baecque of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met detained former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw for the first time since 2021. He checked her health, spoke with her in private, and gathered information to share with her family.

🇹🇭🇰🇭 Thailand-Cambodia Border Issue

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held a trilateral meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his capacity as ASEAN Chair, on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, on 7 May.

During the meeting, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to open a new chapter in their bilateral relations by rebuilding mutual trust and confidence, after months of border tensions.

The two countries also tasked their foreign ministers with continuing bilateral talks to resolve overlapping territorial claims, prevent further escalation, and safeguard the well-being of their people.

🚀 Moving Forward…

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul urged ASEAN to focus on three key priorities as the region faces growing geopolitical and economic challenges:

• Strengthen Regional Unity: ASEAN must preserve its unity and centrality while adopting a more flexible and pragmatic approach to addressing regional challenges through consensus and co-operation.

• Build Greater Resilience: ASEAN must deepen partnerships with middle powers and countries of the Global South to diversify co-operation, reduce overdependence, strengthen supply chains, and enhance resilience in energy, food security, digital connectivity, and technology.

• Ensure ASEAN’s Relevance: ASEAN must remain a trusted platform for constructive and mutually beneficial co-operation by tackling cross-border threats such as cybercrime, online scams, and human trafficking, while equipping young people with future-ready skills, and strengthening ASEAN institutions to translate commitments into action.

Together, these priorities are expected to keep ASEAN as a driving force for peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia, while reinforcing its role as a leading regional organisation and a credible partner in the global community.

🤝 In Addition…

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also held a bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on 3 August.

The visit marked another historic milestone, as Anutin became the first Thai Prime Minister to visit Indonesia in 15 years, following Yingluck Shinawatra’s visit in 2011.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Thailand–Indonesia co-operation across key sectors, including trade, investment, energy, connectivity, food security, and the halal industry.

💡 The Result…

Several co-operation agreements were reached following the meeting across the following sectors:

• Defence and Security: Both countries agreed to strengthen co-operation in combating online scams, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. Thailand has helped repatriate around 1,000 Indonesians from scam centres, with another 500 currently awaiting repatriation. The two sides also agreed to expand intelligence sharing and enhance joint law enforcement.

• Trade and Economy: Thailand agreed to increase bilateral trade to USD 20 billion by 2030 through the Indonesia–Thailand Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2026–2030. The roadmap aims to expand market access, boost investment, reduce trade barriers, and establish a Joint Trade Committee.

• Energy Security: Indonesia and Thailand agreed to strengthen energy resilience through the Indonesia–Thailand Energy Forum and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy through closer collaboration between the public and private sectors, including the development of a regional power grid.

• Food Security: Both countries agreed to strengthen supply chain resilience, improve logistics connectivity, and expand co-operation in agricultural technology and food processing.

• Digital Economy: Both sides agreed to expand the Local Currency Transaction (LCT) framework for cross-border trade and investment to improve transaction efficiency and reduce exchange rate volatility.

• Halal Industry: Indonesia and Thailand agreed to deepen co-operation in the halal industry by developing integrated halal supply chains for regional and global markets.

• Connectivity: Both countries agreed to enhance connectivity by launching new flight routes between Bangkok and Jakarta and Phuket and Denpasar, with the aim of boosting tourism and business exchanges.

🧭 Beyond the Headlines

Thailand and Indonesia have maintained diplomatic relations for 76 years, with Thailand becoming one of Indonesia’s key economic partners and its fourth-largest trading partner.

Reflecting the close ties between the two countries, President Prabowo Subianto appointed former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a member of the Advisory Board of Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, in March 2025.

The strong relationship was further underscored when Thaksin and his family, including former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, visited Prabowo’s residence in Kertanegara, Jakarta, on 8 July to exchange views on regional and global developments.

A day later, Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra, and Paetongtarn Shinawatra met President Prabowo Subianto and Danantara officials in Jakarta to discuss ways to attract greater international investment, strengthen asset management, and support Indonesia’s long-term economic growth.

📌 The Bottom Line

Thailand is not just one of ASEAN’s founding members, but also a key contributor to the bloc’s growth. From promoting free trade and regional dialogue to advancing human rights, Thailand has helped shape ASEAN into a stronger and more connected community.

Today, Thailand is not just responding to regional challenges, but also helping ASEAN strengthen its unity, resilience, and co-operation. Through closer partnerships, Thailand aims to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development across Southeast Asia.

Looking ahead, Thailand’s role is not just to address today’s challenges, but to help build a more integrated, resilient, and people-centred ASEAN. By working closely with fellow member states, Thailand aims to ensure ASEAN remains a driving force for peace, stability, and prosperity across the region.

🔎 Need More Angles?

ASEAN Regional Forum About ARF

ASEAN Secretariat About ASEAN

ASEAN Secretariat ASEAN Chair’s Statement on the Meeting of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with a Delegate from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

ASEAN Secretariat Major Sectoral Bodies/Committees

BPMI Setpres Seskab Teddy: Pertemuan Presiden Prabowo dengan Tiga Mantan PM Thailand Perkuat Jejaring Persahabatan Internasional

ICRC A delegate from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 3 August 2026

Kementerian Sekretariat Negara Pertemuan Hangat Presiden Prabowo dan Thaksin di Kertanegara, Bahas Dinamika Kawasan hingga Isu Global

(NGO/JUN/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Singapore celebrated its 61st National Day on 9 August 2026 with the National Day Parade (NDP) returning to the National Stadium at Kallang for the first time in a decade.

Under the theme “Majulah Singapura, Go Beyond!”, the parade featured a first-ever indoor drone light show, the largest civilian participation segment in more than a decade, and the first inclusive contingent of persons with disabilities.

Around 42,000 spectators filled the stadium, while thousands more gathered around the Kallang Basin to watch the fireworks.

The celebration also marked the first time the Presidential Gun Salute and State Flag Flypast were conducted at Kallang Basin, extending the parade beyond the stadium.

The spectacle was impressive. But beneath the carefully choreographed display of national unity, questions lingered about what kind of Singapore the parade was celebrating—and who was being left out.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

The return to the National Stadium after a decade allowed for a significantly larger scale than previous editions held at the Padang or the Floating Platform. The fully sheltered venue also ensured the celebration could proceed regardless of weather.

NDP 2026 was Singapore’s most inclusive parade to date. For the first time, a contingent of persons with disabilities, led by former para-athlete Yap Qian Yin, marched alongside other contingents. The show segment also featured dancers with autism and Down Syndrome.

Record-breaking civilian participation saw 26 civilian contingents—comprising more than 1,200 participants—marching through the spectator aisles and forming the words “GO BEYOND!” using red and white umbrellas. This marked the largest civilian turnout in over a decade.

But inclusivity had its limits. While the parade welcomed citizens with disabilities and civilian volunteers, it remained a highly controlled, state-directed event. Participation was, in essence, by invitation only—a curated performance of unity rather than a genuine expression of diversity.

🎆 What Made NDP 2026 Different

While traditional elements returned—including the Guard-of-Honour, feu-de-joie, and combined military band—several changes set this edition apart:

• First-ever indoor drone light show: Hundreds of drones flew inside the National Stadium as part of a multimedia performance combining aerial displays, projections, and special effects.

• Largest indoor special effects production in NDP history.

• The Presidential Gun Salute and State Flag Flypast took place at Kallang Basin for the first time, bringing the experience closer to thousands of spectators outside the stadium.

• The Red Lions parachute display, mobile column, and full aerial display were absent due to the indoor venue—a loss of tradition for some long-time viewers.

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👥 Beyond the Parade: Community, Security, and Censorship

The National Day spirit extended far beyond the National Stadium. Families and friends gathered across Kallang Basin, Tanjong Rhu Promenade, and Marina Barrage to watch the fireworks. The Stadium Riverside Walk and Lookout Deck at Kallang Basin were among the most popular public viewing spots.

For many Singaporeans, NDP is a family tradition. One attendee, who arrived at 1 pm to secure a spot, described himself as the “advance party” for eight family members. Others, like a couple who attended the parade 10 years ago, returned with their children to continue their annual tradition.

But even as citizens gathered to celebrate, the government’s controlling instincts were on display elsewhere. Just days before National Day, British trip-hop duo Massive Attack were banned from re-entering Singapore after two members displayed a Palestinian flag at their concert. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) also rejected the band's future performance applications.

The move was defended by authorities as necessary to preserve racial and religious harmony. Critics, however, saw it as another example of the state’s heavy-handed approach to dissent. The incident underscored an uncomfortable truth about Singapore’s brand of unity: it is enforced, not just cultivated.

Similarly, while the parade celebrated “inclusion,” access was still tightly controlled. Tickets remained scarce and distributed via ballot—a reminder that not everyone gets to participate in the national story, even on National Day.

🇸🇬 PM Wong’s National Day Message: Family Support and Future Readiness

In his National Day Message, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a major review of government support for families—not just at marriage and parenthood, but throughout life’s journey.

“We are taking a fresh look at issues like the costs of raising children, access to affordable infant care and childcare, and other ways to lighten the load on families.”
— Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore

He will share more details at the National Day Rally on 23 August.

PM Wong also addressed global uncertainties—including conflicts, trade barriers, and the Middle East crisis—while reaffirming Singapore’s resilience. Despite the challenges, Singapore’s economy has remained robust, with growth expected to continue.

On technology, he said Singapore will embrace advances “on our own terms”, ensuring they serve people and strengthen communities:

• Making full use of AI to raise productivity and create better jobs

• Investing in skills and training for workers

• Putting in place stronger safeguards to protect children in the digital world

Yet his message also carried implicit criticism of those who might question the government’s approach. “We cannot stand still while others move ahead,” he said, while simultaneously warning that Singapore should not “accept every new technology uncritically.”

🛡️ Security and Logistics

Hosting the NDP at the National Stadium required enhanced security measures due to the larger venue and more entry points. About 60 personnel from multiple agencies monitored CCTV feeds and coordinated security operations.

Key security measures included:

• Crowd flow management using a real-time crowd map called Crowd@NationalStadium

• Stricter bag checks with additional screening for containers of 100ml or more

• AI tools and anti-ramming vehicle barriers were deployed by the police

• Potential MRT station bypasses in case of overcrowding

The security presence was visible and efficient—but also a reminder that the celebration of unity took place under watchful eyes.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

For Singaporeans, NDP is more than a parade — it is a shared expression of national identity. Whether inside the stadium, picnicking by the Kallang Basin, or watching from home, citizens participate in a collective ritual of pride and belonging.

This year’s inclusive contingent sent a powerful message: Singapore is a society where every citizen, regardless of ability, can contribute to the nation’s story.

PM Wong’s focus on family support reflects concerns many Singaporeans feel about the costs of raising children and caring for ageing parents. His promise of stronger digital safeguards also addresses parental anxieties about children’s online safety.

🔮 The Bottom Line

NDP 2026 was a landmark celebration that blended tradition with innovation and inclusivity. The return to the National Stadium allowed for a larger, more spectacular event, while the first-ever indoor drone show and record-breaking special effects demonstrated Singapore’s embrace of technology.

The parade’s unprecedented civilian participation and the inclusion of persons with disabilities signal a more representative, community-focused National Day celebration.

But there was another, more complicated story running alongside the festive imagery. The state’s response to the Massive Attack flag controversy showed that Singapore’s tolerance for dissent has clear limits.

The carefully choreographed unity of the parade exists alongside a legal and political system that does not hesitate to punish those who step outside its boundaries.

As PM Wong himself acknowledged, Singapore is navigating “an uncertain world”—one where openness and control, inclusion and exclusion, are in constant tension.

The NDP celebration captured both sides of that tension: a nation proud of its achievements and genuinely committed to community, yet also deeply wary of the freedoms that might threaten its carefully calibrated order.

“We inherited a Singapore built through the sacrifice, hard work and foresight of those who came before us. Now, it is our turn to build on that legacy and leave behind an even stronger Singapore.”
— Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore

#NDP2026 #SingaporeNationalDay #MajulahSingapura #GoBeyond #Singapore61 #NationalStadium #InclusiveSingapore #SingaporeUnity #NDPfireworks

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Strait Times, The NDP 2026: Kallang roars as Singapore celebrates 61st birthday

(ELS/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marked its 59th anniversary on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at its Jakarta headquarters, bringing together key ministers, ambassadors, and regional partners under the Philippine Chairmanship theme, “Navigating Our Shared Future, Together.”

Amidst a backdrop of strategic competition, climate crises, and supply chain disruptions, the summit delivered a unified message: ASEAN’s culture of dialogue and its strict non-alignment are more vital than ever.

The gathering also marked two historic milestones: celebrating the bloc’s first year as a family of 11 with the full inclusion of Timor-Leste, and commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

The geopolitical and environmental crises discussed are not distant threats—they are actively reshaping Southeast Asia’s economic and physical landscape:

• Climate & Economic Disruption: Across the region, communities are facing more frequent floods, droughts, and extreme weather, which directly threaten agriculture and food security while driving up living costs.

• Global Supply Chain Shifts: Conflicts beyond ASEAN borders (such as the situation in the Middle East) are disrupting trade routes, driving up energy prices, and forcing a rapid reshaping of global investments.

• A Youthful Demographic Engine: Almost half of ASEAN’s 700 million people are under the age of thirty. Their future relies on the bloc’s ability to pivot from traditional diplomacy to actionable policies in digital transformation, green jobs, and sustainable development.

🕰️ The Genesis & Evolution: From Cold War Conflicts to a Global Bloc

To understand the weight of the 59th anniversary, one must look back to the region’s turbulent history. “Southeast Asia” first emerged as a military concept during WWII, and unlike Europe (which received the Marshall Plan), the region was left to fund its own postwar recovery.

• The Messy Prelude (1961–1965): Early attempts at regional cooperation failed. The Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) in 1961 and the Maphilindo plan in 1963 fractured due to bitter territorial disputes—most notably Indonesia’s Konfrontasi (confrontation) over the formation of Malaysia and the Philippines’ objections over Sabah.

• The 1967 Breakthrough: Following a leadership change in Indonesia in 1965, the threat of communist expansion in Indochina drove a desire for regional stability and neutrality. On August 8, 1967, five visionary statesmen—Adam Malik (Indonesia), Narciso R. Ramos (Philippines), Tun Abdul Razak (Malaysia), S. Rajaratnam (Singapore), and Thanat Khoman (Thailand)—signed the Bangkok Declaration.

Brokered during a four-day retreat in the coastal town of Bang Saen, this informal, goodwill-driven approach—fondly dubbed “sports-shirt diplomacy”—laid the foundation for the consensus-based “ASEAN Way.” The original logo featured five brown rice sheaves; today, it holds ten, with Timor-Leste realising the vision of a fully united region as the 11th member in October 2025.

Decades of Adaptation: ASEAN’s longevity stems from its ability to continuously innovate its architecture during crises:

• 1971 (Cold War Neutrality): Lobbied by Indonesia and Malaysia, ASEAN declared the region a “Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality” (ZOPFAN) to urge colonial powers and the U.S. to limit their military footprints.

• 1976 (Post-Vietnam War Pivot): Following the communist triumph in Indochina, heads of state formalised the bloc by adopting the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and establishing a permanent secretariat in Jakarta.

• 1979–1984 (Security & Global Dialogues): As Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978, ASEAN successfully mobilised to diplomatically contain Hanoi. Recognising that security issues required broader frameworks, ASEAN launched the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1984 to manage East Asian military transparency and South China Sea tensions.

• 1997 (Asian Financial Crisis): When foreign capital fled the region, ASEAN pivoted economically. It established the ASEAN+3 framework (with China, Japan, and South Korea), which ultimately paved the way for the 2002 ASEAN-China Free Trade Area agreement—creating the blueprint for the world’s largest free trade zones.

⚠️ Key Challenges & Geopolitical Friction

Despite nearly six decades of stability and adaptation, today’s leaders acknowledged several immediate hurdles to ASEAN’s continued success:

• Great Power Rivalry: The region faces immense pressure from external strategic competition. Leaders firmly reiterated that ASEAN will not become an arena for proxy conflicts or “choose sides.”

• The Implementation Gap: While principles of mutual respect and peaceful dispute settlement (enshrined in the TAC) are universally praised, the actual challenge lies in enforcing and translating them into tangible, on-the-ground cooperation.

• Rapid Technological & Environmental Change: The bloc is racing to future-proof itself against the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, energy insecurity, and the urgent need to protect migrant workers and nationals abroad during global crises.

🚀 Key Leaders & Their Delivery Messages

🎙️ Dr. Kao Kim Hourn — Secretary-General of ASEAN

Dr. Kao emphasised that while ASEAN has weathered financial crises and pandemics, its survival depends on remaining relevant to its massive youth population and on implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

“Whether ASEAN continues to thrive over the next sixty years will depend, in part, on whether this generation sees ASEAN not simply as an institution of governments, officials, and diplomats, but as something that is of value to them in that it creates opportunities in their everyday lives.” — Dr. Kao Kim Hourn

Key takeaways from Dr. Kao’s address:

• A Family of 11: Officially welcomed Timor-Leste, noting that the community is stronger and more inclusive with its active participation.

• Youth Empowerment: Called for expanded cross-border opportunities for young people to learn, work, and shape solutions in sustainability and entrepreneurship.

🎙️ Sugiono — Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia

Foreign Minister Sugiono framed ASEAN as an enduring architectural anchor born out of conflict, whose primary modern function is to serve as the world’s premier “bridge builder.”

“In a world increasingly shaped by conflicts, strategic rivalry, and fragmentation, ASEAN has remained steady on its course, steady in its purpose, in its solidarity, and in advancing cooperation for the benefit of our peoples.” — Sugiono

Key strategic updates revealed:

• The People’s Metric: Declared that farmers, youth, and migrant workers do not measure ASEAN’s success by signed agreements, but by their ability to put food on the table, find decent work, and live safely.

• Strict Neutrality: Reaffirmed that ASEAN’s side is “the side of our people,” explicitly rejecting any alignment with great power rivalries.

🎙️ Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. — President of the Philippines & ASEAN Chair

Delivering the Chair’s message, President Marcos Jr. highlighted swift, purpose-driven actions taken during the recent 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, focusing on immediate crisis management and long-term resilience.

“These priorities reflect ASEAN’s commitment to cooperation that protects lives, improves livelihoods, and upholds peace, prosperity, and people empowerment... this is why ASEAN centrality matters, it is how we chart our present and our future.” — Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Key policy priorities outlined:

• Emergency Response: Prioritised energy security, food security, and the safety of ASEAN nationals amidst the Middle East crisis.

• Expanding the TAC: Celebrated the accession of four new high-contracting parties—Sweden, Poland, Romania, and Lithuania—bringing the total to 62 nations committed to regional peace.

🎙️ M. I. Derry Amman — Indonesia Permanent Representative to ASEAN

Ambassador Derry Amman closed the ceremonial addresses by focusing on the legal and diplomatic bedrock of the region: the 50-year-old Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).

“This 50th anniversary of the TAC must therefore be more than a celebration. It must be a moment of renewal to remind that the principles of the TAC must remain our compass as we work together in partnership and solidarity towards a peaceful, stable, and prosperous ASEAN region.” — M. I. Derry Amman

Actionable frameworks discussed:

• Beyond Ceremonies: Warned that the TAC must remain a “living instrument,” where principles are actively applied rather than just verbally reaffirmed.

• New Modalities of Engagement: Announced new guidelines that encourage non-ASEAN TAC signatories to explore practical, mutually beneficial cooperation.

🏁 The Bottom Line

The 59th ASEAN Day sent a clear signal to both its citizens and the international community: The era of relying solely on historical diplomatic achievements is giving way to a demand for tangible delivery.

• Youth is the New Baseline: Policies must actively benefit the under-30 demographic to maintain institutional legitimacy over the next decades.

• Centrality as a Shield: ASEAN will aggressively maintain its neutrality and centrality, using frameworks like the TAC to manage external geopolitical pressures.

• Action Over Agreements: The ultimate test for Vision 2045 will be regional food/energy security and economic integration that reaches local communities and migrant workers on the ground.

📰 Need More Angle?

The ASEAN Secretariat, The Founding of ASEAN

EBSCO, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Is Formed

(JUN/NGO)

🚀 The Main Takeaway

On July 18, 2026, Team Vitality once again proved why it remains the benchmark of women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, defeating Natus Vincere PH 4–2 in the Grand Final of the MLBB Women’s Invitational (MWI) at the Esports World Cup in Paris.

Women’s esports continues to grow on the global stage, and few teams have embodied that rise better than Team Vitality. In front of a passionate home crowd in Paris, the French organisation once again proved why it remains the benchmark of women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

After a dominant tournament run, Team Vitality defeated Natus Vincere PH 4–2 in the Grand Final of the MLBB Women’s Invitational (MWI), successfully defending its title and becoming back-to-back champions for the second time in the tournament’s history.

Team Vitality has officially cemented its place among the legends of women’s esports.

By defeating Natus Vincere PH in the Grand Final of the MLBB Women’s Invitational at the Esports World Cup, the team secured its fourth MWI title and successfully defended the championship it won in 2025.

The victory carried extra significance. NaVi PH had eliminated Team Vitality from the competition in 2024, making this year’s triumph not only a title defence but also a long-awaited moment of redemption.

The championship also earned Team Vitality an additional 1,000 Club Championship points, strengthening the organisation’s position in the Esports World Cup Club Championship standings.

👀 Why It’s on Our Radar

Sixteen of the world’s best women’s Mobile Legends teams gathered in Paris with one goal: international glory.

Team Vitality began its campaign dominantly, sweeping both MIBR.LOS and Gen.G Esports 2–0 in the group stage to secure a place in the playoffs.

The momentum continued in the knockout rounds:

• 🐝 Quarterfinals: Team Vitality defeated Team Falcons ID 2–1.

• 🔥 Semifinals: The Bees overcame Geltek Cyber Team 3–1.

• 🏆 Grand Final: Team Vitality defeated Natus Vincere PH 4–2.

Despite facing strong opposition throughout the tournament, Team Vitality displayed exceptional teamwork, composure, and resilience, eventually lifting the trophy in front of its home fans in Paris.

🌐 Meet Team Vitality

Founded in 2013 by Fabien “Neo” Devide (CEO) and Nicolas Maurer (CSO), Team Vitality is a French esports organisation that has grown into one of the most recognisable names in competitive gaming. Over the years, the club has established itself as a benchmark of excellence, fielding top-tier teams across some of the world’s most prestigious esports titles.

Driven by elite international talent, Team Vitality remains focused on competitive success, expanding its global fanbase, and building a sustainable future for esports while nurturing the next generation of professional players.

Today, the organisation is supported by a diverse portfolio of partners, including E.Leclerc, EVNIA (Philips), Nescafé, Unilever, Fulllife, Stake, and Crédit Agricole, and has amassed a global community of more than 10 million fans across social media platforms.

With offices and training facilities spread across multiple regions, Team Vitality is united by one ambition: to become the best esports club in the world.

📍 Team Vitality Around the World

• 🇫🇷 Paris, France — The club’s historic headquarters and central hub, featuring an official store, a cybercafé, and a high-performance training centre located inside the Stade de France.

• 🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany — Team Vitality’s European base, strategically positioned close to some of the continent’s biggest esports competitions.

• 🇮🇩 Jakarta, Indonesia — Located at the heart of Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing mobile esports ecosystem through its partnership with Indonesian esports organisation Bigetron.

🌍 More Than Just Another Trophy

With four MLBB Women’s Invitational titles, Team Vitality has become one of the most successful organisations in women’s esports.

Earlier this year, the roster signed a historic contract extension that will keep the team together under the Team Vitality banner until 2030, ensuring that one of the game’s most dominant lineups remains intact for years to come.

Since entering the women’s MLBB scene in 2024, Team Vitality has not only collected trophies but also helped elevate women’s esports to new heights, representing Southeast Asian talent on one of gaming’s biggest stages.

The 2026 championship is another milestone in a legacy that continues to grow.

“This back-to-back victory for our MLBB players is the culmination of a true success story at the Esports World Cup,” said Danny Engels, Chief International Officer of Team Vitality.

Meanwhile, Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystems at MOONTON Games, emphasised the tournament’s growing international impact: “Our queens have retained their crown, and they have proved, yet again, that they are the world’s leading team.”

❤️ Beyond the Headlines

Team Vitality’s victory is about more than medals and trophies—it’s a symbol of how far women’s esports has come.

What began as a niche competition has evolved into a truly global championship, creating new opportunities for female players and inspiring the next generation of gamers worldwide.

As women’s Mobile Legends continues to expand internationally, Team Vitality has established itself as the standard that every team hopes to reach.

For now, the queens remain on the throne. 🐝👑

📌 The Main Takeaway

Findings from the latest State of Human Risk 2026 by Mimecast show that 65% of surveyed organisations in Singapore and Australia believe an AI-enabled cyberattack is inevitable within the next 12 months, while 60% admit they are not fully prepared to defend against AI-driven threats targeting employees.

The findings suggest that people have become the new frontline of cybersecurity.

📈 Why It Matters

🤖 Trust Is Under Attack: AI enables cybercriminals to create increasingly convincing emails, messages, and requests that closely resemble legitimate communications from colleagues, executives, and business partners.

👥 People Become the Frontline: Cybersecurity is no longer just about stopping malware. Employees are increasingly expected to distinguish genuine interactions from AI-generated deception.

📱 Beyond Email: Modern cyberattacks now extend across collaboration platforms, messaging apps, shared documents, and internal communication channels.

🌏 A Regional Wake-Up Call: As AI adoption accelerates across Asia Pacific, strengthening human resilience is becoming just as important as strengthening technology.

📑 Survey Methodology

The findings draw on both regional and global survey data, offering insights into how AI-driven cyber risks are evolving across different markets.

• 🇸🇬 Regional Findings: The regional findings are based on responses from 500 IT and security decision-makers in Singapore and Australia, examining how organisations perceive AI-enabled cyber threats across the two markets.

• 🌍 Global Study: The broader State of Human Risk 2026 surveyed 2,500 respondents, including 1,922 IT decision-makers and 578 IT security decision-makers, across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Singapore, and Australia.

• 🏢 Enterprise Focus: All participating organisations employed at least 250 employees and 250 email users, with company sizes ranging from 250 to more than 10,000 employees.

• 🏭 Industry Coverage: Respondents represented financial services, healthcare, IT and telecommunications, manufacturing, retail, the public sector, energy and utilities, business services, construction, consumer services, and media and entertainment.

📊 Regional Findings

The regional findings reveal growing concern over AI-enabled cyberattacks, but also expose significant gaps in organisational readiness.

• ⚠️ Attack Expectations: 79% of respondents are concerned about AI being used as an attack vector, while 65% believe an AI-enabled cyberattack is inevitable within the next year.

• 📉 Preparedness: 60% say their organisations are not fully prepared to respond to AI-driven threats exploiting human vulnerabilities.

• 👥 Employee Exposure: 66% believe employees are likely to fall victim to AI-assisted social engineering attacks.

• 🎓 Training Gap: Only 40% provide AI-specific employee training, while 42% conduct simulated AI phishing exercises.

🌍 Global Insights

While the regional findings focus on Singapore and Australia, the broader global survey suggests these challenges extend well beyond the region.

• 📚 Execution Gap: 91% of organisations struggle to ensure employee compliance, 96% acknowledge incomplete protection, yet only 28% combine regular security awareness training with continuous monitoring.

• 💰 Human Risk Costs: Insider-related incidents cost organisations an average of US$13.1 million per incident. With an average of six insider incidents each month, annual exposure could reach US$943.2 million, excluding regulatory fines and reputational damage.

• 📊 Growing Exposure: Around 71% expect collaboration tool attacks to have business impact in 2026, yet 38% still rely solely on native security controls despite 64% believing those protections are insufficient.

⚠️ Mimecast: Five Critical Gaps Defining 2026

Beyond the headline figures, the report identifies five structural gaps that continue to shape cybersecurity risks in 2026.

• 📱 Attack Surface: Threats increasingly target collaboration platforms and internal communication channels alongside email.

• 👥 Insider Risk: Just 8% of employees account for 80% of security incidents, showing how a small group of users can create disproportionate organisational risk.

• 🔗 Integration: Although 65% say security integration is too complicated, organisations that succeed achieve 40% faster threat remediation.

• 🏛️ Governance: 59% lack confidence that they can quickly retrieve communications data to satisfy regulatory requirements.

• 🤖 AI Readiness: Organizations continue adopting AI technologies faster than they prepare employees to respond to AI-enabled threats.

⚖️ Regional Stakes

🇸🇬 Singapore Leads: Singapore is one of only two markets globally classified as an AI Adopter, reflecting stronger defensive AI deployment and closer coordination between government and industry.

🌏 Challenges Remain: Even among leading markets, governance and human-risk challenges persist, showing that technology adoption alone does not guarantee cyber resilience.

🌐 The Bigger Picture

The findings are also echoed by other cybersecurity research, reinforcing concerns that organisations are struggling to adapt to the rapidly evolving AI threat landscape.

• 🔍 Human Error Persists: The 2026 Thales Data Threat Report found that human error remains the leading cause of data breaches (28%), surpassing technical vulnerabilities.

• 🤖 AI Threats Expand: 59% of organisations have observed deepfake-related attacks, 61% report AI applications becoming attack targets, and 48% have experienced reputational damage linked to AI-generated misinformation.

• ⚡ Keeping Pace: Around 70% say the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem itself has become one of their greatest cybersecurity challenges, reinforcing concerns that organisations are struggling to keep pace with AI-driven threats.

🤝 Beyond the Numbers

The future of cybersecurity may depend less on stronger technology than on better human resilience. As AI makes cyberattacks increasingly convincing, human judgment is becoming one of the strongest lines of defence.

The challenge is no longer whether organisations should invest in human risk management, but whether they can keep pace with AI-driven threats.

📰 Need More Angle?

Cyber Security Asia 65% of Surveyed APAC Organisations See an AI-Enabled Attack as Inevitable Within a Year

Mimecast The State of Human Risk 2026

Thales Group 2026 Data Threat Report

(BRZ/QOB)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

ASEAN is asking the region’s media to do more than just report on summits, declarations, and diplomatic statements.

At the 10th ASEAN Media Forum, held in Manila on 29–30 July 2026, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn described the media as an indispensable partner in connecting regional policies with citizens’ everyday lives.

His message reflected a genuine communications problem: ASEAN decisions are often negotiated over years, implemented unevenly and written in language far removed from ordinary people.

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Without journalists explaining what those decisions mean, much of ASEAN’s work remains visible only to officials and specialists.

But there is an important distinction.

Journalists can help the public understand ASEAN without becoming an extension of ASEAN’s public diplomacy machinery.

The strongest partnership between institutions and the press is not built on agreement. It is built on access, transparency and the freedom to scrutinise whether official commitments produce tangible results.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

The forum marked the 10-year anniversary of the ASEAN Media Forum, first convened in 2017.

Its tenth edition brought together 35 journalists from all 11 ASEAN member states, including Timor-Leste journalists participating for the first time after the country became ASEAN’s newest member, though they had already been present in previous editions.

The two-day programme went beyond ceremonial speeches. It included direct interfaces with the ASEAN Secretary-General and the Philippine Chair, alongside discussions on:

🤖 Generative AI and information integrity
⚡ Geopolitics and energy security
🌊 Maritime cooperation and the South China Sea
📰 The media’s role in explaining ASEAN
🤝 The future of regional media engagement

The programme, therefore, treated information not as a supporting concern, but as part of ASEAN’s response to geopolitical competition, technological disruption and declining public trust.

The forum also coincided with the first year of implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the launch of the ASEAN Work Plan for Information and Media 2026–2035.

Together, they signal that ASEAN increasingly sees control over information, public understanding and regional narratives as strategic issues.

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🧭 From Reporting ASEAN to Explaining ASEAN

In his remarks, Dr. Kao argued that journalists should help connect complex regional policies with citizens’ everyday experiences.

He also emphasised that professional journalism involves more than reporting events. It requires verifying information, examining competing claims, providing context and helping citizens make informed judgments.

That diagnosis is difficult to dispute.

ASEAN’s work is often communicated through lengthy declarations and carefully negotiated language. The political compromises behind those documents may be significant, but their practical consequences are rarely immediately clear.

Reporting around the forum demonstrated what more accessible ASEAN journalism can look like.

Coverage emerging from direct media interfaces included:

• The Philippines’ interest in pursuing mutual recognition of halal certification with Indonesia and eventually developing more integrated regional standards.

• German development agency GIZ’s support for Timor-Leste’s integration into regional mechanisms, including a learning-management system connected to ASEAN disaster cooperation.

• Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro’s argument that the success of an ASEAN chairship should be measured by its impact on ordinary citizens rather than by the number of meetings organised.

These are more tangible stories than a summit communiqué.

They connect regional institutions with standards affecting businesses, disaster response capacity, and public expectations of government.

But effective explanation must include examination.

A report on a proposed agreement should also address when it will be concluded, how it will be implemented, who will bear its costs, and which communities may remain excluded.

Institutions communicate purpose. Journalism tests performance.

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📰 ASEAN’s New Media Roadmap

The ASEAN Work Plan for Information and Media 2026–2035 is expansive.

It recognises that the region’s information environment has been transformed by affordable smartphones, algorithm-driven platforms, artificial intelligence, social commerce and the ability of almost anyone to produce and distribute content.

It also identifies structural weaknesses within Southeast Asia’s media ecosystem, including:

⚠️ Disinformation and manipulated content
📉 Declining institutional and media trust
🧠 Uneven information literacy
💼 Weak investigative-newsroom capacity
🧩 Fragmented regional governance
📱 Algorithmic bias and the attention economy
🎥 Blurred boundaries between journalism, advertising and creators
🌐 Unequal digital access

The work plan organises ASEAN’s response around five strategic goals:

1. Access to information

2. Information integrity

3. Content production and development

4. AI and digital transformation

5. Partnerships and cross-cutting cooperation

Its overarching ambition is to create a more accessible, trusted and connected regional information environment while strengthening ASEAN identity.

This is broader than a government communications plan.

It addresses journalistic ethics, newsroom capacity, platform accountability, local-language information, digital inclusion and cross-border cooperation.

The document proposes initiatives such as:

🔎 Data-driven and evidence-based journalism
✅ Regional fact-checking and AI training hubs
📘 ASEAN guidelines on ethical journalism
🤖 Frameworks for responsible AI-generated content
🧑‍🏫 Public information-literacy programmes
📊 Greater transparency from social-media platforms
🎬 Cross-border content production and distribution
🛡 Training on digital safety and online harms

The breadth of the roadmap is a strength.

It is also an implementation risk.

⚖️ The Partnership Dilemma?

ASEAN officials repeatedly described journalists as partners in communicating regional cooperation.

Partnership can be valuable when it means:

• Better access to policymakers

• Earlier access to documents and data

• More substantive briefings

• Regional journalist exchanges

• Translation and multilingual support

• Protection and professional development

ASEAN’s own language sometimes moves between two different objectives:

Strengthening independent journalism and advancing ASEAN public diplomacy.

Those objectives may overlap, but they are not identical.

Public diplomacy seeks to explain and build support for institutional priorities. Journalism must remain free to investigate failures, contradictions and competing interests, including those of ASEAN governments.

A regional identity built only through affirmative stories would be fragile. Citizens are unlikely to trust ASEAN more simply because they receive more positive content about it.

Trust is more likely to grow when institutions:

📂 Release useful information
🗣 Answer difficult questions
📏 Publish measurable commitments
🔍 Permit independent examination
📝 Correct inaccurate or incomplete claims

The media’s value to ASEAN, therefore, comes partly from its “distance” from ASEAN.

ASEAN Work Plan for Information and Media 2026-2035 can be downloaded here.

🤖 AI Raises the Stakes

Generative AI was one of the forum’s central concerns.

Dr. Kao acknowledged its potential to improve newsroom efficiency and expand multilingual reporting, while warning about authenticity, copyright, editorial accountability, synthetic media and deepfakes.

The ASEAN Work Plan similarly treats AI as both an opportunity and a threat.

It proposes ethical frameworks, capacity-building programmes and voluntary standards for responsible technology adoption. It also identifies the need to modernise traditional newsrooms and to improve journalists' ability to identify manipulated content.

These are useful starting points, but “responsible AI” will need to be translated into newsroom practice.

That should include clear standards covering:

• Human verification before publication

• Disclosure of significant AI use

• Protection of confidential sources and personal data

• Verification of synthetic images, audio and video

• Responsibility for AI-generated errors

• Copyright and attribution

• Transparent correction procedures

Regional guidance could reduce uncertainty, particularly for smaller newsrooms that cannot build their own AI-governance systems.

However, any ASEAN framework must be developed with journalists, editors, technologists, and civil society groups, not solely by government information agencies.

Otherwise, tools introduced in the name of information integrity could blur the line between addressing demonstrably false content and regulating legitimate criticism.

🧱 The Real Challenge is Implementation

ASEAN’s new work plan includes short-, medium-, and long-term actions extending to 2035.

Its flexible structure recognises the major differences in capacity, infrastructure and regulation among member states. Not every country will implement every measure at the same speed.

That flexibility is practical.

It can also weaken accountability.

A strategy covering almost a decade requires more than conferences, training sessions and aspirational frameworks. ASEAN will need publicly understandable indicators showing whether the plan is actually improving:

📈 Access to trusted information
📰 Newsroom capacity
🧑‍💻 Digital and media literacy
🛡 Journalist safety
🌐 Multilingual accessibility
🤖 Responsible AI adoption
🔍 Platform transparency

Funding will come from a mixture of ASEAN mechanisms, member states, dialogue partners, international organisations and public or private institutions.

External support can provide expertise and resources that regional newsrooms urgently need. The ASEAN Media Forum itself has received sustained German support through GIZ.

Capacity-building programmes must strengthen journalists’ independence rather than quietly shape editorial priorities around the preferences of governments or development partners.

🌏 Timor-Leste’s Participation Matters

The inclusion of Timor-Leste journalists gave the forum particular significance.

Representation at a regional meeting is symbolically important, but meaningful media integration requires more than adding another seat at the table.

Timor-Leste’s journalists will need sustainable access to:

🗣 Multilingual regional information
🎓 Training and exchange programmes
📡 Distribution and digital infrastructure
🤝 Cross-border newsroom networks
💰 Funding opportunities
📂 ASEAN documents and policymakers

GIZ said it had involved Timor-Leste in regional activities even before its full membership and intends to expand that cooperation as the country integrates into ASEAN mechanisms.

The same inclusion test applies across the region.

ASEAN’s media agenda should not primarily benefit large metropolitan broadcasters and established national outlets. Smaller independent, community, and local-language newsrooms are often closer to the people ASEAN claims to want to reach.

Yet they also have fewer resources to absorb new digital, verification and compliance requirements.

❤️ Why This Hits Home

Most people do not experience ASEAN through declarations.

They experience it through:

⛽ Fuel and electricity prices
🍚 Food availability
💼 Jobs and investment
🛂 Borders and migration
🌊 Maritime livelihoods
📱 Digital platforms
🌪 Disaster responses
🎓 Education and mobility

Journalism provides the link between these lived realities and the regional decisions that shape them.

Without credible reporting, ASEAN can appear distant, ceremonial and dominated by closed-door meetings.

Without institutional transparency, even the best journalists cannot explain what governments refuse to disclose.

And without viable newsrooms, citizens may increasingly receive information from partisan influencers, synthetic content, or algorithmically amplified rumours.

The information crisis is therefore not only a content problem.

It is also a problem of institutions, economics and trust.

📌 The Bottom Line

ASEAN is right that how regional cooperation is reported and understood matters almost as much as the agreements themselves.

Its new media work plan correctly recognises that AI, disinformation, fragmented governance and weak newsroom capacity cannot be addressed through isolated national initiatives.

The press can partner with institutions to defend factual information, expand access, and improve public understanding.

It cannot surrender its responsibility to investigate, challenge and independently assess those institutions.

A credible ASEAN media ecosystem will not be built around a single regional narrative. It will be built around shared access to facts, professional standards and the freedom to ask whether ASEAN is delivering what it promises.

The region does not need a common script.

It needs a stronger community of journalists capable of examining a common future.

🔎 Need More Angles?

ASEAN Secretariat The 10th ASEAN Media Forum

ASEAN Secretariat A Decade of Media Engagement: 10 Years of ASEAN Media Forum

ASEAN Secretariat Get to Know ASEAN Media Forum

ASEAN Secretariat Secretary-General of ASEAN engages regional media at the 10th ASEAN Media Forum

ASEAN Secretariat Secretary-General of ASEAN officiates the 10th ASEAN Media Forum

Cambodianess ASEAN Forum Marks Decade with Call for Credible Journalism

In Diplomacy 10th ASEAN Media Forum Opens in Manila with Focus on Strengthening ASEAN Public Engagement

Vietnam+ 10th ASEAN Media Forum held in Philippines

Vietnam+ ASEAN media urged to uphold trust, embrace AI responsibly

(QOB/ELS)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) hosted the Indonesia Net-Zero Summit (INZS) 2026 on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, bringing together nearly 10,000 attendees, 130 partners, and over 60 high-profile speakers under the theme “It’s Time to Deliver!”

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Amid geopolitical fragmentation, economic instability, and escalating global temperatures, the summit emphasised that climate action can no longer be delayed as a distant goal. Leaders across government, civil society, international organisations, and the arts delivered a unified verdict: climate resilience is directly tied to national security, economic competitiveness, and human survival.

📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

The climate crisis is no longer a future projection—it is an active, compounding crisis already damaging supply chains, food security, and human life:

• Mathematical Reality: To remain within the 1.5°C threshold, humanity has a remaining carbon budget of only 200 gigatons. At current global emissions (~40–42 gigatons/year), the budget will be exhausted in less than five years (by 2030).

• The Current Trajectory: Even if all 133 countries fully implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC, the world is still headed toward a 2.3°C to 2.5°C temperature rise—a scenario that would eradicate 99% of global coral reefs.

• Severe Local Impacts: Extreme weather, heatwaves, and flooding are escalating in Indonesia. Recent climate-induced agricultural disasters caused IDR 25.2 billion in crop loss, while forest fires scorched over 32,000 hectares in early 2026 alone. Without aggressive interventions, climate-related economic losses in Indonesia could exceed IDR 2,000 trillion by 2029.

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⚠️ Key Challenges & Geopolitical Friction

Despite clear scientific warnings, several key obstacles threaten progress:

• The U.S. Exit: The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord was called out by climate leaders as irresponsible and unfair, putting extra pressure on developing nations to absorb the remaining carbon budget.

• The Water Crisis: 90% of natural disasters are water-related. Today, 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water and 4 billion experience water scarcity—a crisis exacerbated by climate change (a threat multiplier).

• Implementation Gap: High-level policy promises frequently fail to translate into tangible actions on the ground or reach local communities at the site (masyarakat tapak).

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🚀 Key Leaders & Their Delivery Messages

🎙️ Dr. Dino Patti Djalal — Founder & Chairman, FPCI

Dr. Dino framed climate change as the “greatest blind spot in world affairs today,” arguing that it should be elevated to Goal #1 above all other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Climate change is the superstructure that determines your health, politics, peace, security, economy, industry, migration, and food. If we don’t get the climate right, we get everything else wrong. A 3-degree world will hurt all of us, and it will be public enemy number one. And once you hit a 3-degree world, we are stuck with it forever.”

— Dr. Dino Patti Djalal

Key takeaways from Dr. Dino’s address:

1. 2030 is the Final Window: Extreme heat waves and flash floods are “messages from the future” signaling that we are running out of time.

2. The New Climate Heroes: Hope now relies on a network of progressive nations—such as China, India, Uruguay, Kenya, and Bhutan—taking action at different speeds.

3. Urgent Priorities for Indonesia: Realize President Prabowo’s 100 GW solar plan; strictly protect forests/peatlands (warning specifically against deforestation in Papua); expand IDX Carbon; lead climate diplomacy in the G20; and partner actively with civil society.

💧 Retno Marsudi — UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Water

Retno Marsudi highlighted the undeniable connection between net-zero targets and global water security, emphasizing that there is no net-zero without water safety.

“Water allows mitigation, water allows adaptation, and water ecosystems are the ultimate climate solution. Water is life, and there is no life without water. The human population is growing, and the demand for water is increasing, yet its availability is highly limited and continuously declining—and this is being constantly exacerbated by climate change.”

— Retno Marsudi

Key water crisis indicators raised:

• Food & Population: By 2050, a population of 9.7 billion will require 50% more food and 25% more fresh water (72% of freshwater is currently drawn by agriculture).

• AI & Digital Infrastructure: Artificial Intelligence processing will increase water demand by 129% across its value chain, yet 40% of global data centres currently operate in high water-stress regions.

• The Financing Gap: Achieving SDG 6 requires $6.7 trillion by 2030. Currently, 86% of funding comes from public coffers, while private sector participation sits at a meager 2%.

🌿 Moh. Jumhur Hidayat — Minister of Environment / Head of BPLH RI

Minister Jumhur advocated for a fundamental shift in development paradigms: moving away from “growth first, clean up later” to growing through environmental restoration.

“Amidst an uncertain world, the climate agenda and the green transition have actually become part of our national strategy. The transition towards net-zero is not an additional burden, but rather our way of protecting the future. In Indonesia, we must add one more action beyond just mitigation and adaptation: the Prosperity Action.”

— Moh. Jumhur Hidayat

Strategic updates & policies revealed:

• Prosperity via Carbon Markets: Revenue from carbon trading must directly empower local communities and small businesses (MSMEs/cooperatives) at the ground level rather than speculative carbon traders.

• Mangrove Investment Model: A Rp200 million investment in mangrove restoration over 3 years yields 3,000–5,000 tons of carbon offsets—worth ~$100,000 on global markets while creating local green jobs.

• Doorstop Policy Announcement (”Water Farming”): The Ministry of Environment is finalizing a mandatory water farming policy requiring any commercial entity extracting groundwater to recharge it back into the soil via biopores or massive tree planting.

• El Niño Peatland Protection: Over 400 concession owners (covering ~80% of Indonesia’s plantation/forestry land) have been mandated to conduct canal blocking and re-wet peatlands, while taking responsibility for a 5-km buffer zone around their concessions.

🌐 Ana Toni — CEO of COP30 (Video Address)

Ana Toni outlined the progress made at COP30 and set the agenda moving toward COP31 in partnership with Turkey and Australia.

“Looking at which type of investment emerging countries like Brazil or Indonesia may need, which may be different from what small islands or least developed countries need... We are going a step deeper on the implementation of mobilisation of 1.3 trillion dollars to developing countries.”

— Ana Toni

Three Strategic Roadmaps:

1. Fossil Fuel Transition: Establishing clear implementation milestones following COP28 commitments.

2. Halting Deforestation: Scaling up forest protection, bioeconomy, and land restoration.

3. Mobilising $1.3 Trillion: Designing concrete financing streams tailored to the unique economic realities of developing nations.

🎭 Reza Rahadian — Actor & Cultural Figure

Reza Rahadian brought an urgent, humanised message on behalf of Indonesian civil society and younger generations, warning that climate change is already eating into household budgets and dining tables.

“When we talk about the climate crisis, we are no longer talking about a future threat. This crisis is already happening, right here, right now, and right before our eyes. This is not just a random disaster that suddenly appears without cause; it is the result of what we humans have done... The clock is ticking, and it’s time to deliver.”

— Reza Rahadian

Key takeaways from the cultural movement:

• Economic Urgency: Global clean energy is now the most economical choice: 80% of solar and wind power is cheaper than fossil fuels, and battery prices dropped 75% over the last decade.

• Call for Multi-Generational Action (Gotong Royong): Citizens must hold leaders accountable, reduce emissions directly, restore damaged ecosystems, and utilize public platforms to demand immediate policy delivery.

🤝 Panel Focus: ASEAN’s Energy and Climate Security

In a dedicated session moderated by Dayu Nirma Amurwanti (World Bank/FPCI), regional experts debated whether Southeast Asia is prepared to navigate the energy transition together or if fragmented national policies are holding the bloc back.

Dr. Dinita Setyawati — Senior Energy Analyst, Asia at Ember:

“ASEAN is a bit vulnerable to the energy crisis, and we need to transition immediately. Our resilience to climate change is not good, as ASEAN has only set up short-term energy policies. How we can afford renewable energy while ensuring security is the critical question we must manage to solve.”

Dr. Christopher Len — Policy Director, FESSIA & Senior Fellow, ISEAS:

“ASEAN should ensure an energy resilience architecture related to the power grid, energy storage, and system integration that is not yet regionally fully ready to deliver... Progress is slow, with major barriers in vision and implementation, and a lack of market signals to address these issues.”

Aldilla Noor Rakhiemah — Project Manager ACCEPT, ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE):

“There are several barriers we face: the gap between energy prices in each member state, commitment issues, translating regional policies into national-level agendas, and communication among policymakers. For the next year, the idea must focus on harmonizing policies, enhancing MoUs, and coordinating regulations among stakeholders so we can reach agreed workplans.”

Rexor Amancio — Regional Lead Asia Pacific, Global Renewable Alliance (GRA):

“From an investment and money perspective, ASEAN and Indonesia have immense potential with their natural resources. We have to translate this for the private sector into a national-level industry and integrate power grids at the regional level, planning for grids that will be electrified by clean energy.”

🎵 Cultural Movement: “No Music on A Dead Planet”

The summit concluded with a special musical performance by artist Teddy Adhitya supporting the global campaign “No Music on A Dead Planet.” The initiative leverages arts and culture to rally youth engagement around environmental protection and climate justice.

🏁 The Bottom Line

INZS 2026 sent a clear signal to decision-makers in Jakarta and worldwide: The era of setting distant targets is over.

1. 2030 is the Critical Horizon: Indonesia has less than five years to execute its 100 GW solar rollout, enforce peatland re-wetting, and operationalize robust carbon markets.

2. Economic Alignment: Green transitions must deliver tangible prosperity (prosperity pillar) to local communities to maintain public support and political viability.

3. Regional Integration: For ASEAN to survive the energy crisis, member states must move beyond fragmented, short-term national policies and build a unified, cross-border clean energy grid.

4. Civil Society Mandate: With 80% of Indonesian Gen Z deeply concerned about the environment, the government and private sector are under direct pressure to translate policy decrees into verifiable emission reductions.

(JUN/NGO/AKO/FRD/DEV/ELS)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

Southeast Asia is emerging as a competitive hub for tchoukball, a fast-paced, non-contact indoor sport, following Singapore’s gold and bronze medal finishes at the Asia Pacific Tchoukball Championships (APTC 2026) on 9 July 2026.

Singapore’s men’s team finished first, while Malaysia and the Philippines shared fifth place. In the women’s division, Singapore took third, with the Philippines and Thailand finishing fifth and seventh respectively.

The results underscore a growing regional presence in a sport that has long been dominated by Chinese Taipei and European nations, and point to a wider shift in Southeast Asia’s sporting landscape.

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⚽ What is Tchoukball?

Tchoukball is a fast-paced, non-contact indoor team sport invented in the 1970s by Swiss biologist Dr Hermann Brandt. It was designed to reduce physical injuries and aggressive competition often seen in other mainstream sports.

A defining feature is the use of a springy, trampoline-like goal post—called the “tchouk” or frame—instead of a conventional net or hoop.

How to play: Two teams of seven players compete. The attacking side throws the ball at the frame, and as it ricochets back, the defending team must catch it before it hits the ground. Possession changes when the defending team touches the ball before it lands, the ball misses the frame, hits the frame’s dead spot, or lands outside the court’s boundary.

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📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

Tchoukball offers an unusually safe and inclusive alternative to contact sports—mixed-gender and mixed-age participation is possible, which many mainstream sports lack.

Southeast Asia is home to the sport’s regional powerhouse: Singapore has dominated tchoukball since 2009 in both men’s and women’s divisions. The city-state’s success has inspired growing interest across the region, with Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia steadily improving their international standings.

The sport’s accessibility and low injury risk make it particularly well-suited for Southeast Asian schools and community programmes, where participation rates are rising.

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🔭Beyond the Headlines

Beyond international competitions tchoukball has slowly become ingrained into Southeast Asia especially in Singapore over the past years. With Singapore being keen to further develop the sport through Tchoukball Association of Singapore (TBAS) which was officially recognized in 2023 with an objective to facilitate the development of tchoukball.

Moreover, Singapore is growing to be a regional hub for the sport as in 2025, the nation hosted Asia Pacific Schools Tchoukball Championships (APSTC) by TBAS which is participated by school teams from Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, and Chinese Taipei. Showing a commitment to further develop the sport within the region.

🏆 Southeast Asia’s Competitive Landscape

Singapore leads the region and ranks among the world's best. As of January 2026, the International Tchoukball Federation (FITB) ranked Singapore second globally in the women's division and first in the men's division.

Internationally Singapore’s team overcame the giant of the sport Chinese Taipei during 2022 APTC in the women division and 2026 APTC in the men’s division for first place and currently ranked globally in second place and first place by the International Tchoukball Federation (FITB) as of January 2026.

With Thailand and Malaysia being the clear rival to Singapore in the region, both currently ranked 9th and 15th globally while the Philippine, Indonesia. and Laos not far behind within the top 30 as January 2026 according to FITB.

🏁 Bottom Line

Singapore’s gold and bronze at APTC 2026 highlight tchoukball’s growing footprint in Southeast Asia. While the city-state remains the region’s undisputed leader, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines are closing the gap.

The sport’s rise across the region points to a wider shift: Southeast Asian nations are expanding their sporting ambitions beyond traditional disciplines, embracing new opportunities for regional competition and international recognition.

🔎Need More Angles?

• Straits Times, The S’pore men’s tchoukball team clinch first Asia Pacific C’ship title, women bag bronze

• Strait Times, The Tchoukball: Five things to know about the sport

(FRD/ELS)

🎯 The Main Takeaway

The Philippines, as ASEAN Chair, is hosting the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings in Parañaque City, Manila, from 20 to 24 July 2026.

For about one week, ASEAN foreign ministers held a series of meetings with fellow member states, dialogue partners, and external partners to discuss regional and global developments—particularly escalating geopolitical conflicts that could increase uncertainty across ASEAN.

The meetings aim to strengthen regional security, deepen economic integration, and improve the well-being of communities. They also seek to reinforce ASEAN unity and expand cooperation with regional and global partners.

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📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

ASEAN has launched several long-term initiatives to strengthen regional cooperation, including:

• ASEAN External Relations: Dialogue partnerships with 11 countries since 1974; sectoral and development partnerships with 16 others.

• Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC): Signed in 1976, marking its 50th anniversary in 2026; 58 countries have joined as of October 2025.

• ASEAN Connectivity: Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 adopted in September 2016 to strengthen physical, institutional, and people-to-people links.

• ASEAN Community Vision 2045: Adopted on 26 May 2025, setting long-term goals across Political-Security, Economic, and Socio-Cultural pillars.

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⚠️ However…

Several challenges require closer ASEAN cooperation:

• Timor-Leste: Became the 11th member on 26 October 2025.

• South China Sea: Ongoing territorial disputes involving China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

• Myanmar: Political instability since the February 2021 military coup.

• Cambodia–Thailand: Border clashes in July and December 2025.

• Korean Peninsula: Continued nuclear and missile tests by North Korea.

• Russia–Ukraine War: Ongoing since 24 February 2022.

• Middle East: Tensions since 28 February 2026, and the Gaza humanitarian crisis since 7 October 2023.

🚀 Recent Developments

• Timor-Leste’s Role: Timor-Leste delegates can participate in ASEAN meetings, including the 48th ASEAN Summit and the 49th AMM, to share regional perspectives.

• South China Sea: ASEAN and China reaffirmed commitment to conclude the Code of Conduct (COC) this year.

• Myanmar: General elections held (December 2025–January 2026); USDP won majority; Min Aung Hlaing elected president on 3 April 2026.

• Thailand–Cambodia: Ceasefire agreement signed on 27 December 2025; ASEAN Observer Team monitoring implementation.

• Korean Peninsula: ASEAN urged North Korea to comply with UN Security Council resolutions and resume dialogue.

• Russia–Ukraine: ASEAN called for immediate ceasefire, inclusive dialogue, and humanitarian access.

• Middle East: ASEAN urged restraint, diplomatic solutions, and protection of civilians; reaffirmed support for a two-state solution.

“The ASEAN Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen coordination across all ASEAN’s relevant security bodies, particularly to mitigate the impact of crises on the region—especially regarding energy security, food security, supply chains, and the welfare of ASEAN nationals.”
— Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN Secretary-General

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🎉 50th Anniversary of TAC

ASEAN reaffirmed the TAC as the foundation of peaceful relations, mutual trust, and regional stability. New guidelines on engagement with High Contracting Parties were welcomed. Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Sweden will accede on 24 July 2026.

🤝 New Dialogue Partners

ASEAN admitted Türkiye as its 12th Dialogue Partner, and Germany and Qatar as Sectoral Dialogue Partners, effective 21 July 2026. Cooperation will focus on community development, education, humanitarian assistance, connectivity, crisis response, food security, energy security, and supply chain resilience.

🇹🇱 Timor-Leste Role

ASEAN is expanding Timor-Leste’s role following its accession as the 11th member on 26 December 2025. The country has been appointed coordinator for the ASEAN–New Zealand Dialogue Partnership (2027–2030) and has expressed readiness to serve as ASEAN Chair in 2029. ASEAN leaders will decide on the proposal at the 49th ASEAN Summit in November.

“Timor-Leste has expressed its willingness and readiness to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029. The matter will be submitted to the ASEAN Leaders for consideration, with the decision announced at the 49th ASEAN Summit in November.”
— Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN Secretary-General

🌊 South China Sea Dispute

ASEAN welcomed significant progress in COC negotiations and reaffirmed commitment to finalise the Code of Conduct this year. Both sides called for mutual trust, self-restraint, and full implementation of the DOC until the COC is finalised. All parties reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

🇲🇲 Myanmar Conflict

ASEAN expressed deep concern over the conflict and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, reaffirming commitment to the Five-Point Consensus. The bloc urged an immediate end to violence, protection of civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access. Member states commended Special Envoy Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro for her engagement with Myanmar stakeholders and international partners since January 2026.

🇹🇭🇰🇭 Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict

ASEAN welcomed the ceasefire commitment and reaffirmed support for its full implementation. The bloc emphasised the role of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT), coordinated by the Philippines, in monitoring the ceasefire. ASEAN also welcomed the trilateral meeting between Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines during the 48th ASEAN Summit on 7 May 2026, which highlighted the importance of dialogue in rebuilding trust.

🇰🇵🇰🇷 Korean Peninsula Tension

ASEAN expressed concern over developments on the Korean Peninsula and stressed the importance of peaceful dialogue for lasting peace, stability, and denuclearisation. The bloc urged North Korea to comply with UN Security Council resolutions, engage in dialogue, and help de-escalate tensions. ASEAN reaffirmed its readiness to support peaceful dialogue through ASEAN-led platforms.

☢️ Nuclear Weapon-Free Region

ASEAN committed to preserving Southeast Asia as a nuclear weapon-free zone, in line with the ASEAN Charter and the SEANWFZ Treaty. The bloc commended ASEANTOM for strengthening regional cooperation on nuclear safety and emergency preparedness, and will ensure the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear energy in accordance with IAEA standards.

🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russia-Ukraine War

ASEAN reaffirmed respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for an immediate ceasefire and inclusive dialogue in line with the UN Charter. The bloc also called for unhindered humanitarian access and the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel.

🇺🇸🇮🇱🇮🇷 Middle East War

ASEAN expressed concern over Middle East developments, urging all parties to respect sovereignty, exercise restraint, pursue diplomatic solutions, and protect civilians. The bloc reaffirmed the importance of maritime safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. ASEAN also reiterated its support for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in line with international law and UN resolutions.

🌏 In Addition…

ASEAN Foreign Ministers held Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) with 11 Dialogue Partners to strengthen regional resilience and shared prosperity across nine key sectors:

• Economic Cooperation: Accelerate FTAs, enhance trade, cross-border investment, and supply chains.

• Technology Cooperation: Support digital transformation, innovation, and AI adoption.

• Green Energy: Support clean energy transition and energy security.

• Defence & Security: Counter international crime, terrorism, cyber threats, and online scams.

• Education & Skills: Scholarships, fellowships, youth empowerment, and vocational training.

• Maritime Affairs: Strengthen maritime safety, security, and law enforcement.

• Regional Connectivity: Enhance air transport, tourism, and the ASEAN Power Grid.

• Food & Sustainability: Promote food security and green economy initiatives.

• Creative Industries: Support creative and cultural industries through innovation and collaboration.

🧭 Beyond the Headlines

ASEAN is home to nearly 700 million people (8.4% of the global population), making it the third-most populous region.

• GDP: USD 3.9 trillion (fifth-largest economy; 3.5% of global GDP).

• FDI: USD 226 billion attracted.

• Trade: USD 3.8 trillion total (USD 1.95 trillion exports; USD 1.89 trillion imports).

The Philippines serves as ASEAN Chair in 2026 under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” focusing on peace, stability, prosperity, and people empowerment through multilateral cooperation.

🏁 The Bottom Line

ASEAN is navigating a complex geopolitical landscape with multiple overlapping crises. The 59th AMM demonstrates the bloc’s commitment to maintaining unity and centrality while addressing both internal challenges and external pressures.

Key takeaways:

• ASEAN remains relevant: Despite internal differences, the bloc continues to serve as a platform for dialogue and cooperation.

• External partnerships matter: New dialogue partners (Türkiye) and sectoral partners (Germany, Qatar) signal growing global interest in ASEAN.

• Timor-Leste’s integration: The new member’s rising role reflects ASEAN’s commitment to inclusivity.

• Security and stability are priorities: The bloc is actively engaged in managing conflicts from the South China Sea to the Middle East.

The challenge ahead: Translating commitments into concrete action—particularly on Myanmar, the COC, and economic integration—will determine whether ASEAN can maintain its credibility as a regional leader in an increasingly uncertain world.

🔎 Need More Angles?

ASEAN Secretariat ASEAN Investment Report 2025

ASEAN Secretariat ASEAN Key Figures 2025

ASEAN Secretariat Joint Communique of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Manila, 21 July 2026

ASEAN Secretariat The 59th AMM/PMC and Related Meetings

ASEAN Stats ASEAN Statistical Highlights 2025

(NGO/ELS)

🎯 Main Takeaway

On 21 July 2026, the 20th edition of Food & Hospitality Indonesia (FHI) 2026 was officially held, marking a milestone for three decades of Indonesia’s premier international trade exhibition for the food, beverage, and hospitality industry. The event lasted until 24 July 2026 and was held at Jakarta International Expo (JIEXPO). With the guiding theme “A Thrilling Journey of Excellence That Celebrates the New and Ignites the Future”, the event once again presented a strategic opportunity for Business-to-Business (B2B) ventures.

Key highlights:

• Brazil’s presence was a major feature, with Ambassador George Monteiro Prata and Agricultural Attaché Carlos Turchetto attending the opening ceremony

• 10 Brazilian food industry representatives participated, showcasing nuts, açaí sorbet, coffee, and wine

• The event signals Brazil’s growing interest in Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asian market

Statements from Carlos Turchetto expanded on Indonesia-Brazil relations, highlighting Brazil’s interest in expanding exports beyond traditional commodities like soybeans, corn, and beef.

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📡 Why It’s on Our Radar?

Brazil’s growing engagement with Southeast Asia reflects more than expanding trade—it signals a strategic shift between two regions.

What Brazil brings to the table:

• Agricultural expertise in tropical farming, precision agriculture, biofuels, and sustainable livestock management

• Market access to South America via MERCOSUR, a consumer market of over 270 million people

• Investment potential in Southeast Asia’s rapidly expanding consumer base and manufacturing capacity

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🇮🇩🇧🇷 Indonesia and Brazil: A Two-Way Economic Partnership

Indonesia’s exports to Brazil have grown substantially over the past five years, climbing from a modest base in 2020 to more than $2 billion in 2025. While the trajectory has not been perfectly linear, this growth pattern suggests Indonesian exporters have found increasingly stable footing in the Brazilian market, particularly in the last two years.

Looking at Indonesia’s top five exports to Brazil in 2025, animal and vegetable fats and oils still sit comfortably at the top, reaffirming agriculture’s role as the backbone of Indonesia’s trade with Brazil. Yet the second and third largest export categories tell a different story: a growing manufacturing and industrial base. This shift suggests Indonesia is no longer relying solely on raw agricultural output but also on processed and manufactured goods—a sign of gradual economic diversification on Indonesia’s side of the partnership.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s exports to Indonesia show steeper, large-scale growth. From roughly $2 billion in 2020, shipments **doubled by 2023, peaked above $4.4 billion in 2024, before easing slightly in 2025 to $4.1 billion**. Even with the pullback, the current trend is more than double what it was just four years earlier, underscoring how central Indonesia has become as a destination for Brazilian goods.

Amid global instability, Brazil has been diversifying its trade partnerships beyond its traditional markets, and Indonesia is emerging as a key partner. Brazil’s 2025 exports to Indonesia already extend past staples like soybeans, corn, and beef, led instead by food industry residues, sugar, and mineral fuels. Carlos Turchetto’s comments on expanding Brazil’s export base reflect this shift, positioning Indonesia as a market Brazil sees as worth deepening ties with.

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🤝 Building a Relationship Beyond Trade: ASEAN-Brazil Sectoral Dialogue Partnership

Brazil has been quietly pivoting to Southeast Asia.

Key milestones:

• 2012: Brazil accedes to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia—the first Latin American country to do so

• 2022: ASEAN formally confers Brazil with Sectoral Dialogue Partner status

• 2025: President Lula da Silva attends the 47th ASEAN Summit—the first Brazilian head of state to do so

• October 2025: Lula visits Indonesia, signing eight MoUs with President Prabowo covering multiple sectors

• Same month: Brazil signs MoUs with Malaysia, including cooperation on semiconductor technology

🏠 Why This Hits Home

For Indonesia, trade relations with Brazil are not merely about increasing the value of exports and imports, but also about national food security.

Key benefits:

• Brazil is a leading supplier of soya and halal beef, helping meet Indonesia’s domestic needs

• Strengthens supply chain resilience and supports price stability

• Opens opportunities to diversify import sources and reduce dependence on specific trading partners

Brazil’s growing focus on ASEAN reflects the region’s large population, rising middle class, and strategic importance as a destination for exporting nations.

📌 Bottom Line

Brazil’s participation in Food & Hospitality Indonesia 2026 demonstrates that Indonesia-Brazil relations are beginning to evolve beyond mere traditional commodity trade. Against the backdrop of Indonesia’s growing food needs and Brazil’s efforts to expand its export markets in Southeast Asia, the two countries have complementary interests.

For Indonesia, this cooperation opens up opportunities to secure a more diverse and stable food supply. For Brazil, Indonesia serves as a gateway to the ever-expanding ASEAN market. If this relationship is sustained through investment, technology transfer, and trade diversification, the Indonesia–Brazil partnership has the potential to develop into one of the increasingly strategic cross-regional economic partnerships in the coming years.

🔍 Need More Angle?

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(DEV/DHM/FRD/ELS)

🎯 Main Takeaway

Benzoin, or more popularly known as Kemenyan in Indonesia, is a balsamic resin obtained from the tree bark of the genus Styrax, which is part of the Styracaceae tree family. Three types grow endemic to the Toba Highlands in North Sumatra: Toba frankincense (Styrax sumatrana), bulu (Styrax paralleloneurus), and durame (Styrax benzoin) . In Southeast Asia, there are predominantly two types of benzoin resin: Sumatra benzoin, which is dominantly produced by Indonesia in the region of Sumatra, and Siam benzoin, which is produced more dominantly by Laos and, to a lesser extent, by Vietnam and Thailand.

Locally, kemenyan is seen as something mystical to the average Indonesian. This is due to decades of Indonesian pop culture associating the resin with dark magic—for instance, shamanism—making the scent invoke a sense of uneasiness and worry when in the air.

However, internationally, benzoin resin is seen as a crucial commodity as an ingredient for making high-quality perfume. This is because of the properties the resin possesses that allow scents such as floral, wood, and fresh—which are typical in perfumes—to last longer on human skin. It is known in the perfume industry as an effective natural fixative, making the perfume’s scent last longer and smoothing the transitions between layers of scent.

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🕰️ The History of Benzoin Resin Trading and Farming from Southeast Asia

Before Indonesia even became a state, the farming and trading of Benzoin Resin or more specifically Sumatran Benzoin has already occurred becoming one of the main sources of income for the local Batak farmers in the area. Trading of Benzoin Resin can be traced back to the 8th - 9th century, when Middle Eastern traders who called it ‘frankincense of Sumatra’ first discovered the commodity. By the 12th century, trading spread to China and India.

The earliest known plantation of benzoin resin in Sumatra was in 1772, when British travelers observed its cultivation. However, plantations could already be established before 1772, as the Batak farmers fiercely defended their homeland, making no foreign traveler able to reach the highlands of Sumatra. It was named as a high-value commodity during Indonesia’s colonial period under the Dutch and, finally in the 21st century, interest in the commodity has renewed with the current Indonesian government.

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📡 Why It’s on Our Radar

In 2024 alone, Indonesia’s exports of Sumatra Benzoin reached 43.000 tons, which was worth over 52 million USD. This figure can be seen at the potential Benzoin Resin has commercially, as currently Indonesia’s Sumatra Benzoin farming is considered to be underdeveloped, which can be seen from Indonesia’s government efforts to downstream its production as stated by current Vice President Gibran Rakabuming and Chair of the Nation Economic Council Luhut Pandjaitan in 2025.

The core idea regarding down-streaming Benzoin Resin as proposed by Gibran and Luhut centers on creating an industry that refines the commodity within Indonesia. Currently, Indonesia exports Sumatran Benzoin in its raw form, which is sold at a much lower price compared to if it’s already processed, making high brands such as LV, Gucci, and others able to purchase the commodity at a lower price.

The prospect of Indonesia being able to improve its production of Benzoin Resin would greatly increase its capacity to export the commodity. The global market for the commodity is not only limited to perfumery but also skincare, aromatherapy, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and more. This makes benzoin resin production a potential economic pillar for Indonesia.

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🏝️The Regional Stakes

Commercially, Indonesia holds the most in production and export of Benzoin Resin this is because Sumatra Benzoin, which is derived more specifically from Styrax Benzoin tree’s yields more in volume compared to Siam Benzoin which is derived from Styrax tonkinensis trees despite both types having the same harvesting methods.

This makes it so Sumatra Benzoin more commercialized due to the quantity and being capable of being sold on a lower price. However, this does make Siam Benzoin completely inferior to its counterpart, despite its low yield the purity of Siam Benzoin makes up for it which is higher than Sumatra Benzoin thus it is more commonly found in high end products.

🏠 Why This Hits Home

Commodities such as Sumatran benzoin are mainly produced by local farmers in the region of Sumatra. The downstream processing of frankincense has increasingly become a topic of discussion among regents, ministers, governors, and even Vice President Gibran Rakabuming in recent months, who have stated that “benzoin resin is as valuable as nickel.” As such, the further development of this commodity into becoming one of Indonesia’s specialties in the global market would raise the earnings of these farmers, becoming a stable source of income that would empower not just Indonesia’s rural economic sector but the nation as a whole.

However, the biggest challenge lies in the modernisation and capacity of farmers. Many farmers are elderly and lack interest in rejuvenating incense gardens. As a result, production has declined and there is a shortage of raw materials, even though the potential is enormous.

🏁 Bottom Line

From mass-produced goods to high-end products in the wellness industry, there is a commodity that is dominated heavily by Southeast Asia. Therefore, the development and sustained production of benzoin resin in the region should not be overlooked or be stagnated.

The government’s current downstreaming push is a crucial momentum to shake the global market balance and ensure that the added value long enjoyed abroad now enters Indonesia.

(FRD/ELS)

🎯 Main Takeaway

Formula 1 has officially announced the Formula 1 Exhibition at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, which will run from 23 July to 18 October 2026, marking the debut of the first official Formula 1 exhibition in Asia.

The exhibition will showcase world champion cars, racing simulators, historical artifacts, interactive technology, and the story of Formula 1’s evolution over 76 years.

More than just an exhibition, Singapore's selection as host reflects Southeast Asia’s growing strategic importance on Formula 1’s radar.

With Malaysia set to host an F1 race at Sepang again in October 2026, Thailand planning to host a Grand Prix, and a growing fan base across the region, Formula 1 is positioning Southeast Asia not only as a racing venue but also as a key market for strengthening fan engagement, sports tourism, and long-term business opportunities.

📍 Why Singapore?

• 🏎️ An Icon of Formula 1 in Asia

As the host of the first night street race since 2008, the Marina Bay Street Circuit has become one of the most iconic events on the Formula 1 calendar. Singapore has transformed the race into an entertainment experience that combines sport, music concerts, tourism, and lifestyle.

• 🌆 Infrastructure delivering a world-class experience

Formula 1 describes Singapore as “a global city renowned for its innovation, architecture and world-class visitor experiences, situated at the intersection of sport, culture and technology”. These characteristics mean that the exhibition concept goes beyond simply showcasing racing cars to include interactive experiences centered on Formula 1’s technology, history, and culture.

• 🌏 A gateway for Formula 1’s expansion in Asia

Having been successfully held in major cities such as Madrid, London, Toronto, Amsterdam, Melbourne, and Buenos Aires, attracting a total of over 1.3 million visitors, Singapore became the first city in Asia to expand Formula 1’s reach into the Asian market.

The exhibition will also overlap with the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix, which will take place from 9–11 October, just days before the exhibition closes on 18 October. This creates a unique opportunity for visitors to experience Formula 1 beyond the exhibition itself, combining an immersive fan experience with a live Grand Prix weekend.

Together, the exhibition and Grand Prix reinforce Singapore’s position as a regional hub for Formula 1, sports tourism, and fan engagement. The choice of Singapore underscores that Formula 1 is no longer simply expanding its racing calendar but is building deeper connections with fans through exhibitions and more immersive interactive experiences.

🏁 Southeast Asia’s Expanding F1 Ecosystem

🇸🇬 Singapore: The Region's F1 Anchor

Singapore has become the center of Formula 1 in Southeast Asia. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in 2022, the Singapore Grand Prix has been the only Southeast Asian country to feature on the F1 calendar since 2008, and has attracted more than 550,000 international tourists and generated approximately S$2 billion in additional tourism revenue per year since it was first held.

The Singapore Grand Prix also attracts more than 30 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) events held in conjunction with the race.

🇲🇾 Malaysia: Sepang’s F1 Comeback

Having hosted the Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix since 1999, Formula 1 officially left the Sepang International Circuit in 2017 due to high hosting costs and declining ticket sales. However, the history of the Sepang Circuit is entering a new chapter.

Sepang has been confirmed as the venue for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on 2–4 October 2026, as confirmed by Formula 1 and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

This marks Formula 1’s return to the circuit for the first time since 2017. The race will take place between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix, bringing the championship back to one of Asia’s most iconic circuits.

The return of Formula 1 highlights the strategic value of the racing infrastructure already in place in Southeast Asia. Sepang remains one of Asia’s leading FIA Grade 1 circuits and continues to host a range of major international events, including MotoGP, the FIA World Endurance Championship and other motorsport competitions.

Rather than building a new venue from scratch, Malaysia now has an established circuit that is ready to serve as a platform for the return of Formula 1 to the region, making Sepang a strategic asset in the development of Southeast Asia’s motorsport ecosystem.

🇹🇭 Thailand: Proposed 2028 Grand Prix

Thailand is a strong contender to expand Formula 1’s presence in Southeast Asia. The Thai government has set its sights on hosting the Bangkok Street Race in 2028 and, last year, approved a US$1.2 billion proposal to stage races until 2032.

The project is seen as a strategy to boost tourism, investment, and Thailand’s reputation as an international events hub.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: An Unfinished F1 Chapter

In 2020, Vietnam was set to become a new Formula 1 market with the Hanoi Grand Prix, scheduled to debut that year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic political dynamics, the race was canceled before it could take place.

Currently, the circuit’s temporary infrastructure has been dismantled, leaving the pit buildings and track derelict and unused.

Vietnam has demonstrated that successfully hosting Formula 1 depends not only on the construction of a circuit, but also on policy stability, funding, and long-term support.

📈 More Than a Race: The Business Behind Formula 1's Expansion

Formula 1 does not rely solely on race ticket sales. Under Liberty Media’s ownership, Formula 1 has evolved into a business ecosystem that generates revenue from promoter fees, media rights, sponsorship, hospitality, licensing, and fan experiences.

In 2025 alone, Formula 1’s revenue reached US$3.9 billion, with the largest sources being broadcasting rights, Grand Prix hosting fees, and global sponsorship.

• ✈️ Sport Tourism: Driving Visitor Spending

For host nations, Formula 1 serves as a means of attracting high-spending tourists.

The Singapore Grand Prix has consistently generated up to S$130 million in additional tourism spending each year, attracting more than 550,000 international tourists since its first edition in 2008.

Furthermore, this prestigious event acts as a catalyst for the hospitality, restaurant, retail, and transport sectors.

• 🤝 Sponsorship and Nation Branding

Formula 1 also serves as a marketing platform for a range of global companies, from automotive manufacturers and technology firms to high-end brands. For the host of the Grand Prix, this event is not merely about sport and racing, but also about nation branding.

Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry stated that the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix generated global media exposure worth approximately S$70–S$75 million, whilst reinforcing the country’s image as an international business and tourism destination.

• 📱 Fan Economy: Building Engagement Beyond Race Week

Formula 1 no longer relies solely on fans watching at the circuits, but is striving to build year-round engagement through exhibitions, social media, digital content, esports, and merchandise licensing.

Southeast Asia itself is an attractive market due to its young, digitally active population; consequently, the Netflix series “Drive to Survive” has also boosted Formula 1’s popularity beyond its traditional fanbase.

The presence of the Formula 1 Exhibition in Singapore demonstrates that Formula 1 aims not only to attract fans during Grand Prix weekends but also to foster year-round interaction with the regional community.

👀 Bottom Line

The Formula 1 Exhibition in Singapore is not merely an exhibition of racing cars or a Formula 1 collection; rather, it signifies how Formula 1 is beginning to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia through a broader approach that focuses on building engagement with its fan base, rather than simply hosting Grand Prix events.

With Singapore as the regional hub, Thailand aiming to become the next Grand Prix host, Malaysia’s motorsport infrastructure, and the market potential of other Southeast Asian nations, this region is increasingly positioned as one of Formula 1’s strategic growth markets.

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(DHM/QOB)

🎯 Main Takeaway

The post-pandemic recovery of tourism in Southeast Asia has exceeded expectations, but the return of tourists has also brought new challenges, such as overtourism.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asia was the region that experienced the sharpest decline in tourism worldwide, yet it has managed to make an extraordinary recovery. As borders reopened and flight operations returned to normal, the flow of international tourists recovered rapidly and began to increase significantly again.

According to ASEAN data, tourism contributed approximately 12.1% of Southeast Asia’s GDP and supported up to about 42 million jobs before the pandemic. This highlights the importance of the tourism sector to the regional economy.

However, although the tourism sector has recovered quickly and has driven growth and job creation, several popular destinations in Southeast Asia are beginning to face negative impacts from this growth. From Bali and Phuket to Boracay and Ha Long Bay, there are concerns about visitor overcrowding, environmental degradation, and the burden that tourism places on local communities.

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📡 Why It’s in Our Radar

This rapid recovery in tourism has brought with it certain pressures.

• ✈️ Tourism in Southeast Asia is growing at a very fast and rapid pace, with international tourist arrivals increasing by more than 150% year-over-year in 2023.

• 🏝️ Popular destinations such as Bali, Phuket, Boracay, and Ha Long Bay have experienced a sharp surge in visitors, even exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

• 🚗 In Bali, concerns have arisen regarding waste management, traffic congestion, and pressure on water resources.

• 🌊 Boracay is one of the destinations frequently cited as suffering from overtourism following environmental degradation. This ultimately led authorities to temporarily close access to the island for rehabilitation.

• 🏘️ Overtourism is increasingly viewed as a social issue, not merely an environmental one. This is because local residents are also feeling the impact, such as rising rent prices, overcrowded public spaces, and growing tensions with visitors.

In short, the rapid recovery of tourism in Southeast Asia has created new challenges in ensuring that destinations remain livable for local residents while still accommodating the ever-increasing number of visitors.

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❓ Why Now

• ✈️ Travel demand has surged following the pandemic: Post-pandemic pent-up demand for travel has driven millions of travelers back to international tourism. As a result, many tourist destinations have recovered faster than expected, with visitor numbers approaching pre-pandemic levels.

• 💸 Travel is becoming more affordable: The expansion of low-cost airlines has made regional travel cheaper and easier, allowing more travelers to visit popular destinations several times a year.

• 📱 Social media is changing travel behavior: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram can turn hidden gems into viral tourist attractions overnight. As a result, visitors are flocking in greater numbers to the same beaches, Instagrammable spots, cafes, and cultural sites, placing concentrated pressure on local infrastructure.

• 💻 Digital nomads are becoming a major trend: Places like Bali and Chiang Mai are attracting long-term expats in addition to short-term tourists, contributing to rising rental prices and increased demand for public services and utilities.

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⚠️ What at Stake

The impact of overtourism goes beyond simply overcrowded tourist destinations.

🌱 Environmental

• Increased waste production and pollution.

• Increased demand for water and other natural resources.

• Damage to coral reefs, beaches, and marine ecosystems.

• Maya Bay in 🇹🇭 Thailand and Boracay in the 🇵🇭 Philippines both required massive interventions following environmental degradation linked to mass tourism.

🏘️ Social

• Rising housing and rental costs in popular tourist areas.

• Overcrowded public spaces and infrastructure.

• Pressure on local culture and cultural heritage sites.

• Increased tensions between locals and visitors regarding behavior, resource use, and quality of life.

• In Bali, for example, concerns over inappropriate tourist behavior have prompted authorities to enforce stricter guidelines and regulations to protect local culture and maintain public order.

💰 Economic

• Visitor experiences may decline as tourist destinations become more crowded.

• Negative news can damage a tourist destination’s reputation.

• Governments may have to allocate larger budgets for infrastructure, transportation, and waste management.

• Tourist destinations risk losing their competitiveness if environmental and social issues diminish their appeal.

In the long term, destinations associated with traffic congestion, pollution, or environmental degradation will ultimately lose their competitive edge compared to alternative locations that offer better experiences and stronger sustainability credentials. Tourism growth can be counterproductive if not managed properly.

🌎 Regional Stake

Tourism will remain one of the most important pillars of the economy in Southeast Asia, making the phenomenon of overtourism a regional issue, not merely a local one.

ASEAN itself is striving to strengthen its position as a global tourism hub, but it faces a difficult dilemma. The tourism sector has become a source of jobs and foreign exchange, and it supports local businesses. However, on the one hand, an uncontrolled surge in the number of tourists can place a strain on ecosystems, infrastructure, and even local communities.

Therefore, in its regional tourism strategy, ASEAN places greater emphasis on 🌱 sustainable tourism development, 🗺️ destination management, ♻️ environmental protection, and 👥 community participation. Policymakers must also find ways to distribute tourists more evenly across various destinations, rather than concentrating tourism activities solely in a handful of famous tourist spots.

The primary goal today is not only to attract more tourists but also to ensure that tourism growth continues to provide economic benefits while minimizing negative impacts on the environment and local communities.

🏠 Why this Hits Home

Overtourism is an important issue to highlight because Southeast Asia is closely tied to the tourism sector. In particular, this region has experienced firsthand what happens when tourism exceeds local carrying capacity.

• 🇵🇭 Boracay, in the Philippines, was temporarily closed for six months in 2018 for environmental rehabilitation after years of uncontrolled tourism.

• 🇹🇭 Maya Bay in Thailand also closed the island for four years, from 2018 to 2022, for large-scale environmental rehabilitation. Currently, Maya Bay restricts excessive access after environmental damage threatened its marine ecosystem.

• 🇮🇩 Bali continues to face issues related to waste management, traffic congestion, and pressure on natural resources.

On the other hand, the government is actively promoting new tourism destinations to spread economic benefits beyond established tourism hubs.

Destinations such as Labuan Bajo, Raja Ampat, Luang Prabang, and lesser-known islands throughout the region may eventually face similar pressures if visitor growth is not balanced by adequate infrastructure, planning, and environmental protection.

📌 Bottom Line

The recovery of tourism in Southeast Asia has been a remarkable story, helping to revitalize economies and create jobs across the region.

However, the return of tourists has also highlighted the limitations of a tourism model that prioritizes growth. Overtourism is emerging as one of the most significant challenges, raising concerns about environmental sustainability, community well-being, and long-term competitiveness.

The challenge ahead is not to attract more tourists, but to manage tourism more effectively. Without stronger planning, infrastructure investment, and sustainability measures, the destinations that fueled Southeast Asia’s tourism boom may ultimately be threatened by their own popularity.

For Southeast Asia, the future of tourism will not depend on how many visitors arrive, but rather on whether these destinations remain livable for residents and attractive to tourists in the years to come.

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(DHM/ELS)