š Patience, pride, and public rituals: Southeast Asiaās week in motion (Week 1 February, 2026)
From ASEANās diplomatic strain to Lunar New Year streets, the region balanced frustration, tradition, and forward planning.
Your curated wrap-up from The Southeast Asia Desk.
š ASEAN members grow impatient over Myanmar stalemate
Frustration is mounting within ASEAN as members question the blocās slow progress on Myanmar. Several diplomats are now openly debating whether the Five-Point Consensus still carries political weight ā a test of ASEANās credibility and unity. Han Kyeol Kim from The Southeast Asia Analyst delivers his thoughts on this.
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š®š© Indonesia Economic Summit 2026: Can growth be recalibrated?
As Indonesia prepares for its 2026 Economic Summit, policymakers and business leaders are reassessing growth priorities amid global uncertainty. The focus is shifting toward resilience, productivity, and long-term competitiveness rather than headline expansion.
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š Rethinking disaster management in Southeast Asia
Recent floods and earthquakes have reignited debate over disaster preparedness across the region. Experts argue that Southeast Asia must move from reactive relief to anticipatory governance ā integrating climate risk into planning and budgeting.
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š MGIMO and the quiet architecture of IndonesiaāRussia diplomacy
Russiaās MGIMO University is emerging as a subtle but influential node in Asiaās diplomatic education network, attracting students from Southeast Asia and shaping elite foreign policy thinking behind the scenes.
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š
Thailand triumphs as host and champion
Thailand reclaimed the overall title at the ASEAN Para Games, combining athletic success with effective hosting. The event underscored how sports diplomacy continues to reinforce regional solidarity and inclusion.
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š§§ Lunar New Year as Southeast Asiaās shared language
Across borders and cultures, Lunar New Year continues to serve as a unifying ritual in Southeast Asia ā blending faith, family, and public space in ways that transcend national lines.
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šøš¬ Singaporeās Chinatown CNY 2026: How tradition evolves
From sustainability-themed lanterns to crowd-control innovations, Singaporeās Chinatown celebrations show how heritage adapts to urban density and modern governance without losing its soul.
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š§ The Desk Podcast: Harmony of Balinese gamelan
This weekās episode explores Balinese gamelan not just as music, but as a social system ā one that teaches balance, collective discipline, and cultural continuity in a rapidly modernizing region.
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ā Weekend thoughts: Rituals that hold
From diplomatic patience wearing thin to festivals lighting up city streets, Southeast Asia this week reminded us that while politics strains, culture endures ā quietly holding communities together when institutions falter.
āØ Stories to linger over, one week at a time.
(QOB/ELS)