ASIA BLOG: If the Thailand-Cambodia conflict escalates, Vietnam won’t stand idle – nor will the US and China

The current flare-up between Thailand and Cambodia feels different from previous disputes. What initially appeared to be a limited skirmish over disputed borderland and nationalist rhetoric now carries the faint, unmistakable whiff of escalation.

ICJ declares healthy environment is a human right in landmark climate ruling

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a historic advisory opinion recognising a clean and sustainable environment as a human right, declaring that states which fail to curb emissions may be in violation of international law.

Earth overshoot day is already long past – Statista

July 24 marks this year's Earth Overshoot Day, the day that humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds the resources Earth can regenerate within that year, Statista reports. That day has already long passed.

5G, AI convergence holds key to transformative growth in ASEAN

A new report from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy has called on ASEAN governments to seize a narrowing window of opportunity to drive transformative economic growth through the convergence of 5G and artificial intelligence.

World has less than three years to avert worst climate impacts, scientists warn

A new global climate report warns that the world is on the brink of irreversible damage. The findings come amid sluggish international action ahead of COP30.

Fitch upgrades Trump’s effective tariff rate to 19.4%

President Donald Trump’s evolving trade policy is set to sharply increase the United States’ effective tariff rate (ETR), with Fitch Ratings warning of substantial rises as new duties take effect on August 1.

Geopolitics is weighing on FDI, capital chasing certainty over scale – study

The world is living through turbulent times, but investors are still chasing returns which has affected the flows of international foreign direct investment.

ASEAN in 2025: still relevant, but only just

Founded on August 8 1967, in Bangkok, ASEAN has long prided itself on unity in diversity, guided by the principles of non-interference and consensus-based decision-making.

Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession: A milestone moment despite deepening dilemmas

Timor-Leste’s road to ASEAN has been a protracted one. After over a decade of evaluations and delays, including a pandemic, ASEAN granted “in-principle” approval in 2022. The final decision was confirmed during the 46th ASEAN Summiit.

ASIA BLOG: The global fallout of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan

There have already been rumblings in Taiwan that self destruction of key infrastructure would be preferential to Chinese takeover.

Biofuel development in Southeast Asia: a region turning greener by the day

IMF: The debate over falling fertility

A decline in global population later this century may threaten human progress, or it may lead to better lives.

Tipping Point: when populations peak – Statista

As July 11 marks World Population Day, celebrating the approximate date that the world's population reached 5bn in 1987, we're taking a closer at one of the population trends that will affect many countries sooner or later in the 21st Century.