In Thailand’s recent 2026 election, Prime Minister Anutin Chanrvirakul’s Bhumjaithai party won a surprising victory, while the progressive People’s Party faced a setback. Before the election, polls predicted the reformist party would do very well, especially in cities, but the results showed the opposite. Bhumjaithai won most of the local constituency seats because it has [...]
Civic space in Brunei is rated as “repressed” by the CIVICUS Monitor, with no clear progress on basic freedoms. Brunei is an absolute monarchy where the Sultan holds full executive power under a long-standing state of emergency declared in 1962. There are no national elections and no legal protection for freedom of speech, assembly, or [...]
North Korea is one of the most oppressive states in the world, and it continued its repression in 2025. The state had strict regulations about various aspects of the lives of citizens. The censuring, surveillance, and control of markets had become stricter. The citizens lacked food and had to bear the high cost of even the [...]
Southern Thailand, badly hit by the worst floods in 300 years that killed at least 145 people and damaged towns like Hat Yai, has now become a major focus in Thailand’s politics ahead of the 2026 general election. The slow recovery and public anger over how the government handled the disaster are shaping voter views [...]
Brunei is a small but wealthy country where strict religious law strongly shapes daily life. It is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has full power over the government and the law. Brunei follows a national system based on Malay culture, Islam, and loyalty to the monarchy. Over the years, the Sultan has introduced stricter [...]
Recent events in northeast Syria show deep divisions between Arab and Kurdish communities. When the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced their withdrawal from Arab-majority cities like Raqqa and Deir Az Zor, many residents celebrated the return of Syrian government control. Some Arabs said they felt relieved after years of fear, repression, and forced conscription [...]
A Tokyo court has ordered North Korea to pay compensation to people who were deceived into moving there decades ago. The case involves four former residents who said they were lured by a propaganda campaign that described North Korea as a “paradise on Earth.” Instead, they faced harsh living conditions, forced labor, strict controls, and [...]
Yemen is facing a severe hunger crisis, with more than half of its population, around 18 million people, at risk of going hungry in early 2026. Years of war, internal conflict, and displacement have destroyed livelihoods and limited access to food, health care, and basic services. Economic collapse, unpaid salaries, inflation, and cuts in humanitarian [...]
Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party held its national congress to decide the country’s leadership and direction for the next five years. Nearly 1,600 delegates gathered for the carefully planned event, where key decisions are usually made in advance. At the congress, To Lam was selected to continue as party general secretary, the most powerful position in [...]
In Brunei, schools are taking strong steps to fight bullying and protect students. Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB) School has launched a year-long program called Hidup Tanpa Buli, which translates to 'Life Without Bullying'. The program focuses on all kinds of bullying, including physical, verbal, social, and online bullying. It aims to help students [...]