Myanmar’s Panglong conference a shaky start to peace

Today marked the beginning of the five-day 21st Century Panglong Conference between Myanmar armed ethnic rebels and the government. But reports of violence in border regions have left some sceptical of the government’s ability to produce a lasting peace
By Logan Connor • Aug 31, 2016

Exiled democracy activist: "Lao people have no free ideas when it comes to politics"

The Alliance for Democracy in Laos is a worldwide network of activists and non-governmental organisations dedicated to bringing democracy to the one-party communist state. Its president, Bounthone Chanthalavong-Wiese, spoke to Southeast Asia Globe about her ongoing campaign for change
By Paul Millar • Aug 31, 2016

Human Trafficking

Need for ASEAN cooperation highlighted in Malaysia human trafficking case

As Thailand agrees to extradite ten people to Malaysia allegedly involved in trafficking Rohingya migrant workers found in mass graves, there are calls for ASEAN nations to work more closely together to prevent human trafficking.
By Euan Black and Logan Connor • Aug 30, 2016

Gaggan Anand: “The guest is not always right”

He spent his youth battling poverty and dreaming of rock stardom. But after a career volte-face, Gaggan Anand has become a highly successful chef, with his restaurant recently named the best in Asia for the second consecutive year. The only trouble is, he’s already tiring of his celebrity chef status
By Dene Mullen • Aug 30, 2016

Philippine prison breakout points to “lawlessness” of country’s south

Islamic extremists freed 23 inmates from a prison on the southern island of Mindanao this weekend. According to analysts, the country’s south has a history of corruption in its jails that could encourage extremists to become even more violent and aggressive
By Logan Connor • Aug 29, 2016

Malaysian activists use humour to call out intolerance

Comedy has become a vehicle to denounce public figures and institutions that promote sexism, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia in Malaysia
By Julian CH Lee • Aug 26, 2016

Singapore politics

The greatest story never told

With The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, artist Sonny Liew created a sprawling graphic novel that shot to the top of the New York Times bestseller list and was heralded as “probably the greatest work of art ever produced in Singapore”. Many reviewers feel that Liew has created his magnum opus, but the 41-year-old says he’s just getting started
By Pooja Makhijani • Aug 26, 2016

Malaysia

The“badass” cabinet minister and Men’s Health cover model

Khairy Jamaluddin is something of a one-off in Malaysian politics. The minister for youth and sports might just be the ruling coalition’s intermediary to the younger generation, and here he discusses identity politics, the nation’s embattled prime minister and whether he might one day seek the top job
By Holly Robertson • Aug 25, 2016