The European Union remains the world’s most successful regional organisation, for now, even when Europe is experiencing possibly its worst twin crises.

SOUTH-EAST Asia still holds the promise of peace, stability and prosperity, but this familiar condition now requires an unfamiliar caution.

The litmus test of how governments and populations treat refugees and how Myanmar treats minority groups, is the pathetic plight of the Rohingya.

Where conspiracy practice has already become widespread, typically for selfish and cynical purposes, conspiracy theories themselves are no longer necessary.

Despite problems among some countries in the region, Asean can be a catalyst for positive change when its citizens develop a shared sense of purpose.

To appreciate how issues today had developed from the past is also to understand how they are likely to develop in the future.

Asia’s need for better infrastructure and more development is too important to be held to ransom by outdated big power politics and petty posturing.

Countries supposedly fighting Da’ish (Islamic State) militants can begin to succeed only if they can acknowledge their weaknesses and errors, which still seems unlikely.

There is no new Cold War, at least not yet, unless the West is determined to pursue it over all other needs.

EVEN before Said and Cherif Kouachi had claimed allegiance to “al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula” (AQAP) earlier this month in Paris, the network of transnational terrorism had been hazy enough.

There are usually more than two sides to an argument, despite the temptation to think there are just two bitterly opposed and incompatible ones.

Major countries make major strategic errors, often to the advantage of other major powers, smaller nations in between or all of the above.