Global growth is holding up better than expected, supported by front-loaded trade, strong AI-related investment, and generally easier financial conditions, yet momentum is set to soften as higher tariffs, persistent policy uncertainty, and easing labour markets gradually weigh on demand.

Thai–Cambodian border relations remain shaped by rigid, state-centric assumptions that frame borders as fixed, elite-controlled spaces—an approach that fuels recurring tensions, including the Preah Vihear dispute and the 2025 clashes.

Indonesia stands at a pivotal moment in the global AI race, where its tech-savvy population and rapidly rising adoption rates position the country to unlock major economic gains—potentially boosting GDP per capita growth by 14% and generating trillions of rupiah in efficiency savings.

ASEAN in 2025 is navigating a convergence of geopolitical rivalry, shifting trade dynamics, and accelerating energy transition, while integrating new members and responding to internal crises.

ASEAN stands at a pivotal moment as global interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) accelerates, with most central banks worldwide now conducting experiments or pilots.

Developing Asia’s path to high-income status will hinge on sustained productivity growth and large-scale private investment, which are expected to raise domestic real interest rates and drive capital flows funded mainly by domestic savings but still dependent on global markets.

AI’s growing role in strategic foresight is reshaping how experts anticipate and prepare for multiple plausible futures, as shown by insights from 167 practitioners across 55 countries who increasingly rely on AI to accelerate trend analysis, scenario development and the identification of emerging issues.

Thailand and China are poised to open a new chapter in their long-standing friendship as King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida embark on a historic state visit to China—the first by a Thai monarch since diplomatic ties were established in 1975.

Indonesia’s move to recognise the United States as an adequate jurisdiction for personal data protection—made through a new trade deal and implemented before its own Personal Data Protection Authority and adequacy criteria are in place—raises concerns over legal legitimacy, regulatory preparedness, and data security.