The Leaderboard: John Momis

Who is he? John Momis is the president of the autonomous region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. A former Catholic priest, he became active in politics in the 1970s, and helped write PNG’s constitution. Momis has been deputy prime…

CogitAsia Podcast: Myanmar’s Malaria Challenge

This week we cover the challenges that Myanmar faces maintaining public health and fighting disease, specifically malaria. In this segment you’ll hear briefly from CSIS’s Dr. Stephen Morrison, and then Myanmar’s Deputy Minister of Health, Ms. Thein Thein Htay, then…

The Leaderboard: Mohamad Sabu

Who is he? Mohamad Sabu, also known as Mat Sabu, is a well-known Malaysian opposition politician. He was formerly the deputy president of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Mat Sabu was the first non-ulama, or religious scholar, elected to…

Southeast Asia’s Real Security Concern

By Zachary Abuza A drought in the middle of monsoon season brought on by the El Niño effect has affected farmers across Southeast Asia, hampering economic growth and exacerbating political tensions between urban elites and farmers. Though rains have recently…

Analyzing the Korea-Central America FTA Prospects

By Gene Choi South Korea and six Central American countries under the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) officially announced on June 19, 2015 that they will begin negotiations for the Korea-Central America Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Although the…

By the Numbers: North Korea’s Local Elections

North Korea held local elections on July 19, for the first time since Kim Jong-un took power in December 2011. The elections for people’s assemblies were held in provincial (municipal), city (district), and county level, with the number of seats…

The Leaderboard: Oh Joon

Who is he? Oh Joon will be elected as president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Friday, July 24, 2015 for a one-year term. Concurrently, he is the Republic of Korea (ROK)’s ambassador and permanent representative…