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Battle Against Climate Change: Time Is Running Out As Deadly Climate Threats Rise

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For centuries, humanbeings have exploited the planet for the sake of  development, and we have to accept that our planet is now taking its revenge against us. Of course, our next generation will face a terrifying future and not able to be safe anymore.  A new study , led by former MIT research scientist Eun-Soon Im , revealed last August that South Asia, which is one of the poverty-hit regions and a home to 1.5  billion  people, will become the hottest place on earth to live by 2100. And people will be endangered. It also forecasts that a mass migration will emerge and bloody conflicts, of course, are inevitable. The countries like India and China are known as the biggest carbon emitters or the biggest air polluters, and are deemed to be contributing to this humanitarian  catastrophe .  Asides from extreme weather, India is now facing another security thereat, which is running out of ground water, and this will heavily affect 600 million Indians by 2020 .  Akin
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Addressing Poverty and Embracing Rule of Law Are Key for ASEAN to Counter Terrorism

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(Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN)  While addressing the World Economic Forum in Cambodia in May, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte as the ASEAN chair said that ASEAN countries needed to work together to ensure a drug-free and a terror-free region. It seems that the Philippines keeps human security as the key priority for this regional grouping as it turns 50 this year. The recent clashes between Philippine government forces and Islamic State-inspired militant group “Maute” in Marawi City, followed by Jakarta’s suicide bombing that killed five people, drew more attention that indicates the region is in urgent need for a more effective joint mechanisms to cope with new security challenges especially the rise of terrorism and extremism, that currently posed a major threat to ASEAN community and its unity. Among the militants that were killed in Marawi city were Malaysian and Indonesian citizens, an indication that extremists operations was actually engaged and coordinated betwee
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Why Trump’s abandonment of Afghanistan is a mistake

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During US presidential debates last year, Afghanistan was only mentioned once by the  nominees, and it seems the new administration has no clear policy and strategy to address the decade-long conflict still raging there.  There is major concern by Afghans that the administration of President Donald Trump will completely withdraw from Afghanistan and end its unconditional support for the Kabul government. His “America First” rhetoric generally creates more doubts about US retreat from major conflicts worldwide.  In a recent open letter, written by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, he urged Mr. Trump to leave Afghanistan. The letter, according to Al Jazeera , accuses the US of having achieved nothing in 15 years of war in Afghanistan, warning that peace can only be achieved when all  foreign forces have  completely pulled out. Mujahid stated that "the responsibility to bring to an end this war also rests on your [Trump's] shoulders.” Twelve years after for
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Report: Cambodia Rejected DPRK Foreign Minister's Official Visit Proposal

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Southeast Asian nations Cambodia and Laos decided to decline official visits proposed by DPRK diplomatic Chief in July—a move that indicates North Korea’s regional allies tried to distance themselves from the regime due to its provocative actions including missile and nuclear tests.  North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho initially intended to make an official visit to Cambodia and Laos during his trip to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held in Laos in July, but his proposal was rejected by both countries, which have close ties with the DPRK.  The Forbes magazine quoted a document, which was written by an unidentified former North Korean official, as saying that Ri's "attempted ... official" visits to Laos and Cambodia in July 2016 were “rejected.  Cambodia and Laos have been known as traditional allies of North Korea, but the regime’s recent provocative actions have pushed these countries to forge closer cooperation with South Korea. In June, South Korea
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Trump’s Policy Puts Peace Process Between Israel-Palestine at Risk

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Egypt abruptly requested the United Nation Security Council for the delay of vote on resolution regarding Israeli settlement on Thursday apparently after President-elect Donald Trump had urged Obama administration to block the resolution.  UNSC originally was due to vote on Egyptian-drafted resolution which demands Israel to immediately and completely halt its illegal resettlement program in Palestinian territory and east Jerusalem. It was not clear how long the postponement would last, but it is reported by Reuters that Donald Trump held phone talk with Egypt’s strongman Abdel Fattah el-Sisi before delaying the UNSC vote.   “U nfair to all Israelis” Recently, Israeli government also called upon the US administration to vote against the resolution. In response, President-elect Donald Trump, who also promised to recognize Israel's illegal annexation of east Jerusalem, Obama administration to veto the resolution, adding that "it puts Israel in a very poor negotiating
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The fall of Saddam and the rise of Daesh

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The longest ruling leader of Iraq Saddam Hussein was captured today in 2003 after spending more than 9 months hiding himself from the targeting of the US. Saddam came to power and served as the Iraqi president from 1979 to 2003. In Mach 2003, after accusing Iraqi government of secretly producing weapon of mass destruction and committing crimes against humanity, the US administration, under the presidency of George W. Bush, decided to invade Iraq. In 2005, Saddam was found gu ilty of crimes against humanity and then was sentenced to death by hanging. However, the weapon of mass destruction was never found in Iraq as accusation of the US. The American invasion of Iraq has sparked controversy over the existence of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant or Daesh. There have been anti western rhetorics saying that the US-led military intervention in Iraq helped create Daesh. --- -Shia-Sunni split and the rise of ISIL There are two groups in Iraq such as Sunni minority and Shia majo
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Assad: The Man Who Saves Syria?

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" During the war, you have to reduce the ship to the shore. You don't run away because there is a war unless Syrian people want you to leave. If I am the reason of the war, I will leave," Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants to be remembered as the man who saved Syria if his war-torn nation could strive to put an end to the bloodiest civil war. Iranian intelligence official was quoted as saying by Russian stated owned media Sputnik that President Assad has refused safe heaven provided by Tehran, where he could safely hide and command his army at home. But he stubbornly decided to stay in Damascus. In late February, US and Russia brokered a cessation of hostilities aimed to hinder fighting in Syria, paving the way for peace talks, but Assad's fate has still remained controversial since the West demands Assad to step down while Putin reiterates that Assad's future and Syrian internal affairs must be decided by Syrians
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