Islamic State on Trial in Indonesia

Published on Dec 23, 2015 by Luke Hunt

Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to mitigate any fallout from home-grown recruits returning from the battlefields in the Middle East, where hundreds have fought with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Will Thailand's Military Be Held Accountable for Economic Woes?

Published on Dec 22, 2015 by Luke Hunt

Since they took power in a coup last May, Thai generals have been quick to use their country’s courts to hold ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra responsible for losses incurred through her government’s disastrous rice-pledging scheme. By that same standard, they should be held accountable for the country’s economic woes during their rule thus far.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat. .

Islamic Finance Embraces Fintech, Crowdfunding

Published on Dec 22, 2015 by Luke Hunt

It’s like Kickstarter or Lending Club, but with an Islamic twist. Some companies that need financing but don’t want to break the Koran’s rules against loan interest are turning to Kapital Boost, a Singapore-based platform for crowdfunding.Read more from Lien Hoang in BNA..

Has a Philippine Militant Group Gone Regional?

Published on Nov 29, 2015 by Luke Hunt

As the rest of the world grapples with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), their latest attacks on Paris, and what some commentators are calling the Global Jihad Insurgency, Philippines-based Islamic militant group the Abu Sayyaf may be spreading its own unwanted tentacles.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Is Australia Really Prepared for the Asian Century?

Published on Nov 29, 2015 by Luke Hunt

In July the non-partisan think tank the Lowy Institute held a panel event in Melbourne to discuss the findings of its recent poll ‘What Australians really think about the world’. Some findings were obvious enough: Australians are more concerned about terrorism than about war with China and welcome China’s input to the country’s economic growth even as they worry about investment in real estate.Read more from Helen Clark in Blue Notes.