Fuel subsidies have always played a significant role in Southeast Asia – most notably in oil producing states such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. While Southeast Asia’s economy may be expanding rapidly, most of the countries there have yet to reach the level of a high-income nation. With oil prices constantly fluctuating, fuel subsidies are often seen as a vital policy to help citizens cope with the cost of living.

Asia’s future is inextricably tied to the Himalayas, the world’s tallest mountain range and the source of the water-stressed continent’s major river systems.

Hydropower is one of Southeast Asia’s biggest renewable energy sources, however, many still remain oblivious to the damaging side-effects of hydropower projects. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), hydropower capacity in the region grew almost threefold from 16 GW to 44 GW between 2000 and 2016. Currently, the use of hydropower is most prevalent in Vietnam, Lao PDR and Thailand, which take advantage of the Mekong River flowing through their respective borders.

Indonesia is home to 521 natural lakes and about 100 reservoirs, covering an area of approximately 21,000 km². The total volume of water held across the country is approximately 500 km³. The largest lake, by both area and volume, is Lake Toba in Sumatra. It holds about 240 km³ of freshwater, and is the largest lake body in Southeast Asia.Lake Toba is an immense volcanic lake covering an area of 1,707 km², making it even bigger than Singapore.

The Southeast Asian region, like every other part of the globe has had a tempestuous year in 2017 with many hurdles thrown its way. From the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to Duterte’s war on drugs, it is undeniable that the region is still finding its footing on rights and democracy.While these issues may or may not see a resolution in 2018, there are other things that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc can look out for.

The little space for free expression in the Communist country continues to shrink, with at least 15 activists and dissidents having been arrested this year alone.Just recently, a Vietnamese court jailed a blogger for seven years for propagating anti-state propaganda which included articles that supported protests against a Taiwanese company that was responsible for a toxic spill last year.The accusation fell upon Nguyen Van Hoa, an environmental activist, that he instigated protests against t

Environmental activists are being killed in record numbers around the world, with the corruption-plagued Philippines one of the most dangerous countries, according to watchdog Global Witness.At least 200 community activists, NGO workers and other civilians on the frontlines of protecting the environment were reported murdered worldwide last year, the highest on record, the group said.In the Philippines, an environmental activist was recorded to have been killed at a rate of every 12 days in 2

Bali's international airport will re-open Wednesday afternoon after a nearly three-day shutdown, Indonesian airport authorities said, as ash from a rumbling volcano that looms over the island paradise shifted direction.The eagerly awaited decision opens up a window of hope for some of more than 120,000 tourists stranded after a spike in activity at Mount Agung grounded hundreds of flights since Monday.But airport officials cautioned that the only direct international gateway to the tropi