Regional news from Southeast Asia in English — ASEAN politics, economy and diplomacy, covered by Thai PBS World.
Flanked by tanks and missile launchers, Myanmar’s junta chief Monday vowed no let up in a crackdown on opponents and insisted the military would hold elections — weeks after admitting it did not control enough territory to allow a vote. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military deposed Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government
The Chinese Embassy in Bangkok has vowed to protect Chinese nationals in Thailand, amid social media reports of alleged security risks to visiting Chinese tourists, according to a Chinese media report. The China Media Group (CMG) quoted the Chinese Embassy as reaffirming that Thailand is a friendly neighbour. CMG said it is the first time
Indonesia’s Mount Ili Lewotolok erupted Friday, belching a tower of smoke and ash almost a kilometre into the sky and prompting authorities to impose a no-go zone in the area. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the eruption, which sent up a tower of volcanic smoke 700 metres (0.4 miles) high
Malaysian police, on Wednesday, ordered a scheduled performance by Thai cross-dressing men at a club in Kuala Lumpur to be cancelled, after opposition MPs cried foul over the event. Opposition Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) had earlier denounced the performance, dubbed “Thai Hot Guy” [sic], as being “immoral and disgusting.” Malaysian media quoted police as saying
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted late Friday and continued to spew hot ash and other volcanic material on Saturday. Footage of flaming lava pouring out of the crater and a tall column of hot cloud rising 1,300 metres into the air was taken by the government-run Merapi Volcano Observatory
Widespread popular resistance to brutal repression by Myanmar’s military shows no sign of abating across much of the country, and with both sides intent on winning by force “there is no prospect for a negotiated settlement,” the U.N. special envoy to the conflict-wracked nation said Thursday. In a grim assessment, Noeleen Heyzer told the 193-member
Location information is being used to make Singapore’s roads greener, safer, and easier to navigate. Using geospatial data to improve people’s lives is here to stay, as the Singapore Land Authority embarks on more cross-sector collaboration. Developed by the Singapore Land Authority, the SLA App provides information that’s not available on normal maps. The map
ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn will pay a three-day official visit to Thailand, from 29th to 31st March, as part of his familiarisation tour of the bloc’s member countries, according to an informed source. Earlier this month he was in Singapore. Dr. Kim Hourn took office in January, succeeding Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi
Prime Minister Hun Sen has dropped strong hints of his intention to step down as Cambodia’s general election draws near. Khmer Times reported that Hun Sen sent out the signal while visiting the construction site of a hydropower plant in Pursat province on Tuesday. He said the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) is well-prepared for
Japan plans to apply for ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) status, according to highly placed sources, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Japan and ASEAN Relations this year. Japan earlier submitted a concept paper to the ASEAN Secretariat about its upcoming plan regarding the application for CSP. The two sides are to convene a commemorative
Suppliers to Dutch chip-making machines giant ASML Holding NV ASML.AS are considering building plants in Southeast Asia instead of China amid political tensions between Beijing and the West, according to two sources and documents seen by Reuters. Officials from a dozen tech companies are set to visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore next week, according to a note from the
Thailand will host “World Social Work Day 2023” later this month to celebrate the invaluable contribution of the world’s social workers as countries around the globe emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Wanna Suksriboonamphai, Executive Director at the ASEAN Training Centre for Social Work and Social Welfare (ATCSW), said that the purpose of this gathering is to
