Regional news from Southeast Asia in English — ASEAN politics, economy and diplomacy, covered by Thai PBS World.
The Philippine government said Friday it intended to appeal an International Criminal Court decision to reopen an inquiry into Manila’s brutal anti-drug campaign, which left thousands dead. The Hague-based tribunal launched the enquiry in 2019 but suspended it later that year at the request of the government of then Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, who had
Myanmar’s junta on Friday gave political parties two months to re-register under a strict new electoral law written by the military, the latest sign it is planning fresh polls this year. The previous elections in November 2020 were won resoundingly by civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy but the military staged
The recent meeting in Zurich between US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He sent a positive signal that the world’s two superpowers are on the path towards mending their relationship. Judging from the outcome and comments on their face-to-face encounter, it will take some time before the two countries’ relationship reaches
The ASEAN leaders will meet with their dialogue partners at the year-end summit in September, two months earlier than usual, according to an informed diplomatic source. The source said that Indonesia has already set the timetable for important fixtures during its chairmanship, including all the ASEAN-related summits. After the ASEAN ministerial retreat on February 3rd
All passport applicants must now wait for the immigration department to reopen, after the government temporarily suspended operations at the passport office. The announcement came from Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation, saying that a notice had been received of a temporary cessation of all new passport-related activities. In recent weeks, the internal affairs and labour
Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has resigned, state media said Tuesday, after days of rumours he was about to be sacked as part of a major anti-corruption drive that has seen several ministers fired. Phuc has “submitted his resignation from his assigned positions, quit his job, and retired”, state news agency VNA said. Phuc’s sudden
Thailand successfully defended their Asean Championship title after a 1-0 victory over Vietnam in the second leg of the final on Monday gave Mano Polking’s side a 3-2 aggregate triumph against their Southeast Asian rivals. Captain Theerathon Bunmathan scored with a stunning 24th minute strike from distance to earn Thailand the spoils in front of their own fans
The Indonesian government will put more emphasis on women’s empowerment during its ASEAN chairmanship this year, including by setting an agenda on women’s peace and security. The ministry of women empowerment and child protection on Friday said that it has been working together with the coordinating minister for human development and culture, as well as
Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, on Thursday said it might stop palm exports to the European Union after the bloc imposed additional import restrictions on the edible oil due to concerns over deforestation. WHAT IS THE DISAGREEMENT ABOUT? Malaysia and Indonesia have for years been at loggerheads with the European Union over curbs on imports of palm oil, which the two countries say are trade barriers and protectionist measures for the
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island early Monday, the US Geological Survey reported. The epicentre of the quake was 48 kilometres (30 miles) south-southeast of the city of Singkil in Aceh province, at a depth of 37 kilometres, USGS said. It occurred around 6:30 am local time (2230 GMT), and
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi says that ASEAN will hold two summits this year, in May and September, with the aim of making ASEAN important and relevant to its people. In her press statement released yesterday (Wednesday), touching on various aspects of Indonesian foreign policy in coming year, she also outlined the matters that Indonesia
Myanmar’s junta has carried out air strikes on an ethnic armed group’s base near the border with India, the rebels and media said Wednesday, with one bomb landing close to the international boundary. The military coup almost two years ago has sparked renewed fighting with long-established ethnic rebel groups, as well as with dozens of “People’s Defence Force” groups that have sprung up to oppose the junta. The bombing by five jets
