Regional news from Southeast Asia in English — ASEAN politics, economy and diplomacy, covered by Thai PBS World.
(AFP) – The death toll from an earthquake on Indonesia’s main island of Java jumped to 268 on Tuesday, as rescuers searched for survivors in the rubble and relatives started to bury their loved ones. As body bags emerged from crumpled buildings in Indonesia’s most populous province, West Java, rescue efforts turned to any survivors
CIANJUR, Indonesia (Reuters) – A powerful earthquake killed more than 160 people in Indonesia’s West Java province on Monday, with rescuers searching for survivors trapped under the rubble amid a series of aftershocks. The epicentre of the 5.6 magnitude quake was near the town of Cianjur in mountainous West Java, about 75 km (45 miles)
JAKARTA, Nov 21 (Reuters) – A 5.6-magnitude earthquake killed more than 50 people and injured hundreds in Indonesia’s West Java province on Monday, with rescuers trying to reach survivors trapped under the rubble amid a series of aftershocks as night fell. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil confirmed 56 deaths from the quake, whose epicentre was
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Reuters) – Malaysia’s political leaders were scrambling to form a coalition government on Sunday after an election produced an unprecedented hung parliament, with no group able to claim a majority. Longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin each said they could form a government with support from
Malaysia was facing a hung parliament for the first time in its history as support for a conservative Islamic alliance prevented major coalitions from winning a simple majority in a general election. Without a clear winner, political uncertainty could persist as Malaysia faces slowing economic growth and rising inflation. It has had three prime ministers in as many years. Failure by the main parties to win a
Many Malaysians in southern Thailand returned home yesterday (Friday) to cast their votes in a general election, after Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved parliament on October 10th. The border checkpoint in Betong in Yala Province was busy, as was Hat Yai in Songkhla province, as tourists travelled home for the election on Sunday.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Reuters) – Malaysians were voting in a closely run general election on Saturday, a contest that may not end years of political instability as polls point to no clear winner in the Southeast Asian nation. Longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition is forecast to win the greatest number of parliamentary seats
Thailand is expecting the leaders of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members to endorse the Bangkok Goals 2022 during the summit this weekend, which aims to move the region towards the ambitious Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model (BCG) for balanced, sustainable, and inclusive development. Experts, however, want the leaders to address the root causes of various environmental
Myanmar’s military said Thursday it will release almost 6,000 prisoners, including a former British ambassador, a Japanese journalist and an Australian economics adviser, in a rare olive branch from the isolated junta. The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since the military’s coup last year and a bloody crackdown on dissent during which thousands have been jailed. Former British envoy Vicky Bowman, Australian economics
Cambodia’s Foreign Affairs Minister and ASEAN special envoy Prak Sokhonn is planning a third official visit to Myanmar in a bid to prod the ruling military junta to comply with the grouping’s five-point peace initiative, according to Khmer Times. Sokhonn’s term as special envoy will end this year along with Cambodia’s ASEAN chairmanship. “As the
In a dining hall at Malaysia’s International Islamic University, 22-year-old undergraduate Hajar Wahab stood next to a makeshift polling booth, as she showed a fellow student how to mark and cast an election ballot. Hajar is part of an army of student leaders across Malaysia aiming to battle political apathy and educate first-time voters on
Malaysia does not support elections that Myanmar military junta plans for next year, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah said Tuesday. Malaysian news agency Bernama quoted the foreign minister as saying that the junta has amended some election rules that is seen as biased and not approved by other stakeholders. He said Malaysia is committed
