Regional news from Southeast Asia in English — ASEAN politics, economy and diplomacy, covered by Thai PBS World.
The Indonesian navy arrested two foreign-flagged tankers attempting to smuggle crude palm oil or CPO. The navy arrested mt world tanker on its way from Dumai in Riau province to India in the Indonesian part of Malacca strait waters. Meanwhile another vessel, MT Annabelle bound for Sharjah, UAE was arrested in west Kalimantan waters leaving
President Joko Widodo has ensured that the ban on the export of cooking oil and its raw materials will be lifted only if the cooking oil supply in the market has been sufficient to meet the demand. President Joko Widodo said the palm oil industry should first ensure the cooking oil supply had been enough
KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Reuters) – Malaysia will ease more COVID-19 curbs from the start of next month, including lifting restrictions on those who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus and scrapping the need to wear masks outdoors, its health minister said. The Southeast Asian nation has seen some of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in
Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to another five years in prison, according to an unidentified official in the judiciary sector. On Wednesday, rumours regarding the former State Counsellor’s court proceedings spread on social media and were later reported by AP. This is just one amongst a string of charges piled on the veteran
A Canadian actor and self-proclaimed wellness guru is facing deportation from Indonesia’s Bali island after a video of him dancing naked at a sacred mountain went viral. Jeffrey Craigen posted a video of himself doing the Haka — a ceremonial dance in New Zealand’s Maori culture — while nude on top of Mount Batur, a
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai appointed Pornpimol Kanchanalak as the country’s first special envoy on Myanmar today (Tuesday). Pornpimol is currently serving as an advisor on foreign policy to Don. According to the letter of appointment, dated April 25th, 2022, as seen by Thai PBS World, she will have five responsibilities, namely: Drive and monitor
The global demand for palm oil is likely to switch to Malaysia after Indonesia’s export ban. Malaysia’s Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin says Malaysia is confident it can meet global demand for palm oil after Indonesia’s announcement that it has banned exports of the commodity, with the reopening of the country’s borders. Kamaruddin
A car bomb exploded at the Myanmar immigration building, on the approach to the First Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sot district of Tak province, setting fire to the building and nearby commercial shop houses. A fierce gun battle also broke out between Myanmar troops and rebel forces after the explosion, which occurred at
On the morning of April 19th, a wave of panic hit Myanmar citizens as rumours of fuel shortages went viral on social media. The rumours started following a supposed internal leak from those in the fuel import business, following the recent chokehold on the US dollar enforced by the Central Bank of Myanmar, allegedly restricting
After several rounds of negotiations over the dates for the second special ASEAN-US summit, both sides have now agreed to meet in Washington DC on May 12th and 13th, 2022, according to an informed source. The source said that the White House had proposed May 19th and 20th, but some of the ASEAN leaders could
Myanmar’s local news media report that the Vice-Chairwoman of Myanmar’s Central Bank, Than Than Swe, was shot dead in her home earlier today (Thursday). She was alone when she opened the door to a stranger. Locals in the area surrounding the Shwe Gon Yeik Mon compound, in the Bahan Township, say that she was shot
Myanmar’s Central Bank has announced that all foreign currency accounts held in the country’s banks must be exchanged to the Kyat within one working day, and all foreign currency earned by locals must be exchanged for local currency. The order, dated April 3rd, stated that those who fail to comply will be charged under the
