ASEAN

33 Myanmar workears arrested at a warehouse in Songkhla province

Thai immigration police arrested 33 Myanmar illegal migrant workers at a deserted warehouse in Bang Klam district of the southern province of Songkhla today (Wednesday). Police also arrested three Thai…

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[FILE] Cars and tuk-tuk ride past a row of ASEAN member countries’ flags in the Laos capital of Vientiane on July 23, 2016. (Photo by HOANG DINH NAM / AFP)

ASEAN sets up interim RCEP bureau

ASEAN has decided to establish an interim bureau to oversee the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). According to a press statement, issued by Indonesia, the decision came…

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A canoe passes through a new urban area of the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City on September 22, 2022. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

Vietnam boosts ‘bamboo diplomacy’

After the dramatic Cabinet shake-up over the past several weeks, Vietnam has been quick to restore confidence in its external relations with allies and friends, near and far. It is…

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This handout photo from Myanmar’s Military Information Team taken and released on January 31, 2023 shows Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing making a speech during a defense and security council meeting in Naypyidaw. Myanmar’s junta said on January 31 the country had “not returned to normalcy” almost two years after its coup, a day before a widely-expected announcement it would hold elections. Handout / MYANMAR MILITARY INFORMATION TEAM / AFP

Myanmar 2023 – pessimism deepens

As the Myanmar crisis enters its third year, one trend is certain – things will get worse and bloodier. The military junta, headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has…

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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin shaking hands with Philippine military chief General Andres Centino during a visit to the Westmincom headquarters in Zamboanga City, in southern island of Mindanao. (Photo by Western Mindanao Command / AFP)

Philippines to expand US access to military bases

The United States and the Philippines are expected to announce a deal Thursday that will give US troops access to another four military bases in the Southeast Asian nation, as…

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Myanmar people rally for end to violence and resignation of junta leader

Hundreds of Myanmar people rallied in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok to demand an end to violence in their home country, on the second anniversary of the military…

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In this file photo taken on March 14, 2021, a protester holds onto the shirt of a fallen comrade, during a crackdown by security forces on demonstrations against the military coup, in Hlaing Tharyar township in Yangon. (Photo by AFP)

February 1st marks the anniversary of Myanmar’s 2021 coup

As Myanmar enters the third year of fallout following the coup, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in over half of the country battles rage between the extant ethnic…

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Singapore opens Public Library ‘for all’

Singapore’s biggest public library opens its doors at One Punggol, with a promise to welcome everyone. It’s the country’s fourth regional library, but it aims to be the first fully…

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US hits Myanmar with new sanctions on coup 2nd anniversary

The United States slapped fresh sanctions on Myanmar Tuesday, a day before the Southeast Asian country marks the second anniversary of a military coup that launched a violent campaign against…

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Image Credit: World Monuments Fund

ASEAN cities face uphill battle to preserve heritage

Right behind San Sebastian Basilica, one of Manila’s most revered churches, a high-rise condominium is under construction, triggering a conflict between developers and conservationists. The unsavoury development also threatens to…

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(FILE) Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing (front 3L) arrives to attend a ceremony on the eve of the Lunar New Year, in Yangon on January 21, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

Myanmar junta sets out tough new rules for political parties

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…

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 20, 2017, male residents are rounded up for verification after police officers conducted a large scale anti-drug raid at a slum community in Manila. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP)

Philippines to appeal ICC resumption of drug war probe

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…

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Thai military’s close ties with Myanmar junta compromising ASEAN efforts to resolve crisis

Thailand’s lenient stance as well as the close ties between its armed forces and the Myanmar military — also known as Tatmadaw — would undermine the efforts of ASEAN and…

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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese vice-premier Liu He and their respective delegations wait ahead of their meeting in Zurich, on January 18, 2023. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

Future US-China thaw will be slow, but worth the wait

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…

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ASEAN and East Asia Summits fixed for September

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…

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Myanmar temporarily suspends processing of new passport applications

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…

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[FILE] Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrives to attend the “APEC Leaders’ Dialogue with ABAC” event during APEC summit in Bangkok on November 18, 2022. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / POOL / AFP)

Vietnam president resigns amid major anti-graft purge

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…

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Captain Theerathon hits winner as Thailand retain Asean title

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…

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ASEAN Summit to put more emphasis on women’s empowerment

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…

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A worker pushes a wheelbarrow of fresh fruit bunches of oil palm tree during harvest at a palm oil plantation in Kuala Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia April 26, 2022. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain

Why Malaysia is considering a ban on palm oil exports to the European Union

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…

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6.2-magnitude quake hits off Indonesia’s Sumatra: USGS

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…

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This general view shows the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon on February 1, 2022. (Photo by AFP)

Myanmar’s anti-military forces bomb sites to hinder election plans

Seven explosions have been reported since the government announced its decision to begin data collection in order to hold an election this year, according to local news reports. The military-led…

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New ASEAN chair says the bloc’s economic growth matters

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….

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(File Photo) Two Myanmar fighter jets seen firing shots during an exercise in Meiktila in 2019. Image: State Media

Myanmar junta hits ethnic rebels with air strikes near India border

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…

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This handout photo taken and released on January 10, 2023 from Jipapad Public Information Office shows a resident riding on a wooden boat as he paddles past submerged school buildings, due to floodings brought about by heavy rains in Jipapad town, Eastern Samar province, South of Manila. (Photo by Handout / Jipapad Public Information Office / AFP)

11 people killed in Philippine storms: disaster agency

At least 11 people have died in storms across the Philippines in the past week, with more heavy rain expected in already sodden regions of the disaster-prone country, authorities said Tuesday. Bad weather has plagued…

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Rohingya refugees carry their goods as they walk following their arrival at the beach in Gampong Baro village, Aceh Besar, Aceh province, Indonesia, January 8, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Khalis Surry/via REUTERS

Boat with 185 Rohingya refugees lands in Indonesia’s Aceh

JAKARTA, Jan 8 (Reuters) – A boat with 185 Rohingya refugees landed on the shores of Indonesia’s Aceh province on Sunday, a local disaster agency official said, following hundreds who…

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Roman Catholic devotees, some carrying miniature statues of the Black Nazarene, walk along a street dubbed “walk of faith” as they celebrate the annual feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila on January 8, 2023, which devotees believed to have miraculous powers. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

Thousands of Filipinos march in reverence of Catholic icon

Tens of thousands of Catholic faithful walked through the streets of Manila early Sunday in reverence of a historic statue of Jesus Christ, which is believed to have miraculous powers….

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The scene at Pathein Prison in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady region after prison guards killed one inmate and injured more than 60 on Jan. 6, 2023.

Prisoner killed, dozens wounded in Myanmar jail riot: junta

A prisoner was killed and more than 60 wounded after a riot broke out at a Myanmar prison west of Yangon, the junta said on Saturday. Myanmar has been in chaos since Aung San…

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Vietnamese DPM Pham Binh Minh loses his job

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Binh Minh has lost his position, along with another Deputy Prime Minister, Vu Duc Dam. Neither will serve as members of the Central Party Committee…

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Major clash in Kayin State, military refutes casualty numbers

A combined force of anti-military groups, including the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), attacked nearby military encampments and reportedly as many as 100 soldiers…

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A vendor tries to salvage materials from a submerged stall after a river overflowed due to heavy rains brought by moonson in Ilagan City, Isabela province north of Manila on January 1, 2023. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

Death toll from Philippine floods, landslides rises to 51

The death toll from recent floods and landslides across the disaster-prone Philippines has risen to 51, officials said Monday, as authorities distribute food packs to the hardest hit communities. The…

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Cambodian leader orders Mekong safe zones to save rare dolphins

Cambodian premier Hun Sen on Monday ordered the creation of conservation zones on the Mekong river to protect critically endangered dolphins, after three were killed by fishing nets and lines last month. The Irrawaddy dolphins, known for…

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Thousands remain stranded at Philippines main airport after power outage

Thousands of exhausted passengers on Monday (January 2) remained stranded outside the ageing Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, after a New Year power outage caused hundreds of flight cancellations. “In the 24 hours that we’ve been waiting, we are now…

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Attendees watch a short film to mark the ASEAN chairmanship being passed to Indonesia at the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in Phnom Penh on November 13, 2022. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

ASEAN FMs’ retreat to be held on 3-4 February

Indonesia, the new ASEAN chair, will hold its first ministerial retreat in early February to discuss the bloc’s agenda and priorities, according to a diplomatic source. The retreat will be…

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[FILE] This photograph taken on September 21, 2021 shows workers wearing face masks while working at the Maxport factory, which makes activewear for various textile clothing brands, in Hanoi. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

Vietnam aims to make textile industry ‘greener’

(VTV) – Many industries in Vietnam are adopting green production methods to maintain and expand their export markets, including the textile industry. Thanks to this industry’s transformation, many domestic enterprises…

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Secretary-General of Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) Lim Jock Hoi [Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP]

ASEAN’s Lim Jock Hoi says ASEAN is at a crossroads

The outgoing ASEAN Secretary General, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, says that, despite the achievements of the last five years, the ASEAN community remains at a crossroads. “This is because of…

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 13, 2021, a protester holds a poster with an image of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a candlelight vigil to honour those who have died during demonstrations against the military coup in Yangon. (Photo by AFP)

Ousted Myanmar leader Suu Kyi jailed for total of 33 years

(AFP) – Ousted Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to another seven years in jail as her long series of trials ended on Friday, with the Nobel…

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Smoke rises from part of the Grand Diamond City hotel-casino, as Thai and Cambodian rescuers struggle to extricate dozens of people feared trapped after a fire broke, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens in Poipet near Thailand border, Cambodia, December 29, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Cambodian casino fire kills 19, dozens more missing

At least 19 people were killed and up to 30 were missing after a huge fire tore through a casino-hotel complex in a Cambodian town on the Thai border, officials…

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Eight die, over 130 injured in Cambodian casino blaze

At least eight people have died and over 130 were injured late Wednesday night in a fire at a Cambodian casino in the border town of Poipet, about 200 metres…

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Rescue workers help people affected by floods, in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental Province, Philippines, December 26, 2022. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS

Philippine death toll from Christmas rains and floods rises to 13

The death toll from Christmas day rains in southern Philippines has risen to 13, authorities said on Tuesday, with the search still on for 23 people as floods started to…

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Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a press conference in Tokyo on December 16, 2022. (Photo by David Mareuil / POOL / AFP)

Japan is no longer the same

It must be clear today that the Japan with which Southeast Asia has been familiar throughout the post-war years is no longer the same. The past 70 years of a…

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Rohingya refugees walk at a market in Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhia on August 14, 2022. (FILE / Photo by Munir uz Zaman / AFP)

Myanmar arrests more than 110 Rohingya for travelling ‘without official documents’

(AFP) – Myanmar authorities have arrested more than 110 Rohingya, including children, for travelling “without official documents” as they tried to make their way to Malaysia, state media reported Friday….

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A Karen migrant living in Thailand holds her one-month-old baby in Mae Sam Laep town on the Thai side of the Salween river in Mae Hong Son province on April 2, 2021, across from where Myanmar refugees earlier attempted to cross the Thai border after air strikes in Karen state following the February military coup. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP)

Japan pledges US$2.1m to help migrant children fleeing violence along the Thailand-Myanmar border

The Government of Japan pledges US$2.1m to help migrant children with digital education and food security, to assist their recovery and further safeguard them against sexual abuse, trafficking in persons…

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(FILE PHOTO) Filipino soldiers march in Philippine occupied Thitu island in disputed South China Sea. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

Philippines orders strengthened military presence after ‘Chinese activities’ near islands

The Philippines’ defence ministry on Thursday ordered the military to strengthen its presence in the South China Sea after monitoring “Chinese activities” in disputed waters close to a strategic Philippine-held…

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PHOTO: AFP

Trial of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi enters final phase

A junta court will hear the final arguments in the 18-month-long trial of Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi next week, a legal source said Tuesday, before reaching its final verdicts against the Nobel laureate….

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Ferry vessel bombed in Yangon

A bomb went off at 6.45pm on December 18th on the busy “Cherry” ferry that transports commuters between Dala Township and the downtown Pansodan Port in Yangon. A passenger on…

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Prison security officials prepare for the release of inmates outside Insein prison in Yangon on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)

Thailand to host non-ASEAN meeting on Myanmar

Thailand has invited interested members of ASEAN to join an open-ended consultative meeting on the situation in Myanmar on December 22nd. The informed source, who asked not to be identified…

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A demonstration against the Myanmar military junta’s execution of four prisoners, outside the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok on July 26, 2022. Myanmar’s junta executed four prisoners including a former lawmaker from Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, state media said on July 25, in the country’s first use of capital punishment in decades. (Photo by Manan Vatsyayana / AFP)

Prayut government maintained close ties with Myanmar junta in 2022, despite repression

While the international community has put in a lot of effort into resolving the political crisis in Myanmar after General Min Aung Hlaing’s coup last year, Thailand in contrast has…

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Rescuers work during a rescue and evacuation operation following a landslide at a campsite in Batang Kali, Selangor state, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 16, 2022, in this picture obtained from social media. Korporat JBPM/via REUTERS

Malaysia campsite search continues as 12 still missing after deadly landslide

The search for the remaining 12 campers caught in Friday’s deadly landslide at an unlicensed campsite in Malaysia continued for a second day after an overnight halt due to bad weather, officials…

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European Council President Charles Michel (L), Cambodia’s Prime Minister and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) president Hun Sen and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen pose with EU and ASEAN flags in the background as they attend the EU-ASEAN summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on December 14, 2022. (Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)

ASEAN-EU summit could have achieved more

During Wednesday’s press conference, at the end of a historic ASEAN-EU summit, Samdech Decho Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, stated unequivocally that the EU should treat all ASEAN members…

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Cambodian Prime minister Hun Sen speaks during a press conference during the EU-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on December 14, 2022.(Photo by John THYS / AFP)

Hun Sen predicts Myanmar conflict may take 5 more years to resolve

Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia has expressed doubts that the crisis in Myanmar would be resolved any time soon and ruled out a third trip there by Foreign Minister Prak…

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People enjoy the beach during sunset in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia, September 2, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

Bali governor says new Indonesia laws pose no risk to tourists

JAKARTA, Dec 12 (Reuters) – Visitors to Bali will not be put at risk by Indonesia’s newly ratified criminal code, the island’s governor said, dismissing concerns that revised laws which…

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 25, 2021, protesters hold the Myanmar Student Union flag as they demonstrate against the military coup in the Yangon University compound. – The Myanmar junta handed out at least seven more death sentences this week, taking the tally of those on death row to 139, according to the United Nations. (Photo by AFP)

Seven students in Myanmar sentenced to death, no appeal granted

On November 30th, seven Dagon University students were sentenced to death by Myanmar’s administration. They were arrested in connection with the assassination of retired Lt. Colonel Saw Moe Win. “At…

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This general view shows the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon on February 1, 2022. (Photo by AFP)

US to downgrade relations with Myanmar, VOA reports

The United States will downgrade its diplomatic relations with Myanmar upon the departure of its current ambassador, VOA Burmese reported Thursday. It quoted an unidentified diplomatic source as saying that…

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[File Image] Religious police guide a woman before she receives 100 whippings as punishment for pre-marital sex, in front of Al Munawarah mosque in Jantho, Aceh province on September 4, 2020. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP)

Indonesia sex laws ‘nail in coffin’ for LGBTQ rights

(AFP) – Indonesia’s legislation banning sex outside marriage represents a major new threat to the LGBTQ community’s rights in the conservative country, where same-sex unions are not recognised. “It’s another…

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South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol arrives for the G20 leaders’ summit in Nusa Dua, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on November 15, 2022. (Photo by Mast IRHAM / POOL / AFP)

ASEAN-Korea celebrate 10 years of connectivity dialogue

Strengthening ASEAN-Korea relations is one of Korea’s top foreign policies priorities, as South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol recently unveiled his country’s version of the Indo-Pacific strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity…

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Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn / AFP

ASEAN special envoy’s planned Myanmar trip aborted

Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will not make a planned third visit to Myanmar as ASEAN’s special envoy, a senior Cambodian official said Tuesday. The Khmer Times reported that Cambodia’s…

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Yasonna Laoly, Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights, receives the new criminal code report from Bambang Wuryanto, head of the parliamentary commission overseeing the revision, during a parliamentary plenary meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

Indonesia parliament ratifies criminal code that bans sex outside marriage

Indonesia’s parliament on Tuesday approved a criminal code that bans sex outside marriage with a punishment of up to one year in jail, part of a raft of legal changes…

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Gladak Perak Bridge is seen following the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, in Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, December 4, 2022. Antara Foto/National Disasters Mitigation Agency (BNPB)/ via REUTERS

Thousands on alert in Indonesia’s Java after Mt. Semeru eruption

Thousands of residents in Indonesia‘s East Java were on high alert on Monday after a violent eruption at the island’s tallest volcano prompted authorities to impose an 8-kilometer no-go zone and…

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Age is not the main challenge for ASEAN’s young politicians

No political party should see themselves representing a single generation and involving more young politicians is necessary to stay relevant in politics, according to panel discussion on the challenges facing…

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This handout photo taken and released from the Indonesia Geology Agency on Sunday shows the Glada Perak bridge hit by hot smoke and ashes from the Mount Semeru volcano eruption in Lumajang. (Photo by Handout / Indonesia Geology Agency / AFP)

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru volcano erupts, top alert status triggered

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupted Sunday spewing hot ash clouds a mile into the sky and sending rivers of lava down its side, sparking the evacuation of nearly 2,000 people exactly one year after…

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Photo from Wonk Semeru FB

Indonesia raises volcano warning to highest after Semeru erupts – media

Indonesian authorities raised the warning on Semeru volcano to the highest level on Sunday, Kompas TV reported, after an eruption spewed a column of ash high into the air. The evacuation of…

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Challenges for Asian journalists, leaders

Thai Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and its English website, Thai PBS World, recently gathered journalists and young political leaders from Asia to discuss the challenges they face and the most…

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a news conference announcing his cabinet at Putrajaya, Malaysia December 2, 2022. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain

Malaysia PM Anwar to helm finance ministry

Malaysia’s newly-appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that he would also serve as the country’s finance minister, retaking a cabinet role he first held 30 years ago as he looks to…

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Malaysia’s newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim signing a document as he clocks in to the Prime Minister office on his first day holding the premier position at Putrajaya, Malaysia November 25, 2022. Malaysian Department of Information/Wazari Wazir/Handout via REUTERS

Malaysia PM Anwar says cabinet line-up to be announced on Friday – report

Malaysia‘s newly-appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will announce his cabinet line–up on Friday, state news agency Bernama reported. The report did not state what time the announcement would be made. Anwar‘s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on…

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Thailand needs a more proactive foreign policy

The Ukraine-Russia conflict, China-Taiwan tensions or even the situation in Myanmar may seem far away and irrelevant to us in Thailand. Most Thais wouldn’t imagine that Thailand foreign policy has…

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Villagers walk past damaged houses in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia on Nov. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

Death toll from Indonesia’s earthquake rises to 318

The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Indonesia’s province of West Java rose to 318, with 14 others still missing, a senior official of the country’s disaster agency said…

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Anwar’s view on conflict in southern Thailand

One question that has arisen almost right after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Malaysia’s prime minister last week is what role he wants Kuala Lumpur to play in helping…

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Malaysia’s newly appointed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim signing a document as he clocks in to the Prime Minister office on his first day holding the premier position at Putrajaya, Malaysia November 25, 2022. Malaysian Department of Information/Wazari Wazir/Handout via REUTERS

OPINION – Malaysia under PM Anwar: the challenges of a multi-racial society

First, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim must be congratulated for being the 10th leader of Malaysia since independence. His patience and fighting spirit have paid off, after nearly 22 years as…

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A woman reacts after watching her destroyed home following Monday’s earthquake that hit Cianjur, West Java province, Indonesia, November 24, 2022. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

Indonesia struggles to get aid to quake survivors, rescue continues

Indonesian authorities struggled on Thursday to get aid to thousands of evacuees displaced by a deadly earthquake in western Java, as rain-triggered landslides and difficult mountainous terrain hampered the efforts…

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Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim attends a news conference outside the National Palace, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November 22, 2022. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar appointed prime minister

Malaysia‘s king appointed long-time opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister on Thursday and he will be sworn in at 5 p.m. (0900 GMT), ending five days of unprecedented post-election…

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Malaysia king to choose prime minister in post-election crisis

Malaysia‘s king said on Tuesday he will pick the next prime minister, after the leading two contenders failed to win a majority in last weekend’s election and his proposal for…

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Rescue workers carry the body of a victim in Cianjur on November 22, 2022, following a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 162 people, with hundreds injured and others missing. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)

Indonesia quake toll jumps to 268, rescuers hunt for survivors

(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…

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A view of a collapsed school building following an earthquake in Cianjur, West Java province, Indonesia, November 21, 2022. REUTERS/Iman Firmansyah

Indonesia quake kills over 160, search for survivors continues

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…

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Municipality officers evacuate their injured colleague following an earthquake in Cianjur, West Java province, Indonesia, November 21, 2022. Antara Foto/Regional Disasters Mitigation Agency (BPBD) via REUTERS

Indonesia quake kills more than 50, injures hundreds and destroys homes

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…

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The logo of Malaysia’s election commission is pictured at its headquarters in Putrajaya, Malaysia, October 20, 2022. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain

What to expect as Malaysia’s split election leaves scramble to form government

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…

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Supporters of Perikatan Nasional watch a video stream for live results of Malaysia’s 15th general election at a hotel in Shah Alam, Malaysia November 19, 2022. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin

Malaysia faces hung parliament in tight election race

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…

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Malaysians visiting southern Thailand head home to vote

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…

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Malaysians queue to cast their vote for the country’s general election at Permatang Pauh, Penang, Malaysia November 19, 2022. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain

Malaysia votes in general election, Anwar expected to lead tight race

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…

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Anti-government protesters Ratsadon at Asoke Intersection in Bangkok on 17th November 2022, demanding the leaders of APEC members address human rights, democratization, and end big conglomerates’ monopolies.

Experts want Thailand to pursue a more inclusive BCG model for development

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…

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Families have gathered outside Insein prison in Yangon ahead of the announcement that Myanmar’s junta will release 700 prisoners, including a former British ambassador, a Japanese journalist and an Australian adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi’s government. (Photo: AFP/File/STRINGER)

Myanmar junta to release UK ex-ambassador, Australian and Japanese prisoners

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…

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Youth vote, stability concerns to drive turnout as Malaysia polls near

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…

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(FILE) Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn

ASEAN special envoy to make third visit to Myanmar

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…

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Malaysia against elections planned by Myanmar military junta

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…

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Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at a ceremony commemorating the 45th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to the United Nations in Hanoi’s international convention centre on October 21, 2022. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

Opinion: Significance of Vietnamese President Phúc’s visit

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuân Phúc will become the first APEC leader to arrive in Bangkok and will be paying an official on November 16th, ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic…

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Thai PM proposes strategic partnerships between ASEAN and US

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has proposed a comprehensive strategic partnership between ASEAN and the United States in the areas of economic development and climate change, as well as a…

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U.S. President Joe Biden is greeted upon his arrival at the Phnom Penh International Airport to attend the 2022 ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, November 12, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Biden in Cambodia as global leaders join Southeast Asian summit

Southeast Asian heads of government were due to hold talks on Saturday with visiting global leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, as the region tries to navigate the growing rivalry…

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Myanmar must get ‘democratic transition back on track immediately’: UN chief

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday urged the Myanmar junta to “immediately” restart democracy, saying it was the only way to stop the “unending nightmare” engulfing the country. Myanmar has spiralled into bloody conflict since the military…

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ASEAN reaffirms its 5-point consensus on Myanmar

ASEAN leaders have reaffirmed their 5-point consensus (5PC) and urged Myanmar to comply with the promises it made last April. In a joint statement, issued today (Friday), the leaders said…

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A decorative gate is seen at Wat Phnom during the ASEAN summit held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia November 11, 2022. REUTERS/Cindy Liu

ASEAN agrees in principle to admit East Timor as 11th member

PHNOM PENH, Nov 11 (Reuters) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed in principle to admit East Timor as the group’s 11th member, the bloc said in…

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This handout photo taken and release by Cambodia’s Government Cabinet shows Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) speaking to Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (R) during a meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on November 10, 2022, amid the ASEAN Summit. (Photo by Kok Ky / CAMBODIA’S GOVERNMENT CABINET / AFP)

Prayut, Hun Sen pledge to step up crackdown on cross-border scams

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o–cha and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on Thursday pledged to step up cooperation to crack down on call center scams using Cambodia as their operation base….

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This photo taken on October 14, 2022 shows vessels carrying coal near Pha Lai thermal power plant in Hai Duong province. (Photo by AFP)

Vietnam struggles to break one of world’s biggest coal addictions

(AFP) – Despite Vietnam’s solar boom and ambitious climate targets, the fast-growing economy is struggling to quit dirty energy — leaving one of the world’s biggest coal power programmes largely…

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This aerial picture shows a row of housing units (bottom) in downtown Jakarta on November 1, 2022. (Photo by BAY ISMOYO / AFP)

Indonesia Q3 growth rises but remains below forecasts

(AFP) – Indonesia’s economic growth accelerated in the third quarter of 2022 on the back of strong exports and domestic consumption, official data showed on Monday, but it remained below…

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Workers unfold a banner for the upcoming ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh on November 2, 2022. (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP)

Cambodia releases ASEAN Summit agenda

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally announced the agenda for the upcoming ASEAN Summit and related high-level meetings to be held in Phnom Penh from November 10-13. Meanwhile, the…

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The supporters of The National Front coalition, Barisan Nasional, shout slogans outside a nomination centre on nomination day in Bera, Pahang, Malaysia November 5, 2022. REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin

Malaysian leaders kick off election campaigns in tight race

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Malaysian political leaders began their election campaigning on Saturday for what is set to be a close race, with incumbent Prime Minister Ismail Sabri…

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(File) Kao Kim Hourn, the Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia CHARLES PERTWEE / POOL / AFP

With ASEAN CSP status, ties with India will grow and strengthen further

Phnom Penh – India’s comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) with ASEAN is expected grow and strengthen bilateral ties, according to a senior Cambodian official. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Minister Delegate attached…

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Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi speaks during a news conference at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool/File Photo


G20 host Indonesia waiting to see if Putin will attend summit

JAKARTA, Nov 3 (Reuters) – G20 summit host Indonesia is waiting to see if Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend, Indonesia’s foreign minister said on Thursday, adding that differences over…

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Workers unfold a banner for the upcoming ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh on November 2, 2022. (Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP)

USA and India to be granted ASEAN CSP status next week

Phnom Penh – Both the US and India will be granted “comprehensive strategic partnership” (CSP) status at next week’s ASEAN-related summits, signalling the increased importance of their all-round cooperation with…

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(File) His Excellency Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Cambodia offers to host Russia-Ukraine talks during ASEAN summit

Cambodia has offered to use the upcoming ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh next week to host talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to a senior official of the Cambodian Foreign…

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This handout picture taken and released on October 27, 2022 by the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) shows the Myanmar representative desk empty during the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (SAFMM) at the ASEAN secretariat general building in Jakarta. (Photo by Handout / ASEAN / AFP)

ASEAN Foreign Ministers must not lose their way

Judging by the outcome of the special ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting in Jakarta on October 27th, the ASEAN foreign ministers have not done their jobs very well. They were supposed…

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