HANOI – Russia foreign minister and the Asean foreign minister held a special video conference meeting to further strengthen the cooperation in response to  COVID-19. The meeting was co-chaired by Indonesia as the current country Coordinator for ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations and the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that the Russia-Asean strategic partnership meeting is …

BANGKOK – The country’s farm exports to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries rises to 5.1% from the same period last year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand’s overall trade of agricultural products with the region reached $3.6 billion in the 1st quarter. Ministry’s Office of Agricultural Economics Deputy Secretary General Tatsanee Muangkaew said that Thailand …

MANILA – Ombudsman Samuel Martires orders the investigation of the Department of Health (DOH), including Secretary Francisco Duque III and other officials and employees of the Department over alleged irregularities on the response  to the coronavirus pandemic. The Ombudsman confirmed that he has directed two or more investigating team to probe the alleged anomalies and irregularities committed by the Health …

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 457 new coronavirus infections — 342 “fresh” validated and 115 reported late which put the total of 27,238 confirmed cases in the country. The death toll rose to 1,108 with after 5 more patients died, while total recoveries rose to 6,820 after 268 more patients recovered from the deadly disease. …

Patrol ships of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries’ (KKP’s) Directorate General for Supervision of Maritime Resources and Fisheries (PSDKP) detained a Filipino fishing boat and Malaysian fishing vessel for poaching in Indonesian waters on Tuesday, June 16. According to the General Director of Maritime Resources and Fisheries Supervision Tb Haeru Rahayu, the KKP’s patrol boats have succeeded in …

The manager of the Indonesian national team coach, Shin Tae-Yong, requested the All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) to allow the players to be able to undergo a training center (TC) in South Korea. As reported by the South Korean news agency, Yonhap, Shin Tae-Yong, admitted that he personally proposed the idea to PSSI. He hopes the Indonesian national team can …

After the Covid-19 pandemic, Thai’s now view the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an unreliable source on health issues, Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, a specialist at Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital, said. He pointed out that WHO is quite slow in providing information. Especially when they inform the public on certain issues, these tend to change constantly. The organization previously caused Thais to …

Thailand’s government on Wednesday reported there were no new Covid-19 coronavirus cases and the country has gone 23 days without any local infections. Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the health department, said there were no new cases among local people or quarantined returnees. “We have been free of local infection for 23 days. Academics say the ideal infection-free period is …

TOKYO – Japan has updated its domestic procedures on a revised free trade pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the changes to enter into force on Aug 1. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) said in a statement that the comprehensive economic partnership deal with the 10-nation Asean bloc will Japan’s first multilateral trade deal. The deal …

All over the Southeast Asia region, each country are now focusing on developing their domestic tourism as international travel collapses due to Covid-19 pandemic. Several Asean countries are now offering hotel rooms at half price, its own citizens heading to their local beaches. The collapse in international travel has opened doors to further develop domestic tourism. The regional bloc is …