Indonesia’s residents have shown hostility and resistance against the arrival of more Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, who have fled persecution and violence in their homeland.  The residents have staged protests, attacked shelters, and demanded the deportation of the refugees, who they perceive as a burden and a threat to their communities.  The negative attitude of the residents towards the Rohingya …

France’s recent mistake of airing the wrong flag of South Korea during a news report on the Korean peninsula has sparked outrage and embarrassment among the South Korean public and media.  The incident, which happened on January 2, 2024, on the French TV channel LCI, involved the display of a flag that looked like the South Korean flag, but had …

McDonald’s Malaysia, the licensee of the global fast-food giant in the country, has filed a lawsuit against a local pro-Palestinian group, BDS Malaysia, for defamation over social media posts that allegedly linked the company to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza¹.  The lawsuit seeks damages of 6 million ringgit ($1.31 million), claiming that the boycott campaign has hurt its business and …

IKEA Singapore announced on Dec 21, 2023, that it will absorb the 1 percent GST rate increase that will take effect from Jan 1, 2024¹. This means that the prices of its products online and in-store will remain unchanged, despite the GST hike from 8 percent to 9 percent. How will this decision affect your shopping habits? Here are some …

Thailand is known for its vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and exotic cuisine. But it is also notorious for its high death rate on the roads, especially during the New Year holiday period. According to the latest statistics, Thailand recorded 128 fatalities and 1,151 injuries from 1,150 traffic accidents during the final three days of 2024¹. This makes Thailand the country …

On December 27, 2023, a Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER jet carrying 392 passengers and crew members caught fire and crashed shortly after takeoff from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Japan’s busiest airport. The incident, which was caused by a bird strike that damaged the left engine, could have been a major disaster, but miraculously, everyone on board survived and escaped without serious …

South Korea is planning to launch a special visa for K-pop fans, allowing them to stay in the country for up to six months and enjoy various benefits and privileges related to their favorite music genre.  The visa, which is expected to be available from March 2024, is part of the government’s efforts to boost tourism and cultural exchange amid …

The Philippines has been pursuing bilateral agreements with other claimants in the South China Sea, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia, in an attempt to counter China’s growing assertiveness and influence in the disputed waters.  However, a regional security analyst argues that this strategy is ineffective and counterproductive, and that the Philippines should instead focus on multilateral cooperation and dialogue. …

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of the two stratovolcanoes that make up Mount Lewotobi in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, erupted again on Monday, January 2, 2024, sending a plume of ash and smoke up to 10 kilometers high.  The eruption was the latest in a series of eruptions that have occurred since December 23, 2023, when the volcano first showed …

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has proposed a new code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea, which he claims would be more effective and acceptable than the long-delayed COC being negotiated by ASEAN and China.  However, his proposal has been met with skepticism and criticism by other claimants and stakeholders, who see it as a unilateral and …