Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has dismissed China’s warning against conducting oil and gas exploration in the disputed South China Sea, saying that his country will assert its sovereign rights and interests in the resource-rich waters. Marcos made the remarks on Monday, after China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said last week that Beijing “firmly opposes” any unilateral actions by …

Millions of Indonesians rely on rideshare apps such as Gojek and Grab for their daily transportation, delivery, and other services. However, the workers behind these apps face low wages, long hours, and uncertain legal protection, as the country’s labor laws have not kept pace with the rapid growth of the digital economy. According to a recent report by the International …

Chinese President Xi Jinping has praised the strong and stable relationship between China and Russia, calling it a “strategic choice” and a “model of international cooperation” in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. The two leaders exchanged greetings and congratulations on the upcoming 2024 New Year and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness …

Malaysia has announced that it will not allow any ships flying the Israeli flag to enter or use its ports, in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The decision was made by the Malaysian Cabinet on Wednesday, following a proposal by the Transport Ministry. The ministry said that the ban was a response …

Thailand’s Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has signed an order to suspend the issuance of new gun licenses for a year, in an attempt to curb the rising gun violence in the country. The order, known as Por 12, will take effect a day after it is announced in the Royal Gazette, the official journal of the government. It will not …

Singapore is experiencing a surge of international students from China and Southeast Asia, who are drawn by its high-quality education, safety, and proximity. However, this influx also poses challenges for the city-state, such as finding affordable accommodation and hiring experienced teachers. According to Mr Lee, the founder of an education consultancy firm, his company has seen a 30% increase in …

The South China Sea dispute between the Philippines and China is not only a matter of territorial sovereignty, but also a matter of national dignity, security, and development.  The Philippines has a strong legal and historical basis for its claims in the South China Sea, as affirmed by the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s nine-dash line and excessive maritime …

Taiwan has maintained its position as the top-ranked country in Asia and the 12th in the world in the 2023 Human Freedom Index (HFI), a report that measures the degree of personal and economic freedom in 165 jurisdictions around the world.  The report, published by the U.S.-based Cato Institute and Canada-based Fraser Institute, praised Taiwan for its resilience and performance …

A group of South Korean students have filed a lawsuit against the government, demanding compensation for the disruption caused by an early bell in their college entrance exam. The students claim that the bell rang 90 seconds earlier than scheduled at their test site, affecting their performance and results. The incident occurred on November 18, 2023, during the Suneung, the …

The Philippines government has proposed a P5.768 trillion budget for 2024, which includes a P500-billion cash assistance program for 48 million poor families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The program, called the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), aims to provide monthly cash transfers of P2,000 to P4,000 per household, depending on the region and the level of lockdown. The SAP is …