ASEAN News

The ASEAN Five-point Consensus (5PC) was adopted in April 2021 as the regional bloc’s framework for addressing Myanmar’s political crisis. It recommends that this violence be stopped instantly, there should be holding of constructive talks among the stakeholders, humanitarian assistance and the appointment of an ASEAN Special Envoy. A significant hurdle for the mechanism in 2026, however, implies another crisis. …

Kumamoto and the devastation from the massive 7.1-magnitude quake has moved into a new phase, as relief operations now prioritize water and providing assistance for those suffering from the earthquake, and repairing houses. The number of dead has now reached 39 and there are 205 wounded, seven of whom are seriously injured. A notable new development is the arrival in …

The Forbes Philippines 50 Richest 2026 exercise has brought one of the most drastic changes in the country’s business map during the past few years. The top ranking has been grabbed for the first time by port and casino magnate Enrique Razon Jr, who put the Sy family at the bottom of the rankings. Razon also entered history as the …

This was a major milestone in the Southeast Asian context of negotiation between the leaders of the countries in the Southeast Asian region, namely Prabowo Subianto and Xi Jinping (China) in November 2024.  The deal also included about US$10 billion in economic cooperation, for trade, mining and industrial projects, as well as the introduction of a more sensitive topic: joint …

After the devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture one week ago, the government has begun a new phase of recovery, with the aid package for the prefect decided last week and totaling ¥24.2 billion ($160 million). The money would go toward speeding up the reconstruction, repairing damaged infrastructure, and aiding thousands of disaster-devastated residents that have yet to recover. View …

The Philippines takes on ASEAN Chairmanship for 2026 with this year characterized by a sea of uncertainty and unaffordable climate risks. Although the regional economic-integration agenda and the Myanmar issue continue to be treated as a top priority, Manila has taken the security of the waters in the region and the much-expected South China Sea Code of Conduct. 2026 is …

Although the humanitarian crisis is ongoing, Kumamoto is beginning to recover from its devastating earthquake of 7.1 magnitude. The death toll has been raised to 36 and the rescue team continues with search efforts inside stricken buildings to find any survivors. There may be more casualties as the assessments are carried out, authorities say. Police, firefighters, members of Japan Self-Defense …

Rescue efforts for the devastated area of the Japanese city of Kumamoto are ongoing for four days after the earthquake. 34 people were killed as a result of the earthquake and over 80 others have been injured, with five of them in critical condition. Higher than usual numbers of response personnel, cooling shelters, air-conditioning units, and emergency water supplies have …

A number of incidents in recent days have brought a new urgency into the conversation about the approach of governments to countering the financing of terror groups and the recent reports of possible U.S. action against Mahmoud El-Ebiary and other groups allegedly associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.  Instead of individuals, the financial, administrative and organizational systems and structures that authorities …

As Southeast Asia collaborates on building a stronger, more sustainable energy sector, the ASEAN Power Grid has entered into a new frontier. Within the framework of ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030, the member countries are taking steps to go beyond bilateral electricity exchange and construct an integrated Power market system that will facilitate the long-term economic growth …