ASEAN News

Thailand – Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest child, is now throwing herself into the country’s profoundly divided political scene ahead of a national election scheduled for March 2023. She boasts half a million Instagram followers, lives a lavish lifestyle, and describes herself as the “little girl” of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, one of the country’s most powerful and controversial …

Indonesia – Indonesia’s agriculture ministry announced on Monday that a statewide livestock vaccination program will begin this week, after the number of cattle infected with foot and mouth disease surpassed 151,000. Some vaccines came on Sunday, and another 800,000 doses will come soon, according to ministry spokesperson Kuntoro Boga Andri. He didn’t specify how many immunizations had been delivered thus …

Asean – Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg warned the state can’t rely too much on Indonesian workers. He added this is because Indonesia is also developing and needs labor, especially with the capital’s shift to Nusantara. “Many projects have been authorized, but when they’re implemented, prices rise and jobs go. Even the Pan Borneo …

ASEAN – Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom stated today that their 51-year-old Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) treaty was robust, current, and critical to managing increasing regional tensions. Following their discussion on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue, the officials told a press conference that the member states’ relationship was friendly, and that they were focused …

ASEAN – This weekend, most inhabitants in China’s economic capital of Shanghai will be subjected to an unexpected round of Covid-19 testing, only 10 days after a city-wide lockdown was lifted, disturbing citizens and raising fears about the effect on business. Shanghai authorities said on Thursday that owing to the identification of a few cases in the neighborhood, seven of …

ASEAN – According to Malay Mail, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the ruler of Selangor, has issued a proclamation stating that the Bon Odori festival would take place in July as scheduled. This comes after the Minister of Religious Affairs, Datuk Idris Ahmad, said that Muslims should not participate in the Japanese festivities. He based his statement on the fact that …

ASEAN – Following the appearance of a video on social media that seems to show one of the suspects clutching what may be a shotgun, the authorities have opened an investigation into two young males, ages 19 and 21, whom they suspect of being responsible for inciting public concern. Initial investigations revealed that the item in question was a plastic …

Asean – A man travelling to Australia who transited through Singapore last Thursday (June 2) has tested positive for monkeypox, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). In a statement on Monday, MOH said that it was informed of the case on Saturday by the New South Wales Ministry of Health. The man had departed from Barcelona on June 1 and …

ASEAN – The US State Department has revised its fact sheet on Taiwan once more, reiterating that it does not favor formal independence for the Chinese-claimed, democratically-governed island. To Beijing’s chagrin, the State Department updated the wording on its website for Taiwan last month, eliminating language about not supporting Taiwan independence as well as admitting Beijing’s view that Taiwan is …

Asean – Official results indicated Thursday that South Korea’s governing party achieved a landslide win in local elections for mayors and governors of key cities and provinces, giving newly elected President Yoon Suk-yeol a considerable boost. Yoon, an outspoken anti-feminist and political newcomer, won the March presidential election by only 0.7 percent — the smallest margin ever — and now …