ASEAN News

Brunei – According to Xinhua, the Prime Minister’s Office in Brunei said recently that the temporary suspension of cross-border activity between Brunei and Malaysia would be prolonged for another 15 days. For a total of 15 more days till January 15, 2022, the government has prolonged the temporary suspension on admission of foreign people via land and sea ports, including …

Indonesia – After locals and the world community protested its intention to drive Rohingya migrants into Malaysian seas, Indonesia said that it would allow dozens of them onshore. At least 100 people, primarily women and children, on a damaged wooden sailboat off the coast of Aceh province were refused asylum in Indonesia, where officials claimed they intended to force them …

Japan – As the New Year’s festivities begin,  Japan prepared for a predicted resurgence in coronavirus infections as roads and airports were clogged with travelers. As additional cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 emerged, including a possible cluster at an Osaka nursing home, the governors of Tokyo and Osaka recommended citizens to keep end-of-year parties limited. Travelers should take …

Singapore – Coach Shin Tae-yong challenged his team to play to their capabilities in the final against five-time winners Thailand, saying that just the ambition to win the Suzuki Cup would not be enough to break Indonesia’s drought in the South-east Asian tournament. Due to the pandemic, the regional tournament is being played in a biosecure “bubble” in Singapore, where …

India – According to reports, an expert committee of India’s pharma authority approved emergency use authorization (EUA) for Merck’s Covid-19 pill molnupiravir, as well as the Covovax and corbevax vaccines from Serum Institute of India and Biological E, among other products. According to a report published today, the recommendations of the topic expert group have been sent to the Drugs …

Myanmar – In response to convincing accusations that at least 35 people were murdered and their remains were burnt in Myanmar, a senior United Nations official said yesterday that he was horrified and called on the government to initiate an inquiry. In the event in eastern Kaya state, two members of the non-profit organization Save the Children went missing after …

Malaysia – Rescuers in northern Myanmar claimed that the verified death toll from a landslide at an illegal jade mine had grown to six, but that the search effort had been called off since dozens of others were still missing and assumed dead. Thousands of people die each year while working in the lucrative but poorly controlled jade trade, in …

Hong Kong – Two Hong Kong universities removed statues commemorating Beijing’s 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square democracy protests on Friday, as authorities continue to clear the southern Chinese colony of any signs of the fatal incident. The removals follow the demolition of a monument commemorating the brutal crackdown by Hong Kong’s oldest university, which sparked outrage from activists and dissident …

Singapore – The national badminton team should use Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew’s incredible accomplishment last Sunday in winning the 2021 Badminton World Championship as incentive to continue achieving success in the future, former badminton great Datuk Lee Chong Wei said. Although Malaysian badminton fans and observers described the Penang-born player’s achievement as a major blow to the country’s badminton …

ASEAN – According to her office, Ingrida Simonyte, who is the Lithuanian Prime Minister had a meeting with the Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday in order to have a dicussion on the topic of the United States’ assistance for Lithuania in the face of Chinese economic pressure. The Chinese government has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania last month …