ASEAN News

Philippines – On Thursday, US prosecutors revealed sex-trafficking charges against the head of a Philippines-based church, who is a companion and adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name (KOJC), and other church officials, including two US-based church executives, are accused of running a sex-trafficking activities …

Philippines – Three Chinese Coast Guard ships halted and deployed water cannons on two Manila supply boats on their route to a Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea, which the Philippines denounced “in the strongest terms,” according to its top diplomat. No one was injured in the November 16 incident at the Second Thomas Shoal, according to Teodoro Locsin , …

Malaysia – Datuk Awang Hashim, who is the Deputy Human Resource Minister, has made a statement that committed Malaysians must communicate with other people and use Malay in all sectors, pointing to him chastising a reporter for not speaking Malay when the reporter asked about his party’s policies in an interview. In response to a query from Cha Kee Chin (Rasah-PH) …

ASEAN – In an upcoming special, the American children’s television show Sesame Street will feature its first Asian American character. According to The Washington Post, Ji-Young, a seven-year-old Korean American muppet played by Kathleen Kim of Sesame Workshop, will make his debut in See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special, a Thanksgiving performance highlighting diversity in Asian and Pacific …

Philippines – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to run for senator in next year’s elections, abandoning his plans to retire from politics. Duterte’s representative filed his candidacy on Monday, the deadline for political parties to choose their candidates, putting an end to uncertainty about the controversial leader’s game plan. Many in the Southeast Asian nation were both delighted and …

ASEAN – Defense ministers from ASEAN Nations and their dialogue partners recently convened to explore measures to boost their relationship and cooperation in the face of a variety of regional security concerns, according to the Department of National Defense (DND). During the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat and Handover Ceremony on Nov. 10, Assistant …

Malaysia – The national defence and security industry policy is expected to be launched within a month or two, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He said the launch of the policy will strengthen the country’s defence industry, which is one of the main focuses of the Ministry of Defence. Ismail Sabri was speaking to the media after …

Malaysia – Malaysia’s new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will lead the Malaysian delegation at the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) scheduled at 7pm today. Set to be chaired by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, all 21 Apec Economic Leaders are expected to participate in the meeting. Themed “Join, Work, Grow, Together”, the Apec Economic Leaders are …

Malaysia – As both nations recover from the Covid-19 outbreak, Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to establish a travel corridor between them through the Travel Corridor Arrangement or Vaccinated Travel Lane arrangement. The appropriate ministries will enhance the idea, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, so that the boundary between the two nations — which includes the …

Malaysia – Adly Zahari, chairman of Melaka Pakatan Harapan (PH), defended the coalition’s move to nominate two former Umno members in the state poll.   Adly noted in a recent interview with a news site that the choice was not without controversy and that PH leaders had faced intense internal backlash as well. According to Adly, he cannot dispute that Idris …