ASEAN News

Afghanistan – The Taliban government has imposed a number of limitations on Afghan media, including the prohibition of female performers in television plays and the requirement that female news anchors wear Islamic hijab. A Taliban administration spokesperson stated on Tuesday that Afghanistan’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue issued nine guidelines this week, most of which focused on prohibiting any media …

Malaysia – Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany, who is the navy chief of Malaysia, paid a courtesy call on Singapore’s Minister of Defence, Ng Eng Hen, at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) during his introductory visit to the state. Ng and Mohd Reza reiterated the significance of strong connections between the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the …

Philippines – The Philippines’ defense chief announced today that a military resupply mission for the country’s troops stationed on an atoll in the South China Sea will begin this week, after it was halted last week due to a Chinese coast guard blockade. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana stated that he has directed the military to return its resupply vessels to …

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 …