ASEAN News

Scuffles broke out on Thursday between opponents and supporters of the Myanmar coup, as Facebook shut down all accounts connected to the military of the country and blocked advertising on its platforms from military-controlled companies. According to local media, pro-military protesters marching in downtown Yangon, the largest city in the country, stabbed one man and punched and hurled rocks at …

After a bungled trapping operation outside a busy shopping center in Metro Manila, two Philippine police officers were killed and one wounded in an assault with a drugs enforcement team, raising more concerns about President Rodrigo Duterte‘s ongoing deadly drug war. Three Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents were also wounded in the attack on Wednesday evening, although the seriousness …

SINGAPORE: On Tuesday, Senior State Minister for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad declared that Singapore is considering a progressive wage model for the retail sector (Feb 23).The progressive wage model is a program aimed at rising the wages of low-wage workers by developing their skills and improving their productivity. In 2015, the scheme began. If included, under the progressive wage model, the …

SINGAPORE – Without fear of spreading the coronavirus, Singapore has been testing a ‘bubble’ business hotel that will allow quarantined executives arriving in the country to conduct face-to-face meetings and even exchange documents. The bubble was set up in an exhibition venue near Changi airport in the city-state and has separate air ducts for tourists and guests, plus hundreds of …

The Hong Kong and Singapore governments are continuing negotiations about a quarantine-free travel bubble between the two cities that was postponed last year after a surge in Covid-19 cases occurred in Hong Kong. There are close discussions in Singapore and Hong Kong on the Air Travel Bubble. When we are ready, we will announce more information,’ says Daniel Ng, Director …

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is spearheading an effort to get the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) more involved in resolving the political situation in Myanmar. Retno flew to Brunei yesterday and is scheduled to visit Singapore today for talks to create an ASEAN consensus on the unfolding of the region’s political crisis. Thank you @VivianBala for receiving me …

Malaysia and the Philippines Civil Society Organizations encourage the 10 Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to designate the whole area a “no dumping ground” for hazardous waste and plastic waste. The 10 Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are urged by Malaysia and the Philippines Civil Society Organizations to declare the …

SINGAPORE: On Wednesday (Feb 17), Singapore received the first shipment of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, two weeks after the authorities approved it for use here. The vaccines were brought on board Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ7137, a scheduled freighter service from Brussels, Belgium, and arrived at approximately 1.40pm in Singapore. Pleased to see the safe arrival of the first batch of …

The ASEAN states, including Singapore, have intensively discussed the political crisis in Myanmar and can play a discreet role in helping Myanmar return to stability, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 16). The bloc, however, stands firm on its policy of not interfering in its members’ domestic politics, he added. Dr Balakrishnan, who responded to questions from …

SINGAPORE: On Monday (Feb 15), a British national and his Singaporean wife pleaded guilty to unlawfully spending time together in the Ritz-Carlton Millenia hotel during his stay-home notice. Nigel Skea, 52, was allowed, under COVID-19 regulations, to stay in his hotel room for 14 days. Three times he violated the rules and on his third departure he met his then …