ASEAN News

The death toll from the devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture has climbed to 23, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Emergency operations are going through yet another tough day, as conditions continue to be serious. A strong 5.8-magnitude aftershock has interrupted search-and-rescue efforts repeatedly and crews will be temporarily unable to do …

In Japan, a devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the country’s south-western Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Kyushu, killing at least 13 people, injuring hundreds and trapping people under collapsed buildings. One of the strongest tremors in recent years, unleashed the devastating effects, sparking emergency rescue operations of unprecedented scale in the country. Police, fire and more than 4,500 personnel from Japan’s national …

For more than five years, the ASEAN has been working on a political roadmap, the Five Point Consensus (5PC), to solve the political situation in Myanmar, but the region is still facing a lack of tangible results. It took 29 years for Myanmar’s ASEAN accession in July 2026, but tensions between ASEAN and Myanmar over implementation, and the impact of …

The story of the UAE and its remarkable journey from a young federation to one of the most influential modern nations in the world, was broadcasted on July 24th, 2026. It’s a powerful narrative, built around a simple idea, one that is that of the most powerful thing that a nation can preserve is to build it. A Story of …

A new diplomatic row has infighted between the two countries of China and Japan after their previous encounter in the recently held Manila Asean Regional Forum. It was a small disagreement really, between the two foreign ministers of the two countries, it’s just a small thing, but it’s quickly grown into another indicator to the growing friction between the two …

The tariff impositions by the United States in WTO terms are called Section 301 tariffs, which have significantly affected the trade dynamics for several economies in Southeast Asia. The Office of the United States Trade Representative completed the investigations and Washington imposed new tariffs on 60 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The transfer takes place at a critical juncture …

North Korea is paying lip service to the rule of centrality in ASEAN, while objecting to the growing security alliance buildup in the Indo-Pacific led by the United States. The assertion was made by the Korean Central News Agency after the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers‘ Meeting (ASEAN MIM) and 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, …

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia is marking its 50th anniversary in 2026, highlighting five decades of promoting peace, mutual respect, and regional cooperation. Originally launched by the founding ASEAN countries in 1991, the ASEAN Agreement has now grown into one of the world’s biggest and most influential political cooperatives involving over 60 High Contracting Parties from …

On July 22, 2026, the Philippines, Brazil and the ASEAN Secretariat held a high-level trilateral meeting in Manila during the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.  Under the ASEAN Chairmanship of the Philippines, the meeting brought focus to the increasing significance of including the world’s biggest economy in ASEAN and on the options for expanding cooperation in trade, …

The distribution of financial aid for livelihood, industry, food and transportation (LIFT) under the United Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program has officially opened at the Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR) as part of national initiatives to reduce the direct economic burden on households. More than 53,000 qualified households will be given …