ASEAN News

The Forbes Philippines 50 Richest 2026 exercise has brought one of the most drastic changes in the country’s business map during the past few years. The top ranking has been grabbed for the first time by port and casino magnate Enrique Razon Jr, who put the Sy family at the bottom of the rankings. Razon also entered history as the …

This was a major milestone in the Southeast Asian context of negotiation between the leaders of the countries in the Southeast Asian region, namely Prabowo Subianto and Xi Jinping (China) in November 2024.  The deal also included about US$10 billion in economic cooperation, for trade, mining and industrial projects, as well as the introduction of a more sensitive topic: joint …

After the devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture one week ago, the government has begun a new phase of recovery, with the aid package for the prefect decided last week and totaling ¥24.2 billion ($160 million). The money would go toward speeding up the reconstruction, repairing damaged infrastructure, and aiding thousands of disaster-devastated residents that have yet to recover. View …

The Philippines takes on ASEAN Chairmanship for 2026 with this year characterized by a sea of uncertainty and unaffordable climate risks. Although the regional economic-integration agenda and the Myanmar issue continue to be treated as a top priority, Manila has taken the security of the waters in the region and the much-expected South China Sea Code of Conduct. 2026 is …

Although the humanitarian crisis is ongoing, Kumamoto is beginning to recover from its devastating earthquake of 7.1 magnitude. The death toll has been raised to 36 and the rescue team continues with search efforts inside stricken buildings to find any survivors. There may be more casualties as the assessments are carried out, authorities say. Police, firefighters, members of Japan Self-Defense …

Rescue efforts for the devastated area of the Japanese city of Kumamoto are ongoing for four days after the earthquake. 34 people were killed as a result of the earthquake and over 80 others have been injured, with five of them in critical condition. Higher than usual numbers of response personnel, cooling shelters, air-conditioning units, and emergency water supplies have …

A number of incidents in recent days have brought a new urgency into the conversation about the approach of governments to countering the financing of terror groups and the recent reports of possible U.S. action against Mahmoud El-Ebiary and other groups allegedly associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.  Instead of individuals, the financial, administrative and organizational systems and structures that authorities …

As Southeast Asia collaborates on building a stronger, more sustainable energy sector, the ASEAN Power Grid has entered into a new frontier. Within the framework of ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030, the member countries are taking steps to go beyond bilateral electricity exchange and construct an integrated Power market system that will facilitate the long-term economic growth …

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 …