ASEAN News

On Tuesday, December 27, Japanese Reconstruction Minister Kenya Akiba submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He is the fourth minister to depart the government that Kishida constituted in August. In rapid succession, three other ministers have resigned as a result of scandals, some of which include money and relations with the Unification Church. The close ties that the …

On Tuesday, December 27, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol granted a special pardon to former President Lee Myung-bak, who was convicted of corruption and other charges and who has been suffering from poor health in recent years. The pardon was granted despite the fact that Lee Myung-bak was found guilty of these and other charges. Lee, who is now 81 …

A member of the PENTAGON named Hongseok has reportedly been released from his mandatory military service earlier than expected owing to medical issues, as stated in a report by Soompi. Cube Entertainment disclosed on Monday, December 26, that Hongseok, who had been assigned to the Wartime Labor Service, had been receiving treatment and counseling while serving in the military “due …

It would appear that Song Joong-ki has discovered a new love in his life. The news that the actor is in a new relationship was announced in a statement released on the 26th of December by his agency, High Zium studio. “At this time, actor Song Joong Ki is in a relationship with a woman who makes him feel good.” …

China’s two largest cities, Beijing and Shanghai, were inching closer to living with the COVID-19 virus on Monday, December 16. Millions have been infected with the virus around the country. After years of draconian anti-coronavirus restrictions, President Xi Jinping abandoned the country’s zero-COVID policy in response to protests and an escalating outbreak. After the first shock of the policy reversal …

Authorities in Shanghai advised locals to stay at home this weekend, aiming for a subdued Christmas in the nation’s most populated metropolis as COVID-19 rages nationally following the removal of strict restrictions. Saturday, December 24, a branch of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission encouraged young people to avoid crowded gatherings owing to the ease of coronavirus transmission and cold temperatures. …

Since their announcement, the inaugural China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, which ushered in a new era in Chinese-Arab ties, have attracted global interest, and their successful convening has brought China-Arab and China-GCC relations to new heights. As the globe grapples with increased uncertainty and a potentially protracted economic slowdown, the partnership between China and Arab …

On Thursday, December 22, Thailand convened regional consultations to discuss the situation in army-controlled Myanmar, including rare overseas appearances by junta ministers. However, despite invites, several prominent members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) did not participate. Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia’s foreign ministries, as well as Vietnam’s deputy foreign minister, participated in the meetings hosted by Thailand’s foreign …

On Friday, December 23, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed the Philippines’ first four cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, which is responsible for the recent increase in illnesses in China. “As of now, only four instances of BF.7 have been found in the country, and these cases are being recorded under Omicron BA.5” the Department of Health informed reporters through …

The island’s defense ministry announced on Thursday, December 22 that Taiwan scrambled fighter planes to warn away 39 Chinese aircraft that had entered its southern air defense zone. Taiwan has complained about recurrent Chinese air force flights in the south of its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during the past two years. The intrusion on Thursday included 21 fighters, four …