ASEAN IN FOCUS

Indonesia volcano erupts, blankets villages in ash

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia’s most active volcano Mount Merapi erupted Monday, belching a cloud of ash into the air as red lava flowed down its crater. The early morning explosions spewed clouds as far as 3.5 kilometres (2 miles) from the rumbling volcano, blanketing local communities in grey ash. There were no evacuation orders or reports of casualties. Merapi, close to Indonesia’s cultural capital Yogyakarta on Java island, has been particularly active in recent […]

Thousands join convoy protests against Thai PM

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thousands of protesters in cars and on bikes massed in Bangkok’s central shopping district Sunday, one of several mobile rallies across Thailand demanding Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha resign over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. By nightfall, some protesters clashed with authorities, shooting fireworks and flinging projectiles to defend against riot police, who had deployed rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon. The use of such weapons by police has become increasingly […]

Malaysian PM to offer resignation Monday: minister

Malaysia’s embattled leader will offer his resignation to the king Monday, a minister said, potentially spelling an end to his 17-month-old government and plunging the country into fresh turmoil. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has faced mounting pressure to step aside after losing his parliamentary majority, and over his administration’s handling of a worsening coronavirus outbreak. He made a last-ditch attempt to cling to power Friday by urging opposition MPs to support him in exchange for […]

Indonesian parents grieve for child COVID victims amid Delta variant outbreak

  by Dessy SAGITA / Haeril HALIM Agence France Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Tirsa Manitik gave birth to her first girl in June and buried her a month later — another casualty of virus-battered Indonesia’s soaring child death toll. The Southeast Asian nation has been hit by its worst Covid-19 surge yet as the ultra-infectious Delta variant sent deaths skyrocketing and left a trail of devastated parents in its wake. “My heart is broken. […]

Thai police fire rubber bullets, tear gas at Bangkok protest

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Riot police fired water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters in Bangkok Tuesday as hundreds rallied for democratic reform and against the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Demonstrators defied a ban on public gatherings as Thailand tries to quash its worst virus outbreak so far, with new cases hovering around the 20,000 mark daily. The slow start to the coronavirus vaccination program in Thailand and economic pain from […]

Covid stigma keeps Myanmar medical volunteers locked out of home

by Ye Aung THU TAUNGOO, Myanmar (AFP) —  Buddhist monk and a budding sailor are among the outcasts squatting in an abandoned building in Myanmar while they help bury coronavirus victims and their worried families tell them to keep away. A surge in infections across the country has been aggravated by a lack of formal medical care, with many hospitals empty of staff joining nationwide strikes against a February military coup. Thar Gyi, one of […]

Resource-starved Singapore turns sewage into ultra-clean water

by Martin Abbugao Agence France Presse SINGAPORE (AFP) — Giant pumps whir deep underground at a plant in Singapore that helps transform sewage into water so clean it is fit for human consumption while reducing ocean pollution. The tiny island nation has little in the way of natural water sources and has long had to rely principally on supplies from neighbouring Malaysia. To boost self-sufficiency, the government has developed an advanced system for treating sewage […]

Myanmar junta says had ‘nothing to do’ with UN envoy plot

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s junta had “nothing to do” with an alleged plot to attack the country’s ambassador to the UN, who has defied the military and backed the pro-democracy movement, state media said Tuesday. Kyaw Moe Tun made headlines after the army’s February coup, brazenly disregarding its insistence that he no longer represents the country at the New York-based body. Last week United States prosecutors said they had charged two Myanmar citizens over […]

Brunei clamps down after first local virus cases in 15 months

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Brunei imposed strict curbs to halt the spread of Covid-19, after finding its first locally transmitted cases in the country in over a year. Seven community infections were found, the health ministry said Saturday, leading the government to close all places of worship and postpone social events for two weeks. Mass events were also limited to groups of 30 people over this period as school classes were moved online and […]

Malaysia to ease Covid restrictions for fully vaccinated in eight states

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysia will ease coronavirus curbs for fully vaccinated people in states comprising about half the country, its premier said Sunday. The move, which takes effect from Tuesday, will allow millions to cross district borders, play individual outdoor sports and eat in restaurants in eight states where cases have fallen and vaccination rates are promising. A lockdown since June has shut down thousands of businesses and limited most peoples’ travel to […]

Malaysia to ease Covid restrictions for fully vaccinated in eight states

Malaysia will ease coronavirus curbs for fully vaccinated people in states comprising about half the country, its premier said Sunday. The move, which takes effect from Tuesday, will allow millions to cross district borders, play individual outdoor sports and eat in restaurants in eight states where cases have fallen and vaccination rates are promising. A lockdown since June has shut down thousands of businesses and limited most peoples’ travel to the districts where they lived, […]

Brunei clamps down after first local virus cases in 15 months

Brunei imposed strict curbs to halt the spread of Covid-19, after finding its first locally transmitted cases in the country in over a year. Seven community infections were found, the health ministry said Saturday, leading the government to close all places of worship and postpone social events for two weeks. Mass events were also limited to groups of 30 people over this period as school classes were moved online and restaurants barred from serving dine-in. […]