ASEAN IN FOCUS

UPDATED: 7.3-magnitude quake strikes Indonesia, tsunami ‘possible’

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, as monitors warned of the possibility of hazardous tsunami waves. The USGS said the quake struck around 100 kilometres north of the town of Maumere at a depth of 18.5 kilometres (11 miles) in the Flores Sea at 0320 GMT. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said “hazardous waves are possible for coasts located within 1,000 km (600 miles) […]

Vietnam gives longest ever jail term for trading rhino horn: NGO

HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — A rhino horn trader has been sentenced to 14 years in jail, the longest ever prison term a Vietnamese court has handed down for the crime, a local conservation group said Wednesday. Vietnam is both a consumption hub and popular transit point for the multibillion-dollar trade in animal parts. Authorities have long vowed to stem the flow of illegal wildlife criss-crossing its borders, but experts have warned the black market persists […]

Indonesia volcano eruption death toll rises to 34

  by Haeril Halim Agence France Presse CURAH KOBOKAN, Indonesia (AFP) — The death toll from the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Semeru volcano rose to 34 on Tuesday, the national disaster agency said, as aid was rushed to the affected region. The mountain on the island of Java had thundered to life on Saturday, ejecting volcanic ash high into the sky and raining hot mud on villages as thousands of panicked people fled their homes. […]

Myanmar junta jails Suu Kyi for four years

Myanmar’s junta jailed ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday for four years for incitement against the military and breaching Covid rules, a government spokesman told AFP, the first of a series of possible sentences that could see the Nobel laureate imprisoned for decades. Suu Kyi, 76, has been detained since the generals staged a coup and ousted her government on February 1, ending the Southeast Asian country’s brief period of democracy. She has […]

Indonesia volcano death toll rises to 13

  by Juni Kriswanto Agence France Presse LUMAJANG, Indonesia (AFP) — The death toll from a sudden, spectacular eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Semeru has risen to 13, disaster officials said Sunday, as rescuers searched villages blanketed in molten ash for survivors. The eruption of Java’s biggest mountain caught locals by surprise on Saturday, sending thousands fleeing its path of destruction and forcing hundreds of families into makeshift shelters. It left at least 11 villages of […]

Thousands flee as Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupts

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupted on Saturday, spewing out a tower of smoke and ash that plunged local communities into darkness and forced thousands of nearby residents to flee. There were no immediate reports of casualties, the country’s disaster mitigation agency said. But rescuers moved to evacuate local residents as lava reached nearby villages and destroyed a bridge in Lumajang regency in East Java. “A number of areas went dark after being […]

Russia, ASEAN hold first naval drills off Indonesian coast

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Russia and a number of Southeast Asian countries kicked off their first ever joint naval exercise along the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, on Wednesday, Indonesia’s navy said. The drills come at a time of growing tensions in the Pacific, particularly around the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. All ten members of ASEAN, Southeast Asia’s regional bloc, participated in Wednesday’s […]

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi due to hear first verdict in junta trial

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (AFP) — Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to hear the verdict in her incitement trial on Tuesday, the first in a catalogue of judgements to be handed down in a junta court that could jail her for decades. The Nobel laureate has been detained since the generals ousted her government in the early hours of February 1, ending the Southeast Asian country’s brief democratic interlude. More than 1,200 people […]

China’s Pres. Xi commits to peace in ASEAN region, announces “comprehensive strategic partnership”

Says “maintaining peace in the region” is the “greatest common interest”   (Eagle News) – China’s President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on Monday, Nov. 22, as he vowed China’s commitment to peace and stability in the region. President Xi, during the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Relations on Monday, Nov. 22, recalled how in the past 30 years, China have “cast away the […]

Philippines accuses Chinese vessels of firing water cannon at its boats

  by Cecil MORELLA Agence France Presse The Philippines on Thursday accused Chinese Coast Guard vessels of firing water cannon at boats delivering supplies to Filipino marines in the disputed South China Sea, and ordered Beijing to “back off”. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said he had expressed “outrage, condemnation and protest” to Beijing over the incident, which he said happened Tuesday as the Philippine boats were travelling to Second Thomas Shoal in the contested Spratly […]

Pres. Duterte talks of his disappointment with Sara’s VP run, says he might run for VP too

Says he suspects Sara’s decision was influenced by Bongbong Marcos   (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday, Nov. 14, that he would be announcing his decision on whether he would run for vice-president or not in the “next few hours” as he talked of his disappointment that his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, decided to run for vice-president, instead of running for the top post. In an exclusive interview of “Banat […]

Indonesia seizes land owned by Suharto son’s company

  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia has seized land tied to an automaker owned by the son of its late dictator Suharto in a fresh bid to recoup money from the influential clan, the government said Friday. Military troops and police in West Java province on Friday took control of some 124 hectares (300 acres) of land controlled by Tommy Suharto and his PT Timor Putera Nasional company over some 2.6 trillion rupiah ($181 million) […]