ASEAN IN FOCUS

Indonesia protests against China ship in its waters

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Jakarta has protested against the intrusion of a Chinese coast guard ship into the Southeast Asian archipelago’s waters, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said Monday. The Chinese vessel, identified as CCG 5204, was seen Saturday in North Natuna waters, Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone near the Riau Islands province. “Following the issue, the ministry on Sunday communicated with Chinese representative in Jakarta to request clarification,” spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told AFP on Monday. The Indonesian […]

Continue Reading →

Jakarta to reimpose partial lockdown as virus cases surge

  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia’s capital Jakarta plans to re-impose a partial lockdown as early as Monday over fears that surging coronavirus cases could “collapse” its under-pressure hospitals, the sprawling city’s governor said. The megacity of some 30 million will see many office buildings and large mosques closed along with restaurants and other entertainment venues, while public transport hours will also be restricted. The announcement comes three months after an earlier lockdown was lifted, […]

Continue Reading →

China says US biggest threat to peace in South China Sea

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China accused the US of becoming “the biggest driver of militarization” in the contested South China Sea, as tensions between Washington and Beijing look set to swamp a regional Asian summit. US-China rivalry is expected to dominate discussion at this year’s ASEAN conference, which comes just days after Beijing launched ballistic missiles in the flashpoint waters as part of live-fire exercises. Beijing claims the majority of the resource-rich South China Sea, […]

Continue Reading →

House approves 50-year franchise to SMC for New Manila Int’l Airport in Bulacan

(Eagle News) – Voting 218–6, the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading House Bill 7507 granting a 50-year franchise to San Miguel Aerocity Inc., to construct, operate and maintain the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan. The ultra modern and world-class domestic and international airport in Bulacan with a total cost of P735.63 billion under a build-operate-transfer arrangement sill span some 2,500 hectares. It is envisioned as an alternative gateway […]

Continue Reading →

Fewest virus cases in ASEAN: Lao PDR envoy explains how his country prevented COVID-19 spread

(Eagle News) — The Ambassador of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) in Manila, His Excellency Songkane Luangmuninthone, talks about the situation of Filipinos in his country, and how Lao PDR had managed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in this interview by ASEAN in Focus anchor Alma Angeles. The Ambassador said that the virus lockdown in his country has already been lifted, and people can now go back to normal life. Lao PDR […]

Continue Reading →

PHL, Russia agree on data sharing on Sputnik V vaccine clinical trials in COVID-19 fight

PHL, one of 5 countries outside Russia to join Sputnik V Phase 3 clinical trials starting October (Eagle News) – The Philippine government said it already has a “confidentiality data agreement” with the Russian government so details regarding the results of the Russian clinical trials on its vaccine against COVID-19, Sputnik V, would be given to the Philippines. “The Department of Science and Technology said that this is important so Philippine experts can analyze the […]

Continue Reading →

US warship sails near disputed islands in tense South China Sea

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — An American warship sailed near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the US Navy has said, challenging Beijing’s claims on the resource-rich waterway and prompting a warning from the Chinese military. The Thursday operation came a day after China fired ballistic missiles into the sea as part of ongoing live-fire exercises, inflaming already high tensions between Washington and Beijing. The US regularly conduct “freedom of navigation operations” […]

Continue Reading →

Thailand to push for more restriction of online content: minister

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thailand is pushing for the removal of 1,000 online posts, videos, and other content that “breaks the law”, a minister said Wednesday, after Facebook vowed legal action over the censorship of a group discussing the monarchy. Youth-led pro-democracy protests have swept Thailand in recent weeks, calling for political reform and frank discussion about the powerful king’s role in the country — long a taboo subject. A private Facebook group called “Royalist […]

Continue Reading →

UPDATED: Jolo hit by 2 explosions; at least 14 killed, including 7 soldiers; scores injured on busy street

(Eagle News) — Two explosions rocked Jolo, Sulu today, Monday, Aug. 24, killing seven soldiers, six civilians, one policeman, and injuring scores of people near a grocery store and a computer shop along a busy street. The first explosion happened at 11:53 a.m while the second one was at around 1 p.m. Police initially reported at least six casualties — five soldiers and the sixth initially tagged as the female suicide bomber. Later, the number […]

Continue Reading →

Thai court issues warrants after protesters tackle royal taboos

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — A Thai court issued arrest warrants Wednesday for six pro-democracy activists involved in recent rallies that have seen frank discussion of the monarchy and calls for an overhaul of the government. The near-daily demonstrations by a youth-led pro-democracy movement have been largely tolerated by authorities so far, but police said Wednesday they now had warrants to arrest half a dozen of the most prominent protesters. They will be charged with “sedition, […]

Continue Reading →

Malaysia coast guard kill Vietnamese fisherman in S. China Sea clash

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — The Malaysian coast guard shot dead a Vietnamese fisherman whose boat tried to ram a patrol vessel in the South China Sea, an official said Monday. The incident took place inside Malaysian waters, where local fisherman have complained in the past about Vietnamese fishing boats that damage their nets. Coast guard chief Zubil Mat Som told AFP that two Vietnamese fishing boats had entered Malaysian waters some 80 nautical miles […]

Continue Reading →

Vietnam looking to buy Russia virus vaccine

  HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam’s health ministry is looking to buy a bulk order of Russia’s coronavirus vaccine, state media said on Friday, despite global scepticism over its effectiveness and safety. The communist nation of 95 million people has been widely praised for its effective handling of the pandemic and went nearly 100 days without recording a locally transmitted infection until last month. But an outbreak in the beach resort of Danang has put […]

Continue Reading →
1 … 90 91 92 93 94 … 219