MIAMI, United States (AFP) — South Asia, home to one-fifth of the world’s population, could see humid heat rise to unsurvivable levels by century’s end if nothing is done to halt global warming, researchers said Wednesday. The study in the journal Science Advances warned of “summer heat waves with levels of heat and humidity that exceed what humans can survive without protection.” The research is based on two climate models. One is a “business-as-usual” scenario […]
Tag: Southeast Asia
Mixed martial arts training secrets: What it takes to be a world champion
(CCTV) — Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport in the world. Using a combination of Olympics sports – such as boxing, Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai (to name but a few) – MMA fighters are among the most well conditioned and skilled athletes. It takes years of dedication and intense training to become a world champion. Take 32-year-old MMA fighter Aung La N Sung, for example. The aptly named ‘Burmese Python’ from Myanmar’s […]
PHL, Malaysia, Indonesia agree to discuss proposed plan of action to counter terrorism, violent extremism in region
(Eagle News) — The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia on Thursday agreed to “task senior officials to consider a proposed plan of action” that will counter terrorism and violent extremism in the region. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a press conference after a meeting with his counterparts in Pasay that the proposal will discuss ways to: enhance efforts and cooperation in addressing the root causes and underlying conditions of extremism including but not limited […]
US, Australian officials say foreign fighters may return to Southeast Asia
SYDNEY, Australia — Top United States and Australian officials on Monday said foreign fighters may return to Southeast Asia from the Middle East and take up arms in their own countries. The warning follows this weekend’s terror attacks in London, which were claimed by the Islamic State group, and amid ongoing clashes with local terrorists who have pledged allegiance to the IS in a city in Mindanao, Philippines. IS fighters will “come back with battlefield […]
Featured video: The Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship theme song, “ASEAN Spirit”
(Eagle News) — The song, “ASEAN Spirit” was sung for the first time during the launch of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Davao City on Sunday, January 15. It was performed by Filipino world class tenor, Jonathan Badon, also known as “Prince of Popera” for his ability to easily switch his singing style from classic opera to pop or vice versa, accompanied by Davao City’s “Himig Choir” […]
PH can become Hub of Space Tech in Southeast Asia, says astrophysicist
TAGUIG CITY, Nov. 22 – The Philippines has the capability to become the hub of space technology and space applications in Southeast Asia where engineers, scientists, and industry stakeholders around the region can converge, instead of the country sending its professionals abroad to learn and be trained. This was stated by astrophysicist Dr. Rogel Mari D. Sese in an interview with the media after a press conference for the 23rd Session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space […]
SE Asia faces rising threat from IS groups: study
JAKARTA, Indonesia | AFP | — Southeast Asia faces a growing risk of extremist violence as Islamic State group supporters increasingly work together, but law enforcement agencies are unprepared for the new threat, a report warned Tuesday. The main danger lies in the strife-torn southern Philippines, where a handful of Islamic extremist groups have sworn allegiance to IS, according to the report from think-tank the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC). The groups have […]
First Thai babies diagnosed with Zika-linked microcephaly
BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thai health authorities on Friday said microcephaly in two babies was caused by the Zika virus, in what is believed to be Southeast Asia’s first confirmed case of a link between the sickness and the birth defect. Tourism is expected to account for 17 percent of Thailand’s GDP this year, and authorities will be desperate to prevent visitor numbers from tailing off after Friday’s announcement. “Two of the three infants (tested) […]
China under pressure at Asia summit over sea row
by Martin Abbugao and Karl Malakunas VIENTIANE, Laos (AFP) — Beijing came under pressure at an Asian summit Wednesday over its “illegal” island-building in the South China Sea, after the Philippines produced photos it said showed fresh construction activity at a flashpoint shoal. Any artificial island at Scarborough Shoal could be a game-changer in China’s quest to control the South China Sea and raises the risk of armed confrontation with the United States, security […]
Vietnam says all will lose in any South China Sea war
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang warned on Tuesday there would be no winners in any armed conflict sparked by territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Quang, who is on a state visit to Singapore, told a forum that recent developments there were threatening regional security. The Vietnamese leader did not mention any country but there is growing unease over China’s actions. China claims most of the South China Sea. It […]
SEA will urge China to obey Hague verdict- PRRD
(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte told reporters on Wednesday that Southeast Asian countries will push China to respect the final ruling of the arbitration court in Hague even if our country does not bring it at a conference in Laos on September. “Whether we like it or not, that arbitral judgment would be insisted by the whole countries in Southeast Asia,”the President said. In July, China stressed a backlash statement about the ruling, stating that […]
Alibaba expands in Southeast Asia with $1 bn deal
SHANGHAI, China (AFP) — Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba will acquire a controlling stake in leading Southeast Asian online shopping platform Lazada for $1.0 billion, it said Tuesday as Jack Ma’s company seeks to expand outside its home market. Alibaba’s Taobao platform is estimated to have more than 90 percent of the consumer-to-consumer market in China, while its Tmall platform is believed to command more than half of business-to-consumer transactions. But its international commerce business only accounted […]





