ASEAN IN FOCUS

Malaysia coast guard makes record $26mn meth seizure

  KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysia’s coastguard has made its largest ever seizure of methamphetamine, a top official said on Sunday, seizing 2.12 tonnes of the drug disguised as tea in a shipment believed to have come from Myanmar. Coastguard chief Zubil Mat Som said the drugs found on a boat in northern Penang state were worth around 105.9 ringgit ($26.2 million). A local suspected trafficker was arrested. “It is the coastguard’s record-breaking seizure […]

Palace dismayed as PHL lags behind other ASEAN countries in internet speed

  (Eagle News) – Malacanang is very much dismayed that the country’s internet speed remains slow despite the deadline given by President Rodrigo Duterte that it has lagged behind many of its ASEAN neighbors. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that despite some improvements, in terms of increased contruction permits for telephone companies, the Philippines is still behind many of the ASEAN countries, including Myanmar and Laos, as the government pushed telcos to do better. “Narinig […]

Indonesia holds nationwide poll despite virus warnings

  by Agnes ANYA Agence France Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia held nationwide regional elections Wednesday with more than 100 million voters eligible to cast a ballot, despite warnings the poll would worsen the nation’s Covid-19 crisis. The archipelago of nearly 270 million — the world’s third-biggest democracy and fourth most populous nation — delayed the vote originally set for September as it struggled to contain soaring infection rates. From the capital Jakarta to […]

Thai PM wins crucial legal battle to stay in office

by Lisa MARTIN BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, under pressure from months of street protests, Wednesday survived a legal challenge over his living arrangements that could have seen him thrown out of office. The kingdom’s nine-member constitutional court ruled that Prayut was not guilty of conflict of interest by living in an army residence after leaving the military. “The status of General Prayut Chan-O-Cha as prime minister and defence minister remains […]

IS-linked militants kill four in Indonesia: police

  PALU, Indonesia (AFP) — Islamic State-linked extremists killed four people in a remote Christian community on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, authorities said Saturday, with one victim beheaded and another burned to death. The group of sword-and-gun wielding attackers ambushed Lembantongoa village in Central Sulawesi province Friday morning, killing several residents and torching half a dozen homes, including one used for regular prayers and services, police said. No arrests had yet been made and […]

Indonesian volcano belches huge tower of smoke and ash

  JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia’s Mount Ili Lewotolok erupted Sunday, belching a column of smoke and ash four kilometres (2.5 miles) into the sky, triggering a flight warning and the closure of the local airport. There were no reports of injuries or damage from the eruption in a remote part of the Southeast Asian archipelago. But authorities raised the volcano’s alert status to its second-highest level as they warned of possible lava flows. A […]

PHL drops to 26th spot among nations with most COVID cases; Indonesia tops ASEAN with most virus infections

  (Eagle News) — The Philippines dropped to rank no. 26 from last month’s 19th spot in terms of the most number of COVID-19 cases in the country as fewer cases were reported here compared to other countries. According to the Johns Hopkins University virus dashboard, the country dropped several rungs from the ladder of top countries with the most cases across the globe. It has 412,097 cases as of past noon Thursday, Nov. 19.  […]

World’s largest free trade agreement signed at end of ASEAN Summit in coup for China

  by Alice Philipson, with Martin Abbugao in Singapore Agence France Presse HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Fifteen Asia-Pacific countries on Sunday signed the world’s biggest free trade deal, seen as a huge coup for China in extending its influence. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) includes 10 Southeast Asian economies along with China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia, with members accounting for around 30 percent of global GDP. First proposed in 2012, the […]

Huge China-backed trade pact to be signed at Southeast Asian summit

by Alice Philipson with Martin Abbugao in Singapore HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Fifteen Asia-Pacific nations are set to sign an enormous free trade deal at an online summit that started Thursday, with the pact seen as a coup for China in extending its influence across the region. Once signed, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be the world’s largest trade pact in terms of GDP, according to analysts. The pact, which was first proposed […]

Suu Kyi’s party confident of landslide victory in Myanmar polls

by Richard SARGENT YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) said Monday it was confident of winning a landslide victory in Myanmar as official results trickled in following the weekend’s coronavirus-disrupted election. Millions lined up for hours to cast their ballots on Sunday — only the second national election since the country emerged from outright military rule in 2011. Nobel laureate Suu Kyi remains a heroine for many […]

PHL Ambassador thanks Iglesia Ni Cristo for “Aid to Humanity” for OFWs in Malaysia

(Eagle News) — Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia, H. E. Charles C. Jose thanked the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) or Church Of Christ for the recent Aid to Humanity event or Lingap sa Mamamayan that helped many overseas Filipino workers in Malaysia. The Church turned over around 200 relief bags to the Philippine embassy in Malaysia on Oct. 31 for distribution to the OFWs in Malaysia. This was also done to mark the birthday of the […]

Iglesia Ni Cristo helps hard-to-reach communities in Papua New Guinea through “Aid to Humanity”

  (Eagle News) — The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC or Church Of Christ) helped poor communities in Papua New Guinea, including hard to reach areas there,  through the  Aid To Humanity event on Oct. 31, which was also done worldwide to help various communities in need. The Church’s latest Worldwide Aid to Humanity campaign was held to also mark the birthday of INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo. Communities from June Valley in Port […]