ASEAN IN FOCUS

President Duterte sends greetings to US President Biden, VP Harris

Says US has shown world how it is an “exemplar” for democracy (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte greeted the 46th United States President Joe Biden and his Vice-President Kamala Harris on Thursday, January 21, shortly after the inauguration of the top US officials, saying that the Philippines is looking forward to continuing its “long-standing partnership with the United States.” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced this in a press briefing Monday, Jan. 21. “Our President, […]

Indonesian medics overwhelmed by quake casualties

by Andi Hajramurni, with Dessy Sagita in Jakarta MAMUJU, Indonesia (AFP) — Medics battled exhaustion and the risk of Covid-19 as they raced Monday to treat scores of people injured by a devastating earthquake on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island. At least 81 people were killed and thousands left homeless by the powerful 6.2-magnitude quake that struck early Friday, reducing buildings to a tangled mass of twisted metal and chunks of concrete in the seaside city of […]

China to donate one million Sinovac vaccine doses to Cambodia: PM

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AFP) — China will donate one million doses of its Sinovac coronavirus vaccine to Cambodia, the kingdom’s strongman premier Hun Sen has said, thanking “friend” Beijing for its generosity. Cambodia has long been a staunch ally of Beijing, receiving billions of dollars in soft loans and investment from China. While many countries reacted early in the pandemic by closing its borders to Chinese travellers, Hun Sen refused, and even travelled to Beijing […]

Indonesia quake death toll at least 42 as rescuers search for those trapped beneath rubble

  by Haeril HALIM / Agnes ANYA Agence France Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — A powerful earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Sulawesi island Friday, killing at least 42 people, levelling a hospital and severely damaging other buildings, authorities said, as they warned there were people still trapped beneath rubble. Hundreds were also injured when the 6.2-magnitude quake struck in the early hours, triggering panic among the terrified residents of the island, which was hit by a huge […]

At least 34 killed as quake rocks Indonesia

  by Haeril HALIM / Agnes ANYA Agence France Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — A powerful earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Sulawesi island early Friday, killing at least 34 people, levelling a hospital and severely damaging other buildings, authorities said. Hundreds more were injured when the 6.2-magnitude quake struck in the early hours, triggering panic among the terrified residents of the island, which was hit by a huge quake and tsunami two and a half years ago […]

JUST IN: Patients, staff trapped in rubble of hospital flattened by Indonesia quake

  More than a dozen patients and staff are trapped beneath the rubble of a hospital that was flattened when a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing at least three people, authorities said. “The hospital is flattened — it collapsed,” said Arianto from the rescue agency in Mamuju city, who goes by one name. “There are patients and hospital employees trapped under the rubble and we’re now trying to reach them,” he added, without […]

Hotel collapses, at least three dead in Indonesia quake: official

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — At least three people were killed and large buildings including a hotel collapsed when a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, authorities said. “Three people are dead and 24 are injured,” said National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Raditya Jati. The country’s search and rescue agency also confirmed that at least one hotel had collapsed. © Agence France-Presse  

Indonesia landslide toll rises to 21 as rescuers search for missing

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesian rescuers dug through mud Wednesday as they scrambled to find survivors from weekend landslides caused by torrential rains, as the death toll rose to 21 and 19 others were listed as missing. A landslide struck the village of Sumedang in West Java Saturday night, followed hours later by a second that engulfed rescuers digging for survivors. The death toll has nearly doubled from the 11 deaths reported on Sunday. And […]

President Widodo gets first Sinovac jab to prove its safety as Indonesia starts mass vaccination

  (Eagle News) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo was the first to be inoculated with China’s Sinovac vaccine against COVID-19 on Wednesday, Jan. 13, as Indonesia officially kicked off its mass vaccination drive starting with the Chinese-developed vaccines. The vaccination of the Indonesian president was broadcast live on television. Widodo had earlier announced that he would be the first one to get the jab to allay the public’s fears about getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The […]

Indonesia okays emergency use of Sinovac, as Turkey announces start of vaccination this week

  (Eagle News) — Indonesia has given emergency use approval to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac BioTech Ltd., and is set to start vaccination using the vaccines. As this developed, Turkey also announced that it would start vaccination using the Chinese-made vaccine by Thursday or Friday. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan himself announced the start of the vaccination in Turkey In Indonesia, the Jakarta Post reported that no less than Indonesian President Joko Widodo […]

Indonesia recovers first black box from crashed plane

by Dessy SAGITA Agence France Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — A black box from the crashed Indonesian passenger jet has been recovered, officials said Tuesday, a discovery that could offer critical clues to explaining why the plane with 62 people aboard slammed into the sea. Divers just off the coast of the capital Jakarta hauled the jet’s flight data recorder to the surface, as the hunt continues for its cockpit voice recorder. Indonesian transport minister […]

Indonesian divers hunt for crashed plane’s black boxes

  by Dessy SAGITA Agence France Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesian divers returned Tuesday to a wreckage-littered seabed off Jakarta in their hunt for the black boxes that will likely be key to unlocking the mystery of why a passenger jet carrying 62 people fell from the sky. Some 3,600 personnel are taking part in the recovery effort, assisted by dozens of boats and helicopters flying over small islands off the capital’s coast. Underwater […]