ASEAN News

Hong Kong – Nathan Law, an exiled Hong Kong activist, released his first English-language book, Freedom, on Thursday, warning of the worldwide danger posed by Chinese authoritarianism. Law, 29, was a key activist in the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement demonstrations in the former British colony in 2014. At the age of 23, he was elected as the youngest member of Hong …

Myanmar – An American journalist who has been held by Myanmar’s junta for months has been refused bail and is facing a third criminal accusation, his lawyer said to AFP on Thursday. Danny Fenster, the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, was detained in May while attempting to flee the country. He is presently on trial on charges of promoting dissent against …

China – China retaliated over US President Joe Biden’s criticism of Beijing for failing to demonstrate leadership after President Xi Jinping missed the crucial COP26 United Nations summit in Glasgow. Xi, who heads the world’s top emitter of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, has not left China since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak and has not attended …

ASEAN – Wan Nadiah Wan Abdullah Yaakob, CEO of Thomson Hospital in Kota Damansara, Selangor, is this year’s lone Malaysian named to Forbes Asia’s list of the top 29 Power Businesswomen. Nadiah Wan, the group CEO and executive director of TMC Life Sciences (TMCLS), is most well known by her shorter name. According to Forbes Asia, the ranking, which rates …

Philippines – Hidilyn Diaz, a Filipino weightlifter who achieved Olympic glory, wishes to give back to the people of Melaka by renovating the training facilities in Kampung Kesang Tua as a token of gratitude, which she used to prepare for her competitions and helped her achieve Olympic success. According to Malaysian Weightlifting Federation Vice-President Ahmad Janius Abdullah, Hidilyn Diaz, who …

Taiwan – In an interview with CNN, the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen expressed confidence that the US would protect the island if China launched a military assault. “I have trust” that US soldiers would assist Taiwan protect itself, Tsai told the television network, adding that Washington’s commitment includes sending Americans to train Taiwan’s military, a program confirmed to the …

Malaysia – In order to bolster border security, Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to further increase collaboration between the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in the form of integrated posts, as well as other means. According to the Senior Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, the joint action between the Malaysian Armed Forces …

ASEAN – Myanmar is ‘part of the ASEAN family’, Brunei has said, after a summit of the Southeast Asian regional group, which barred Myanmar general Min Aung Hlaing for his failure to implement a reconciliation plan agreed at a previous meeting in April. The military seized power of Myanmar in February, detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and triggering …

Japan – Princess Mako of Japan married her university boyfriend on Tuesday, foregoing her title in a marriage devoid of customary pomp and circumstance, with the pair allegedly considering relocating to the United States. When a member of the imperial family marries a commoner, she cannot attain the Chrysanthemum Throne and loses her royal position. Mako, Emperor Naruhito’s 30-year-old niece, …

Malaysia – Malaysia completely supports Brunei’s decision on Myanmar’s participation at the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. He said this on Twitter in response to Malaysia’s remarks at the three-day summits commencing Tuesday via virtual conference and chaired by Brunei. On Oct 15, at an online conference of ASEAN …