METRO MANILA – Despite implementing the longest, strictest lockdown in Southeast Asia, the Philippines now has the most coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the region with more than 119,000 cases. The Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,561 new cases that overtakes Indonesia in terms of total COVID-19 cases in the region. With Metro Manila now being the epicenter of …

Indonesia has called for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states to help ensure the safety of Rohingya refugees. Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi speaking at the bloc’s virtual meeting, said the voluntary and safe repatriation of the refugees has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Marsudi said that repatriation still remains the biggest priority and urges Asean …

Member states of the of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations together with China, Japan and South Korea on Thursday vows to strengthen and maintain open markets among nation amid the Covid-19 pandemic in hopes to fight off the impact created by the health crisis. The economic ministers of each nations met on an online video conference chaired by Vietnam …

A new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warns that the synthetic drugs market in East and Southeast Asia continues to expand and diversify. Furthermore the price of methamphetamine “yaba” has dropped to the lowest level in a decade as the supply has surged. Released today, the report titled “Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast …