Author: Mat Jebat

Two Vietnamese films, “Yellow Flowers on Green Grass” and “Yen’s Life”, are competing in the first ASEAN Film Festival in Hong Kong. The festival, taking place from Aug. 4-19, is organized by the Hong Kong-ASEAN Association, the Consulates General of ASEAN countries in Hong Kong, and partners. The cultural event aims to introduce the diverse beauty in culture and customs of the ASEAN community to Hong Kong audiences through stories in the film, and help them further understand Southeast Asian culture, thus promoting cultural exchanges and deepening cultural and economic ties between the two sides. A total of 14 works…

Chair of the honorary board of the Indonesian Society of Respirology (PDPI) Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama has urged Indonesia to take the lead in preventing a potential flu pandemic in the ASEAN region. “Again, I suggest Indonesia play an important role in influenza surveillance in the ASEAN region while now holding the ASEAN chairmanship,” he said at the “Anticipate the Possibility of Influenza Pandemic” discussion on Friday, August 11, 2023. He noted that the 1918 influenza pandemic took the lives of around 20 million to 50 million people globally. After several smaller-scale outbreaks, he said, on June 11, 2009, the World Health…

The announcement comes at a time of increased Chinese assertiveness in disputed waters. The Philippines and the United States could launch joint patrols in the South China Sea before the end of this year, as tensions with China continue to intensify in disputed parts of the waterway. In comments given to BenarNews, Jonathan Malaya, a spokesman for a Philippine task force on the South China Sea, said that discussions with Washington were “in their advanced stages” and that the patrols would begin “within this year.” Back in February, Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)’s spokesperson on South China Sea issues, told…

Sarawak has made great strides over the past few years towards transforming its economic landscape. In line with its aspiration to become a developed state by the year 2030, Sarawak has accomplished many successes under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. These accomplishments included Sarawak’s venture into green hydrogen economy with two major hydrogen manufacturing projects expected to begin operations in Bintulu Petchem Industry Park in 2027; the transformation of the state’s public transport system with the rolling out of hydrogen-powered buses and soon the Autonomous Rapid Transit; and development of sustainable aviation fuel…

Vietnam has launched an inspection into the website of K-pop group Blackpink’s tour organizer ahead of their concert in Hanoi. The inspection was based on fan criticism showing a map of the South China Sea, with disputed boundaries, on the tour organizer’s website. The controversy follows Vietnam’s decision to ban the film “Barbie”, because of a scene that allegedly features the nine-dash line used on Chinese maps to illustrate Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea. These areas are considered by Vietnam to be its continental shelf. Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture said on Wednesday (5/7/2023) that it had ordered an inspection…

China’s envoy to the Philippines met with the Filipino defense chief on Thursday amid bilateral tensions, a day after Manila accused Beijing of harassing its ships in the disputed South China Sea. Specific details of their meeting were not made public, but Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Chinese envoy Huang Xilian discussed ways to improve defense relations, statements from both sides said. Their discussion focused on “[the] existing bilateral mechanism and dialogue platforms” earlier agreed to by both nations, the Philippine Department of National Defense said in a statement. “The Philippines’ defense capability building efforts will always be in line with…

Washington hopes to rally Southeast Asian nations to take tougher action against Myanmar’s military junta and to push back on China’s actions in the South China Sea as top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken heads to the region for meetings next week, a State Department official said on Friday. Secretary of State Blinken will travel to Indonesia to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers from the ASEAN regional bloc after he joins President Joe Biden in the United Kingdom and in Lithuania for NATO meetings from Sunday to Wednesday. Daniel Kritenbrink, the top State Department official for East Asia, told…

The Indian team is all geared up to take on Malaysia in its second Pool A game of the ongoing Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023, which is scheduled to take place in Kakamigahara on Monday.  Following a resounding 22-0 victory over Uzbekistan in its campaign opener, the Indian team is all geared up to take on Malaysia in its second Pool A game of the ongoing Women’s Junior Asia Cup 2023, which is scheduled to take place in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan on Monday. The Indian team ticked all the boxes in its win against Uzbekistan and dominated the game…

COMMENTS The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced that the 2023 LPGA Q-Series will return to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Ala., from Nov. 30-Dec. 5, 2023. The final qualifying opportunity for players to earn 2024 LPGA Tour status will be played in six rounds (108 holes) with a cut to be determined after four rounds on the Falls and Crossings courses. The change in rounds is the first since the inaugural LPGA Q-Series in 2018, which debuted with two 72-hole, stroke-play events held in consecutive weeks. Prior to 2018, the final stage…

In the recently concluded ASEAN Geospatial Challenge 2023: Geospatial Youth Edition, a team of Singapore Management University Year 3 students emerged as winners in the Singapore Finalist category as well as in the ASEAN Distinction Award by presenting an innovative solution to the challenges in the sharing landscape in Singapore. The team comprised SMU School of Computing and Information Systems’ Soo Yu Rong Arick, Yeo Wei Ni and Yan Jiaxing, who were presented the award by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment on 15 March 2023. The ASEAN Geospatial Challenge 2023: Geospatial Youth Edition…