After repeated North Korean threats and advances foreshadowing warfare, countries have met and agreed to increase efforts to protect the Korean Peninsula. The United States, South Korea, and Japan all have signed off to conduct more advanced drills in preparation of a North Korean air strike. They are aiming to launch coordinated counterattacks from Pyongyang. Those who met recently to… Read more »
(CNN)In an open letter addressed to parliaments in a number of countries, North Korea has declared itself a “full-fledged nuclear power” and accuses US President Donald Trump of “trying to drive the world into a horrible nuclear disaster.” Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the message “unprecedented,” noting that North Korea usually chooses different means to communicate. Her office confirmed… Read more »
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Donald Trump on Monday (Oct 23, US time) witnessed the signing of an agreement between Singapore Airlines and aircraft manufacturer Boeing to buy 39 aeroplanes, worth close to US$14 billion (S$19 billion). Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong and Boeing president and CEO Kevin McAllister signed the deal for SIA to buy 20… Read more »
SINGAPORE – Singapore will commit $100,000 to help humanitarian efforts in the Myanmar’s Rakhine state through the Asean Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) centre, Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin has said. About 582,000 Rohingya have fled an army campaign in Myanmar’s Rakhine state since late August. The United Nations’ refugee agency has said in Geneva that some 10,000 to 15,000… Read more »
New Zealand is set for a centre-left coalition government led by Labour head Jacinda Ardern. Ms Ardern has been opposition leader for the last three months. At 37, she is set to be the country’s youngest prime minister since 1856. Her Labour Party came second in September’s election, where no party was able to secure a majority . They are… Read more »
Over 40 years ago, Ali vs. Foreman became the talk of the 20th century after fighting the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in modern day Democratic Republic of the Congo. Now in the 21st century, technology reigns supreme and we are about to witness another rumble in the jungle, but this time around in Southeast Asia. Chinese and American companies are… Read more »
JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesia’s notorious traffic congestion was on display for the world Thursday (Oct 5) after the country’s president was forced to walk 2km through the scorching heat to attend a military parade. The country’s traffic nightmares were aptly illustrated when President Joko Widodo had to walk more than 2km to attend a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of… Read more »
SEOUL (BLOOMBERG) – As US President Donald Trump threatens to destroy North Korea, even some of his closest aides have warned of the potentially disastrous effects of a war. New research published on the 38 North website points to just how catastrophic the impact might be on the regime’s neighbours. If North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were to launch… Read more »
(CNN)Australia will use its citizens’ drivers license photos to compile a nationwide facial recognition database in the name of fighting terrorism, much to the chagrin of privacy advocates. Described as a National Facial Biometric Matching Capability by the Australian government, it will allow law enforcement to access “passport, visa, citizenship and driver license images” to identify people of interest. Turnbull… Read more »
YANGON (AFP) – Rohingya militants have set fire to houses in Rakhine state in recent days to intensify the exodus of the Muslim minority, the office of Myanmar’s commander-in-chief said on Thursday (Oct 5), in an apparent rebuke to fresh accusations of arson by the army. More than 500,000 Muslim Rohingya have run from communal bloodshed in Myanmar in the… Read more »