Secretary-General of ASEAN to Conduct Working Visit to Malaysia Ahead of 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship
At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, conducted a Working Visit to Malaysia, on 2-4 December 2024, to discuss preparations for Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025.
During the visit, Dr. Kao paid a courtesy call on YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, to discuss key priorities and deliverables under Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025 under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”
Read ahead at: https://asean.org/secretary-general-of-asean-to-conduct-working-visit-to-malaysia-ahead-of-2025-asean-chairmanship/
Is Indonesian ‘kingmaker’ Joko Widodo planning a political comeback?
According to analyst Kevin O’Rourke, the regional elections showed that Widodo “still exerts considerable clout in politics, through his ability to sway public sentiment”.
“A host of candidates visited him and most of those whom he endorsed ultimately won their races,” he wrote in last week’s edition of Reformasi Weekly, a newsletter about policy and politics in Indonesia.
Widodo’s role in the regional elections has sparked discussions about whether he was aiming to use his standing to assume a leadership position in a political party or even form a new party of his own.
Singapore, Vietnam eye undersea cable link as US flags risks of choosing Chinese contractors
Singaporean asset manager Keppel and Vietnamese conglomerate Sovico Group are discussing plans for new undersea fibre-optic cables that would boost the region’s data centre industry, people familiar with the discussions said.
Southeast Asian countries, a major junction for cables connecting Asia to Europe, are seeking to expand their networks to meet booming demand for AI services and data centres. Vietnam alone plans to have 10 new submarine cables by 2030.
A US Navy ship will make its first port call in 8 years in Cambodia, a close ally of China
A U.S. Navy warship will make a port call next week in Cambodia, China's close ally in Southeast Asia, the first such visit in eight years, according to a Cambodian statement on Friday.
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said USS Savannah will dock at the port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand on Dec. 16-20. Savannah, classed as a Littoral Combat Ship, carries a crew of 103, the ministry said.
The visit was scheduled after a U.S. request for a port call, it added, and would “strengthen and expand the bonds of friendship as well as promote bilateral cooperation" between the two nations.
Read ahead at:https://www.independent.co.uk/news/cambodia-ap-china-us-navy-phnom-penh-b2664014.html
Southeast Asia's carbon market could reach $3 trillion by 2050, says ASEAN report
Southeast Asia's carbon market potential remains largely untapped. A recent report highlights that over the past 15 years, carbon credits provided by the ASEAN region have accounted for only 7% of the global carbon market.
However, the region's overall carbon market could potentially reach a cumulative value of up to $3 trillion by 2050, creating 13.7 million new jobs and reducing 1.1 billion tons of carbon emissions annually.
Read ahead at: https://www.reccessary.com/en/news/asean-market/southeast-asia-s-carbon-market-potential-up-to-3-trillion
South Korea court begins Yoon's impeachment trial process
South Korea's constitutional court has begun trial proceedings for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended for declaring martial law and plunging his country into political turmoil.
MPs voted to impeach Yoon last Saturday, after his actions sparked widespread protests calling for him to step down.
The court now has six months to decide whether to remove Yoon or reinstate him.
Yoon's ruling People Power Party (PPP) has been grappling with the fallout ever since, with its leader announcing his resignation on Monday.
Read ahead at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2pl4edk13o
Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Ambassador of India to ASEAN
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Ambassador of India to ASEAN, Jayant N. Khobragade, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
Both sides exchanged views, among others, on ways to enhance the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Reads ahead at:https://asean.org/secretary-general-of-asean-meets-with-ambassador-of-india-to-asean-2/
Taiwan Military Spotted Chinese Ships Near Its Waters
Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) vessels and Coast Guard vessels have been identified by Taiwan's army force entering the Taiwanese area on December 9th.
The movement happened after the Chinese authorities raised opposition towards the visits of the Taiwan president to Hawaii and the US territory of Guam, referring to him as a “separatist”.
Taiwan's defense ministry has stated that they will keep a close watch on PLA's movements and will be on high alert throughout
Read Ahead at:
China begins military movements around Taiwan as the island braces for potential drills | CNN
A Suicide Bombing Killed the Refugee Minister of the Taliban
A deadly explosion on December 11 killed the Taliban refugee minister with six others while he was leaving his ministry office, said the interior ministry resources.
Haqqani was declared a global terrorist by the United States in the year 2012. In the year 2015, Pakistan also banned the Haqqani network as part of its National Action Plan.
Later the Islamic State group (IS) took responsibility for the deadly attack. Amaq an IS militant waited outside the ministry and detonated the bomb as he walked inside the building.
Read ahead at:
Khalil Haqqani: Taliban minister killed in bombing in Kabul
Critically Endangered Fresh Water Fish Was Seen In Cambodia
The Mekong giant catfish is one of the six critically endangered catfish. It was captured and released on the shores of Cambodia, reviving hopes for the species' survival.
They are now only found in the Southeast Asian Mekong River. These underwater giants can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 299kg.
In the recent decade, the species population has been reduced by 80% due to overfishing and dams that block the migratory path. Very few of the million fishermen get to see this rare species, so finding six of these giants in five days was completely unexpected.
Read ahead at:
Drafted by:
Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 2nd Year) (Region Head)
Gouri (BA IR, 1st Year)
Nripan Babu (BA IR, 1st Year)
Published by:
Varsha Das (B.A. I.R., 3rd Year)
