TOKYO – The Japanese and U.S. governments have been looking to reorganize U.S. forces stationed in Japan to coincide with the launch of the Self-Defense Forces’ Joint Operations Command. However, Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency has created uncertainty about whether the plan will go forward. Both countries had been aiming to enhance the command functions of the U.S. forces in Japan to improve command and control capabilities. Currently, the SDF’s chief of the Joint Staff Office has two counterparts in the U.S. forces: the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commander of the Indo-Pacific Command.…
Author: Asia News Network
BANGKOK – The Department of Foreign Trade has reported a downturn in trade with Myanmar for February, attributed to the ongoing crackdown on cross-border scam call-centre operations. Director-general Arada Fuangthong of the Ministry of Commerce disclosed that total trade with Myanmar reached 17.47 billion baht, down 3.25% compared to the previous month. Exports to Myanmar saw a marginal decline of 0.6%, totalling 10.027 billion baht, while imports fell by 6.6%, amounting to 7.443 billion baht. Notably, exports of diesel and other refined petroleum products were significantly impacted, plummeting by 61.0% to 510 million baht. However, Arada emphasised that exports to…
SINGAPORE – After downing two glasses of champagne, a business class passenger on board a Singapore Airlines plane decided to expose himself to an air stewardess. Brilliant Angjaya, 23, an Indonesian, also used his phone to record the air stewardess’ reaction to his indecent act. On March 24, Angjaya was sentenced to three weeks’ jail after pleading guilty to one count of sexual exposure. In sentencing, District Judge Paul Quan said Angjaya’s actions were “inexplicable” and “inexcusable”. The incident happened on board a Singapore Airlines flight from China to Singapore on Jan 23. Further details about the flight and air…
JAKARTA – National news magazine Tempo has received another anonymous package containing animal carcasses in what appears to be an effort to intimidate the outlet’s journalists for its reporting, raising concerns over shrinking civic space and freedom of speech in the country. In the early hours of Saturday morning, an unidentified person on a motorcycle rode past the Tempo office in Palmerah, South Jakarta and threw a box at the office’s premises. Security guards opened the box, wrapped with rose-adorned gift paper, and found the carcasses of six decapitated rats inside. The incident took place just days after another anonymous…
SEOUL – 4 dead, hundreds evacuated as simultaneous wildfires ravage Korea Simultaneous wildfires that broke out over the weekend across southern parts of South Korea left 10 casualties and over 1,500 residents evacuated from their homes, according to disaster authorities. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said the blaze, which started in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday, had claimed four lives and injured another six as of Sunday morning. All of the victims were from the Sancheong area. Meanwhile, a major fire in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, continued for a second day, with fire officials reporting a containment rate…
MANILA – March 3 marked 80 years since the Battle of Manila ended near the conclusion of World War II. It is believed that roughly 100,000 citizens were killed during the monthlong battle fought between Japanese and U.S. troops in the Philippine capital of Manila. Many died during the indiscriminate shelling by U.S. forces, while others were killed by Japanese troops. Civilians who lost their relatives in the battle have wounds that have yet to heal, but they also hope that people maintain interest in the battle and pass on the tragedy to future generations. Regina Paterno’s grandfather, Antonio, and…
SEOUL – The Constitutional Court of Korea on Monday dismissed the impeachment of suspended Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in a widely divided ruling, immediately reinstating him to the position as the acting president. The court’s decision — which is final and unchallengeable — was not unanimous, with 5 justices voting to dismiss the impeachment motion and 1 voting to uphold it. The remaining 2 justices voted to reject the motion entirely. Han was impeached on Dec. 27 after the Assembly led by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea — which holds 170 of 300 seats — accused him as…
KUALA LUMPUR – Self-defence lessons are essential, and Joyce Teoh Lay Bee, 55, is determined to equip her daughter, Sabrina Teoh Weber, 16, who has Down syndrome, with the skills to protect herself in any situation. Knowing her daughter’s gentle nature, Teoh wants to build her resilience and ensure she can defend herself if needed. Sabrina has been practising choi kwang do (CKD), a martial art founded by South Korean expert Choi Kwang-Jo, since 2019. The discipline focuses on fluid movements, incorporating yoga-based stretching to enhance flexibility. Her lessons are held at a centre in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. “In…
HANOI – The Vietnamese foreign ministry on Thursday said cooperation in handling war legacy issues is considered a “fundamental factor” in the relationship between Việt Nam and the United States. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng made the remarks during the regular press briefing in Hà Nội, when asked about the fact that while over 80 per cent of USAID’s projects have been cut under the President Donald Trump’s administration, many projects related to addressing war consequences in Việt Nam remain intact. This collaboration plays an essential role in the process of reconciliation and trust-building between…
KATHMANDU – Raging water disrupted life in Thame village—home to some of Nepal’s famed Sherpas—when a glacial lake in the Everest region burst its banks in August last year. The outburst wreaked havoc, damaging homes, farms, a school and a hydropower plant that provided electricity to local villages. Despite the extensive damage, thankfully, there were no fatalities due to the quick thinking of locals, and the flood that arrived in the middle of the day allowed everyone to evacuate safely. With glacial lake outburst floods projected to happen more often in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, systematic risk reduction measures are…