TheRepublic.com - Southeast Asia News

Oil rises near $99 a barrel before Bernanke speaks

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:59:05 -0400

The price of oil rose to near $99 a barrel on Wednesday, driven by a report of falling U.S. stockpiles of crude and ahead of the conclusion of a meeting of the Federal Reserve.

UN, US ask Filipinos not to leave Golan Heights

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:58:49 -0400

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations and the U.S. have separately asked the Philippines not to withdraw its more than 300 peacekeepers from the Golan Heights, warning of "maximum volatility" in the region after several other countries decided to pull out their peacekeeping forces amid escalating violence, the Philippines' top diplomat said Wednesday.

Turkey's 'standing man' to join ranks of icons?

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:41:26 -0400

The image was stark: a silent, solitary figure standing in passive defiance to the Turkish prime minister's demand for protesters to clear Taksim Square in central Istanbul.

Malaysia budget airport launch pushed to May 2014

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:28:07 -0400

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The opening of a new airport to accommodate budget carriers has been delayed until next year because of design changes and other construction setbacks, Malaysia's airport operator says.

Thailand cuts rice subsidy price after $4.4B loss

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:10:06 -0400

BANGKOK - Thailand will pay farmers 20 percent less for rice to stem losses from a much-criticized subsidy program that dislodged the country from its spot as the world's No. 1 exporter of the grain, a government minister said Wednesday.

Vietnam hunger strike tests official intimidation

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:49:59 -0400

HANOI, Vietnam - Cu Huy Ha Vu's books come with pages torn out by prison guards. Only some of his letters reach home. He is not allowed to access evidence from his trial or to see his wife alone.

Thailand faces FIFA ban over FA legal dispute

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:20:12 -0400

BANGKOK - FIFA has warned the Football Association of Thailand that the country faces a ban from international competition unless a legal dispute over its elections, and the presidency of FIFA executive committee member Worawi Makudi, is resolved this week.

One of US FBI's most wanted nabbed in Mexico

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:55:22 -0400

CANCUN, Mexico - Mexican authorities have arrested a former university professor who was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in the resort city of Playa del Carmen.

Singapore fumes as air pollution hits 16-year high

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:20:26 -0400

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans rolled back military training, kept cough-stricken children indoors and considered wearing protective masks to work after a smoky haze triggered by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia caused air pollution to briefly hit its worst level in nearly 16 years.

Airborne laser reveals hidden city in Cambodia

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:01:17 -0400

SYDNEY - Airborne laser technology has uncovered a network of roadways and canals, illustrating a bustling ancient city linking Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

Communist rebels in Philippines abduct 5 soldiers

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:59:17 -0400

MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels posing as government troops have abducted five Philippine army soldiers on the outskirts of a southern city, the military said Tuesday.

Baker named AP chief for Malaysia, Singapore

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:55:16 -0400

BANGKOK - Mark Baker, photographer and acting bureau chief for The Associated Press in Kuala Lumpur, has been promoted to chief of bureau for Malaysia and Singapore.

Thai Buddhist monks criticized for lavish behavior

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:11:09 -0400

BANGKOK - Thailand's Buddhism body said it is monitoring monks nationwide for any inappropriate behavior after a video showed monks using luxurious personal items while flying on a private jet.

FBI reaches milestone in Most Wanted fugitive list

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:44:02 -0400

WASHINGTON - The FBI has reached a milestone in its 63-year-old program of pursuing its "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives."

Indonesia steps toward fuel hike despite protests

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:47:47 -0400

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesia's Parliament voted to approve a budget package on Monday that lays the groundwork for the slashing of government fuel subsidies, as police fired tear gas and water cannons outside to disperse hundreds of angry protesters.

Vietnam arrests third blogger in less than a month

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:16:05 -0400

HANOI, Vietnam - Vietnamese police have arrested a blogger accused of posting "erroneous and slanderous" information about the communist government, the third blogger to be locked in the past month in an intensifying crackdown against dissent.

38 countries beat UN targets to reduce hunger

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:28:43 -0400

ROME - Thirty-eight countries have beaten a U.N.-imposed deadline of 2015 to cut in half the proportion of hungry people.

Obama trade dilemma: Scant support from Democrats

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:29:46 -0400

WASHINGTON - As President Barack Obama pushes an ambitious agenda to liberalize global trading, political trade wars already are forming, and they're with fellow Democrats rather than with Republicans, his usual antagonists.

Cyr: On China's economic and military might

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:21:08 -0400

By ARTHUR I. CYR - China presents contrasting images to the world, more so than most other nations. Its rapidly expanding strategic military capabilities are ominous. Maritime disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam and other nations punctuate such concern.

APNewsBreak: NSA leaker Snowden not welcome in UK

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:24:53 -0400

LONDON - The British government has warned airlines around the world not to allow Edward Snowden, who leaked information on top-secret U.S. government surveillance programs, to fly to the United Kingdom.

Indonesian police find French boy abducted in Bali

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:56:15 -0400

BALI, Indonesia - Police said they have arrested an East Timorese woman who allegedly abducted a French toddler on the tourist island of Bali.

UN convoy finally reaches northernmost Myanmar

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:51:53 -0400

GENEVA - A U.N.-led convoy of trucks in Myanmar has for the first time in nearly a year been allowed to deliver food and household supplies to areas beyond government control in the country's northernmost region.

Myanmar monks end meeting with call for peace

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:44:53 -0400

HMAWBI, Myanmar - A meeting of more than 200 Myanmar Buddhist monks on how to solve deadly communal conflicts that have pitted majority Buddhists against Muslims declared Friday they seek peace and accused the media of tarnishing their religion's image.

2 die as Philippine ferry sinks, but 54 rescued

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:08:07 -0400

MANILA, Philippines - Two people died early Friday after their ferry sank in Philippine waters, but 54 passengers and crew were saved when rescuers pulled them to safety.

Rescue on as Philippine ferry sinks with 60 aboard

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:14:21 -0400

MANILA, Philippines - Ships and helicopters were scouring seas in the central Philippines for survivors of a ferry that sank early Friday with about 60 people aboard. Two people have died, and 41 have been rescued, officials said.