ASEAN

While many South-east Asian nations are known for having strict laws against drug use and possession, Thailand has decided to approve the use of marijuana for medical and research purposes on Tuesday (25 Dec), which marks the first instance in which the use of a recreational drug is legalised in the region. Thailand's history of marijuana use for medicinal purposes …

The "political uncertainty" in Malaysia, following Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's return to the premiership post under the Pakatan Harapan coalition, has led to the re-emergence of thorny bilateral relations between the nation and neighbouring Singapore, said Singapore's former Ambassador-at-Large Bilahari Kausikan. The former diplomat wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday (4 Dec) that such political uncertainty, as a …

Singapore's Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan has issued a stern warning against Malaysian vessels allegedly encroaching the territorial waters of Singapore, and declared that the Republic will not hesitate to take "firm actions" against further intrusions. In a statement on Thursday (6 Dec), Mr Khaw added that in response to the "provocative action on the part of Malaysia", Singapore will …

In order to "avoid escalating tensions on the ground" and in compliance "with international law", Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan has urged Malaysia to "cease" ongoing "provocative intrusions" by the neighbouring nation's vessels into Singapore's maritime territory. In a press release by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (5 Dec), which detailed a phone conversation between Dr …

Philippines independent news site Rappler and its CEO Maria Ressa were formally indicted last week for tax evasion, a move that many consider to be politically motivated and designed to silence independent media in the Philippines. Rappler has long been critical of President Rodrigo Duterte’s ruthless war on drugs that has shocked audiences around the globe. The death toll from …

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has expressed his apprehension regarding having to pick a side as a result of the ongoing trade wars between China and the United States, adding that it is in the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s best interests to not cave into the pressure of doing so. Speaking at a press conference that was held on the …

While Singapore’s relationship with Malaysia and Indonesia might not always be smooth-sailing, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong believes that any issues with the two neighbouring nations ought to and can be dealt with in a “constructive” way that “respects the core interests of both countries." Speaking at a 45-minute dinner dialogue moderated by Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at the Bloomberg …

On Thursday, the ASEAN Foundation and SAP held the regional finals of ASEAN Data Science Explorers (ADSE) in a face-off that saw three student teams from Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam emerge top for their insights and data-driven solutions to solve the region's pressing social issues. Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran presided over the prize presentation ceremony. …

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is scheduled to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the latter country's administrative capital of Putrajaya next month at a leaders' retreat, reported The Straits Times. The visit is expected to take place around 10 days after Dr Mahathir's visit to Singapore for the ASEAN Summit, which will be held over a …

Singapore and Indonesia has signed an Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments, also known as the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), at the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat in Bali, Indonesia on Thursday (11 October). In a press release on Thursday, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) shared that the Trade Minister Chan Chun Sing, who is attending the Leaders’ Retreat …