Southeast Asia | GlobalPost

Myanmar says ILO decision to lift restrictions will boost trade, foreign investment

The Canadian PressJune 20, 2013 03:01

YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar hopes a decision by the International Labor Organization to lift all remaining restrictions on the formerly isolated nation will help accelerate trade and foreign investment. The U.N. agency initially imposed restrictions — which recommended its 185 member nations limit relations — just over a decade ago because of the military regime's use of forced labour. The decision Wednesday cited progress by President Thein Sein's reformist-minded government since 2011.

Two Thai monks arrested in child sex scandal

Agence France-PresseJune 19, 2013 05:31

Thai police said Wednesday they had arrested two monks for procuring a 14-year-old boy to perform sexual acts with an abbot, in the latest scandal to shake the kingdom's Buddhist clergy. The pair, who deny any knowledge of the alleged abuse, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted, Police Colonel Wirachon Bunthawi told AFP from the northern city of Chiang Mai. "The abbot is still at the temple and we're waiting for an arrest warrant for him," Wirachon said.

Indonesia presses on with fuel hike despite popular anger

Agence France-PresseJune 18, 2013 04:00

Indonesia defied popular anger Tuesday by pressing ahead with its first fuel price hike since 2008, a day after police fought running battles with thousands outside parliament. Protesters hurling Molotov cocktails clashed with police firing tear gas and water cannons late Monday, as lawmakers approved measures paving the way for a reduction in crippling fuel subsidies in Southeast Asia's top economy.

One confirmed dead in Borneo boat accident

Agence France-PresseJune 15, 2013 10:52

One person is confirmed dead and about a dozen are still missing two days after an overloaded ferry capsized in rough rapids on a remote Borneo river, Malaysian police said Thursday. The accident happened Tuesday on the Rajang river, Malaysia's longest, deep in the interior of the vast island of Borneo amid a spike in travel for a festival this weekend celebrated by indigenous tribes. "This morning a corpse was found not far from the accident location. He was a 44-year-old male," said Bakar Anak Sebau, police chief of the town of Belaga.

Man arrested in Bali over rape of Australian tourist

Agence France-PresseJune 12, 2013 07:41

Indonesian police said Wednesday they have arrested a man suspected of raping an Australian holidaymaker during a robbery at her family's rented villa on the resort island of Bali. The Indonesian suspect was detained at his rented room in the Balinese capital Denpasar on Monday, said local police chief Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan. The 30-year-old, originally from Lombok island which is next to Bali, attempted to flee but police shot him in the leg and detained him, said Nainggolan.

Singapore proposes measures to defuse South China Sea tensions

Kyodo News InternationalJune 2, 2013 04:15

Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen on Sunday proposed that Asian militaries build up trust so as to reduce tension over disputed territories in the South China Sea. "We must step up practical cooperation, especially between militaries, to build understanding, if not trust," Ng said in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.

Myanmar leader vows to curb poverty

Agence France-PresseJune 2, 2013 02:15

Myanmar President Thein Sein pledged Sunday to tackle chronic poverty in the long-isolated nation, whose economy was left in tatters by decades of harsh junta rule. "We have a good foundation for economic development in our country," the former general said in a speech in Yangon, citing ample water resources, an efficient labour force, an advantageous climate and abundant natural resources. "But our country is still one of the poorest LDCs (least developed countries)... We must all strive to get out of this situation," he said.

1 Dead, a dozen missing in Borneo river shipwreck

Agencia EFEMay 31, 2013 00:48

Bangkok, May 30 (EFE).- At least one person has been found dead and a dozen others remain missing after an overloaded passenger ferry sank in a river in the Malaysian portion of the island of Borneo, police said Wednesday. The accident occurred on Tuesday near Belaga, in Sarawak province. Authorities on Wednesday raised to 192 the number of survivors after another 11 people were rescued and taken to a shelter set up near the accident site.

23 Missing when ferry sinks in Borneo river

Agencia EFEMay 28, 2013 15:30

Bangkok, May 28 (EFE).- Malaysian authorities raised to 23 the tally of people missing after an overloaded passenger ferry sank as it was sailing along a river in the Malaysian portion of the island of Borneo. Another 181 people were rescued several hours after the accident, which occurred at a spot with rapids on the Rajang River as it passes by the town of Belaga in Sarawak province, local police chief Bakar Sebau told the Bernama news agency.

23 missing after boat flips in Malaysia, 181 rescued

Agence France-PresseMay 28, 2013 07:17

Twenty-three people are missing in remote Borneo after a boat overloaded with holidaymakers heading home for a festival capsized Tuesday in treacherous rapids on a jungle river, Malaysian police said. "Twenty-three people are still missing," local police chief Bakar Anak Sebau told AFP. He said 181 were rescued after the morning accident on the Rajang river, Malaysia's longest, which flows from deep in the rugged interior of Borneo island in the state of Sarawak.