Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 18, 2021 • 4 min read

Natural disasters Indonesian medics overwhelmed by quake casualties

By Andi Hajramurni and Dessy Sagita/AFP • Jan 18, 2021
Medics in Indonesia battled exhaustion and the risk of Covid-19 as they raced on January 18 to treat scores of people injured by a devastating 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Sulawesi island that killed 84 and left thousands homeless

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jan 14, 2021 • 4 min read

Aviation Despite crashes, analysts say Indonesian aviation safety has improved

By Martin Abbugao and Dessy Sagita/AFP • Jan 14, 2021
Despite Indonesia experiencing several high-profile plane crashes in recent years, most recently Sriwijaya Air on January 9, analysts interviewed say the country's aviation safety standards have improved

Southeast Asia • Jan 13, 2021 • 4 min read
Aviation

Indonesia divers search for crashed plane’s second black box

As Indonesian investigators continue seek to explain why a plane with 62 people aboard slammed into the sea minutes after takeoff, they said on January 13 they were hopeful of retrieving a crashed passenger jet's second black box
By Agence France-Presse • Jan 13, 2021

Southeast Asia • Jan 13, 2021 • 15 min read
Wildlife trafficking

Infiltrating a Vietnam tiger trafficking network: Confronting an online kingpin

The trading of tigers and tiger products such as bone glue, claws, skin, bones and fangs in any form is prohibited under Vietnamese law. But in black markets, trade activities are thriving, as reporters found out when infiltrating Vietnam's trafficking rings
By Lam Anh and Hoang Chien • Jan 13, 2021

Southeast Asia • Jan 11, 2021 • 4 min read
Aviation

Indonesia says located black box recorders from crashed plane

Following the deadly crash of Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500, body parts, twisted wreckage and clothing were plucked from waters off the Indonesian capital on Sunday as the location of the black boxes, key to understanding the cause of the accident, were located
By Dessy Sagita/AFP • Jan 11, 2021

Southeast Asia • Jan 08, 2021 • 3 min read
Terrorism

Indonesia frees radical cleric linked to Bali bombing

The Indonesian radical cleric linked to the deadly Bali bombings, Abu Bakar Bashir, was freed from prison on January 8, authorities said, stirring grief and anger among victims nearly 20 years after Indonesia's worst ever terror attack
By Agence France-Presse • Jan 08, 2021

Southeast Asia • Jan 04, 2021 • 2 min read
Covid-19

Singapore’s virus-hit economy suffers worst decline in 2020

Data released on January 4 showed that Singapore's economy suffered its worst ever annual contraction throughout 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic hammered the city-state's vital trade and tourism sectors
By Agence France-Presse • Jan 04, 2021

Southeast Asia • Dec 31, 2020 • 2 min read
Human rights

US bans palm oil imports from second Malaysian firm

For the second time in recent months, the United States has banned imports from a Malaysian palm oil giant over concerns that its workers face a litany of abuse, including sexual and physical violence, withholding of wages and restrictions on movement
By Agence France-Presse • Dec 31, 2020

Southeast Asia • Dec 30, 2020 • 2 min read
Covid-19

Singapore begins coronavirus vaccination campaign

Singapore began its Covid-19 vaccination campaign on December 30, making it among the first nations in Asia to roll out the inoculations after approving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine earlier in the month
By Agence France-Presse • Dec 30, 2020

Southeast Asia • Dec 29, 2020 • 6 min read
Analysis

Preventing a pandemic of black-market vaccines in Southeast Asia

With the Covid-19 vaccine on the brink of being rolled out across the globe, in Southeast Asia, there are several things needed to expedite immunisations and quickly curb the pandemic, as well as reduce the risk of illegal and counterfeit supplies emerging
By Zandre Van Straten • Dec 29, 2020