Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 17, 2020 • 2 min read

Thai economy Thailand’s economy shrinks most in more than 20 years

By Agence France-Presse • Aug 17, 2020
Thailand's economic growth contracted by 12.2% in the second quarter of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the steepest drop for the tourism-driven economy since the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 17, 2020 • 13 min read

Myanmar history The enduring legacy of Karen revolutionary leader Saw Ba U Gyi

By Oliver Slow • Aug 17, 2020
The history and legacy of revolutionary leader Saw Ba U Gyi is little-known outside, or inside, Myanmar. But 70 years since his death, the fight first forged by the beret-wearing father of the Karen nationalist movement continues on

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 14, 2020 • 3 min read

Thai democracy Thai premier appeals for unity as protests continue

By Agence France-Presse • Aug 14, 2020
Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said on August 13 the majority of the kingdom find its ongoing pro-democracy protests "unacceptable", as the youth-led movement grows bolder in targeting Thai power

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 11, 2020 • 4 min read

Thailand Thai pro-democracy rally attracts thousands as discontent swells

By Agence France-Presse • Aug 11, 2020
Protests continued in Thailand as youth leaders delivered an unprecedented challenge to the role of the country's monarchy as calls for open discussion around the crown and democracy gather pace

Southeast Asia • Aug 06, 2020 • 8 min read
Language

Saving the Malay Peninsula’s centuries-old Portuguese creole

On the Malay Peninsula, a small community of Portuguese creole speakers survives almost four centuries since the southern Europeans were expelled from the region. On the brink of extinction, there are people working to preserve this rare language and culture
By Lee Ying Shan • Aug 06, 2020

Southeast Asia • Aug 05, 2020 • 3 min read
Thai activists

Wanchalerm death “only rumours” says missing activist’s sister

Following news on Twitter apparently confirming the death of Wanchalerm Satsaksit, the missing Thai activist's sister has said that no body has been found and the family has no news of his death
By Wanpen Pajai • Aug 05, 2020

Southeast Asia • Aug 04, 2020 • 3 min read
Thai democracy

Thailand launches another probe in Red Bull heir’s ‘hit-and-run’

Following public outcry over a culture of impunity for Thailand's rich and powerful, the kingdom's attorney general has ordered a new investigation into Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya over the killing of a police officer in 2012
By Agence France-Presse • Aug 04, 2020

Southeast Asia • Aug 04, 2020 • 2 min read
Thai democracy

Thais ‘cast a spell’ for democracy in Harry Potter-theme protest

Pro-democracy rallies took on a magical twist in Bangkok as protestors donned Harry Potter gear, vowing to "cast a spell" as the bourgeoning movement continues to gain traction in the kingdom
By Agence France-Presse • Aug 04, 2020

Southeast Asia • Aug 03, 2020 • 3 min read
Covid-19

Millions return to lockdown in Philippines as virus cases soar

About a quarter of the Filipino population are set to be placed back under lockdown as the country witnesses a fresh surge in Covid-19 cases that has overwhelmed health workers and hospitals
By Agence France-Presse • Aug 03, 2020

Southeast Asia • Aug 03, 2020 • 5 min read
Editorial

Vann Molyvann’s house is up for sale – but should it be a heritage site?

With the former Phnom Penh home of visionary Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann on the market, its potential sale to private investors provides few guarantees over its preservation as a Cambodian cultural artefact and heritage site
By Alastair McCready • Aug 03, 2020

Southeast Asia • Jul 31, 2020 • 2 min read
Covid-19

Vietnam counts record number of cases as virus creeps back

Vietnam has recorded 45 news cases of Covid-19 – its highest single daily tally since the start of the pandemic – as an outbreak in the tourist city of Danang erodes the country's efforts to stay virus-free
By Agence France-Presse • Jul 31, 2020

Southeast Asia • Jul 27, 2020 • 3 min read
Thai democracy

Thai police probe after Red Bull heir hit-and-run case dropped

Against the backdrop of growing frustrations in Thailand about a culture of impunity for the rich, police have opened an internal investigation after all charges were controversially dropped against Red Bull heir Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya last week
By Agence France-Presse • Jul 27, 2020