Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 25, 2017 • 3 min read

Duterte confronts protesters following blunt State of the Nation Address

By Will Feuer • Jul 25, 2017
The Philippine leader doubled down on his war on drugs, confronted US colonial influence and defended his handling of Communist peace talks, prompting outrage among thousands of protesters, who he then approached Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures to protesters in Quezon City, Philippines 24 July 2017. Duterte spoke to protesters after delivering his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). Photo: EPA/Mark R. Cristino

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 25, 2017 • 3 min read

Malaysia's PM offers millions to farmers ahead of crucial election

By Madeleine Keck • Jul 25, 2017
The offer from the incumbent Najib Razak, embroiled by scandal in the halls of power, highlights the importance of winning the rural vote Malaysian prime minister and ruling United Malays National Organisation president, Najib Razak (C), with his cabinet ministers at the party's 71st anniversary at National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11 May 2017. Photo: EPA/Ahmad Yusni

Southeast Asia • STORY OF THE DAY • Jul 24, 2017 • 2 min read

Vietnam stops drilling in South China Sea after threats from Beijing

By Euan Black • Jul 24, 2017
One week after China threatened to attack its bases in the Spratly islands, Hanoi has ordered a private oil company to stop drilling in the contested territory A Vietnamese naval soldier standing guard next to a Vietnamese flag on Thuyen Chai Island, one of the Spratly Islands, Vietnam 17 January 2013. Photo: EPA/STR

Southeast Asia • Jul 21, 2017 • 2 min read

Malaysia bans pop hit ‘Despacito,’ deeming it ‘wholly inappropriate’

The country’s state broadcaster, Radio Televisyen Malaysia, has said it will no longer air the most streamed song of all time due to its provocative Spanish-language lyrics A still from the music video of Luis Fonsi's Despacito
By Euan Black • Jul 21, 2017

Southeast Asia • Jul 20, 2017 • 4 min read

Jokowi begins clampdown on critics in Indonesia, but will it backfire?

After his close ally lost the bitterly contested Jakarta election, president Joko Widodo is clearing the path for his re-election bid, starting by disbanding a prominent Islamic group Indonesia's President Joko Widodo waits for delegates at the Indian Ocean Rim Association summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, 07 March 2017. Photo: EPA/Mick Tsikas
By Euan Black • Jul 20, 2017

Southeast Asia • Jul 19, 2017 • 3 min read

Duterte says martial law must be extended to ensure ‘public safety’

The Philippines leader has requested an extension to martial law on the island of Mindanao as the conflict with Islamic State-linked rebels nears its end Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during the turnover ceremony of pistols at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, 18 July 2017. Duterte handed over 3,000 units of caliber .45 pistols to the military, stressing the need for soldiers to be equipped with more than service firearms during drugs operations. Photo: EPA/Mark R. Cristino
By Euan Black • Jul 19, 2017

Southeast Asia • Jul 17, 2017 • 3 min read

Philippines’ iconic jeepney drivers hit the road in nation-wide protest

Thousands of drivers take to streets to protest what they believe is the beginning of the end for so-called “jeepneys”, the country’s public transportation of choice A jeepney, a local mini-bus, goes past commuters waiting for other public transport vehicles at a terminal in Quezon City, east of Manila, Philippines 06 February 2017. Photo: EPA/Rolex Dela Pena
By Will Feuer • Jul 17, 2017

Southeast Asia • Jul 17, 2017 • 10 min read
Cuisine

The recipe for making Southeast Asia’s cuisines a global success

This year’s Ubud Food Festival provided the perfect opportunity to discuss why certain regional cuisines have taken the world by storm, while others are barely recognised beyond their own borders
By Dene Mullen • Jul 17, 2017

Southeast Asia • Jul 17, 2017 • 3 min read

Deal delivers boost to Malaysia’s opposition, but it's still “not going to win”

The opposition coalition has brought an end to the impasse between factions led by Anwar Ibrahim and Mahathir Mohamad, but analysts say the deal is unlikely to have a decisive impact on the upcoming general election Jailed Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim pays last respect to his late father in Kajang, Malaysia, 05 April 2015. Photo: EPA/Fazry Ismail
By Euan Black • Jul 17, 2017