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☆ Ahead of election, Cambodia amends law to bar non-voters from contesting in future
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hun Sen, who has held power in Cambodia for more than three decades, last week ordered the rubber-stamp parliament to revise the law so that anyone who does not vote in the general election on July 23 will be barred from contesting any future elections. At the last election in 2018, the Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won all of the parliamentary seats, having scored 4.8 million votes out of the 6.9 million cast. Hun Sen's administration has denied targeting opponents and says it is enforcing the law. The election commission said earlier this month that anyone urging people not to vote would be fined or imprisoned. The CPP will run virtually unopposed next month, after the election commission disqualified the sole opposition Candlelight Party from running, citing improper paperwork.

Persons: penalise, Hun Sen's, Hun Sen, Kheng, Phil Robertson, Kanupriya Kapoor, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Interior, Cambodian People's Party, Human Rights Watch, Party, Reuters, Thomson Locations: PHNOM PENH, Cambodia

☆ Indonesia moves site of ASEAN military drills away from South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, June 22 (Reuters) - Indonesia has changed where it will host ASEAN's first-ever joint military exercise to a location away from the South China Sea where several countries including China have overlapping territorial claims, its military said on Thursday. The non-combat drills for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were originally set to take place in the southernmost waters of the South China Sea, which are also claimed by Beijing. But the September 18-25 exercise will now be moved out of the strategic waterway altogether to the South Natuna Sea in Indonesian waters, said military spokesperson Julius Widjojono. ASEAN's unity has for years been tested by a rivalry between the United States and China that is being played out in the South China Sea, a conduit for about $3.5 trillion of annual ship-borne trade. China claims sovereignty over the area via an expansive 'nine-dash line' based on its historic maps, which an international arbitration court in 2016 ruled had no legal basis.

Persons: ASEAN's, Julius Widjojono, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Beijing, Myanmar's, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, South China, China, Beijing, Batam, Malacca Strait, United States, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar

JAKARTA, June 21 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian neighbours of conflict-riven Myanmar must consider imposing measures to hold its military rulers accountable, a United Nations expert said on Wednesday, adding the bloc is "deadlocked" over how to resolve the ongoing crisis. "It is time to consider alternative options to break what has become a deadly stalemate," he said at a press conference in Jakarta. "ASEAN must consider measures to impose accountability on the junta for its grave human rights violations and blatant disregard for implementation of the Five-Point Consensus." In November, an ASEAN leaders' summit issued a warning to Myanmar's junta and concluded a need for "concrete, practical and measurable indicators with a specific timeline." Andrews said the meeting in Thailand "can have the dangerous effect of legitimising the junta and undermining ASEAN unity".

Persons: Thomas Andrews, Andrews, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor, Lincoln Organizations: United, United Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Myanmar, United Nations, Jakarta, U.S, Indonesia, Thailand

☆ Singapore's Grab plans biggest round of job cuts since pandemic - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SINGAPORE, June 20 (Reuters) - Singapore-based Grab Holdings (GRAB.O) is preparing its biggest round of job cuts since the pandemic, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Southeast Asia's leading ride-hailing and food delivery app had in February forecast upbeat 2023 revenue and pulled forward its profitability timeline. In September it said it had no plans to undertake mass layoffs despite the weak market. There were 11,934 staff at Grab as of end 2022, according to its latest annual report. Reporting by Lavanya Ahire in Bengaluru, Chen Lin in Singapore; Editing by Varun H K, Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: payrises, Lavanya, Chen Lin, Varun H, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Bloomberg, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Bengaluru

☆ Thais host Myanmar junta official for talks; key ASEAN members stay away
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister, Than Swe, is due to join the talks, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told Reuters. But some ASEAN members have declined to attend and others are only sending junior officials. ASEAN FRUSTRATIONThe military took over in Myanmar in 1962, isolating it for decades until a tentative opening up began in 2011. Malaysia's foreign minister has also declined to attend the Thai talks, saying it remained supportive of the efforts being undertaken by Indonesia. Cambodia on Monday said Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who last year served as an ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar, would be represented by his deputy.

Persons: Aung, Athit, Don Pramudwinai, Don, Retno Marsudi, Suu Kyi, Prak Sokhonn, Panu, Ananda, Kanupriya Kapoor, Kay Johnson, Robert Birsel Organizations: Protesters, Embassy, REUTERS, Monday, Association of Southeast Nations, ASEAN, Myanmar's, Reuters, Thai PBS, Indonesian, Peace, Myanmar, ASEAN Chair, Malaysian, Cambodian, Thomson Locations: Myanmar, Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, ASEAN, Indonesia, Suu, Cambodia, Ananda Teresia, Jakarta, Rozanna, Kuala Lumpur

☆ Indonesia, SpaceX launch satellite to boost internet connectivity
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JAKARTA, June 19 (Reuters) - Indonesia and Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX on Monday launched the country's largest telecommunication satellite from the United States, in a $540 million project intended to link up remote corners of the archipelago to the internet. Roughly two-thirds of Indonesia's 280 million population already use the internet, but connectivity is limited in far-flung, underdeveloped eastern islands of the Southeast Asian country. The satellite will occupy the orbital slot above Indonesia's eastern Papua region. It has a throughput capacity of 150 gigabytes per second and will provide internet access to 50,000 public service points, the Indonesian government said. The project is a public-private partnership between the government and Indonesian satellite service provider PT Satelit Nusantara Tiga.

Persons: Elon, Dewi Kurniawati, Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Elon Musk's, SpaceX, Monday, Thales Alenia Space, PT Satelit Nusantara Tiga, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, United States, Indonesian, Republic of Indonesia, Florida, Papua

[1/2] A woman casts her ballot during regional elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Sleman, Yogyakarta province, Indonesia December 9, 2020. Antara Foto/Hendra Nurdiyansyah via REUTERS/File PhotoJAKARTA, June 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia's Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit seeking a change to the country's election ballot system, clearing a hurdle that could have complicated an election just eight months away. Indonesia is set to hold simultaneous legislative and presidential elections in February 2024. Responding to the decision, PDI-P legislator Arteria Dahlan said the party would abide by the ruling. Eight out of nine parties represented in parliament, including those allied with the ruling PDI-P, had denounced the petition.

Persons: Antara, Nurdiyansyah, Suhartoyo, Arteria Dahlan, Critics, Joko Widodo, Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic Party of Struggle, Thomson Locations: Sleman, Yogyakarta province, Indonesia, JAKARTA

☆ Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes northern Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, June 15 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck the Philippines' main island on Thursday, authorities said, halting some railway operations in the capital Manila. No casualties or major damage were reported after the quake, which struck out at sea at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles) and was felt in nearby provinces, the Philippine seismology agency said. Operations of the three elevated railway lines in Manila were stopped due to the earthquake, the transport ministry said. The seismology agency initially recorded a magnitude 6.2 earthquake, but later revised it to 6.3. Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru, Enrico Dela Cruz and Neil Jerome Morales in Manila; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Peter Oliver Palacio, Jahnavi, Enrico Dela Cruz, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Railways, GMA, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Manila, Philippine, Calatagan, Bengaluru

☆ Residents in for months-long displacement as Philippine volcano spews lava, gases
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Lava flows from Mount Mayon volcano, in Daraga, Philippines June 11, 2023, in this picture obtained from social media. Incandescent lava was seen flowing slowly from the mouth of the 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) Mayon volcano, which was placed on a high alert level last week following seismic tremors and hundreds of rockfall events. Authorities said people living further away from the volcano should also be ready for possible evacuation, with the police placing checkpoints to prevent residents from returning. Dorothy Colle, a provincial tourism official, said while the no-go zone was being enforced, people were still flocking to observation stations to witness lava flows, which appear particularly bright at night. Its most destructive eruption came in February 1841when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.

Persons: Nehemiah Manzanilla Sitiar, Bacolcol, Larry Llenaresas, Westrimundo Obinque, Mayon, Dorothy Colle, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Mount Mayon, Daraga, Philippines, REUTERS MANILA, Albay

☆ Indonesia, Malaysia aim to fight 'discrimination' against palm oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The EU passed a law this year banning imports of commodities linked to deforestation, a move that is expected to hurt palm oil. Indonesia and Malaysia are the world's top two producers and exporters of palm oil, a commodity used in everything from lipstick to pizza. In a joint statement, the two leaders vowed to cooperate closely to address the EU's "highly detrimental discriminatory measures against palm oil". Indonesia is the biggest source of foreign labour for Malaysia, with many Indonesians working in palm oil plantations. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff in Kuala Lumpur, Ananda Teresia in Jakarta; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Anwar Ibrahim, Jokowi, Rozanna, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: European Union, EU, Malaysian, Ananda, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, EU, Brussels, United States, Ananda Teresia, Jakarta

☆ Philippines raises alert level at rumbling volcano after rockfall, quakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, June 8 (Reuters) - The Philippines raised the alert level at the popular Mayon volcano by a notch on Thursday, after detecting volcanic earthquakes and hundreds of rockfall events. At "alert level 3" on a scale of 5, Mayon has increased chances of lava flows and a potential for explosive activity within weeks or even days, it added. The agency had elevated Mayon to "alert level 2" on June 5. There are no major industries around the volcano, with most farming activities in the area consisting of subsistence crops. The most destructive eruption came in February, 1841 when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.

Persons: Mayon, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Albay

☆ Philippine court denies bail for top Duterte critic in drug case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"Sad to inform you that the court denied Senator Leila's bail application," Filibon Tacardon, her legal counsel, told reporters. De Lima, 63, had requested bail in connection with a case in which she has been accused of conspiring to illegally trade narcotics in prison. She has denied all charges and had sought bail on account of her age and "several health issues". The court said her request was "untenable" and her culpability or innocence would be decided on the basis of evidence presented. A court in 2021 dismissed a drug case against her while another court in May acquitted her of a charge that she received drug money from prison inmates.

Persons: De Lima, De, Leila de Lima, Rodrigo Duterte's, Leila's, Duterte, Neil Jerome Morales, Enrico Dela Cruz, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Thomson Locations: De Lima, MANILA

☆ Malaysia wins appeal against partial award in $15 bln claim by sultan's heirs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The win for Malaysia implies the final award will be annulled and the descendants' efforts to seize Malaysian assets will end, the government said. The Filipino heirs of the last Sultan of Sulu won a $14.9-billion award in a French arbitration court last year in a long-running dispute over the deal, after a partial award was first issued in May 2020. The Paris Court of Appeal found the case arbitrator had wrongly upheld his jurisdiction, Malaysia said on Tuesday. The heirs say they were not involved in the incursion and sought arbitration over the suspension of payments. In recent months, Malaysia has stepped up efforts to protect itself from the arbitration award, including filing police complaints against one of the claimants' lawyers.

Persons: Azalina Othman Said, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Malaysian, Malaysia, Appeal, United, Independent Malaysia, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sulu, France, United Nations, Philippines, Borneo

SINGAPORE, June 4 (Reuters) - Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu told Asia's top security summit on Sunday that conflict with the United States would be an "unbearable disaster" but that his country sought dialogue over confrontation. "It is undeniable that a severe conflict or confrontation between China and the U.S. will be an unbearable disaster for the world." China's military criticised the United States and Canada for "deliberately provoking risk" after their warships staged a rare joint sailing through the sensitive strait. Canadian defence minister Anita Anand said that Canada would continue to sail where international law allows, including the Strait, and that "actors in this region must engage responsibly”. In his speech, Li said China would not allow such freedom-of-navigation patrols by the United States and its allies to be "a pretext to exercise hegemony of navigation."

Persons: Li Shangfu, Li, Joe Biden's, Anita Anand, Richard Marles, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Cui Tiankai, Chong Ja Ian, ”, Chen Lin, Greg Torode, Xinghui, Ben Blanchard, Kanupriya Kapoor, Gerry Doyle, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Chinese Defence, U.S, National Defence, People's Liberation Army, U.S . Navy, Pacific Command, Defense, Reuters, National University of Singapore, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, United States, Singapore, China, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, South, Chinese, Taiwan Straits, Canada, Britain ., Russia, Xinghui Kok, Taipei

SINGAPORE, June 3 (Reuters) - South Korea's defence minister said on Saturday that some countries were "ignoring North Korea's unlawful behaviour", which he said threatens to weaken U.N. sanctions against its missile and nuclear programmes. On Wednesday, North Korea launched its first spy satellite into space, although it ended in failure with the booster and payload plunging into the sea. The South Korean minister reiterated that coordination with the United States and Japan to deter North Korea was important. The three countries have agreed to begin sharing North Korean missile warning data in real time "within this year", South Korea's defence ministry said in a statement after a meeting between the South Korean, U.S. and Japanese defence chiefs. North Korea argues it has a sovereign right to space development.

Persons: Lee Jong, Lee, Kanupriya Kapoor, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Robert Birsel, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: . Security, North, " Defence, South, South Korean, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, U.N, China, Russia, U.S, North Korea, United States, Singapore, Pacific, Japan, North

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's top security summit, Austin said that open lines of communication between U.S. and Chinese defence and military leaders were essential to avoid conflict and bolster stability in the Asia-Pacific. "The more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict." China's Minister of National Defence Li Shangfu had this week declined an invitation to meet Austin at the security summit. On Friday, the two shook hands on the sidelines of the conference but did not hold detailed talks, the Pentagon said. "(AUKUS) promotes greater stability and security," Austin said.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Caroline Chia, Austin, Austin Austin, National Defence Li Shangfu, Antony Blinken, Liu Pengyu, General, Lei, Zhao Xiaozhuo, Zhao, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xinghui Kok, Joe Brock, Chen Lin, Gerry Doyle, Kanupriya Kapoor, Greg Torode, Ryan Woo, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Yew, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Defense, REUTERS, United, People's, National Defence, Austin, Pentagon, Academy of Military Sciences, Global Times, U.S, China's Academy of Military Sciences, Australia, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, Taiwan, Asia, Pacific SINGAPORE, United States, South China, People's Republic of China, U.S, Washington, TAIWAN, Beijing, Ukraine, Pacific, Australia, Japan, India, Philippines

SINGAPORE, June 3 (Reuters) - Ukraine's plans for a counteroffensive against Russian occupation remain on track, its deputy defence minister told Reuters on Saturday, despite an "unprecedented" wave of missile and drone attacks across the country in recent weeks. Havrylov called Russia's heavy use of ballistic missiles in May a "last strategic resort" and noted that his country's air defence systems had been "more than 90 percent effective" against the attacks. For Russia "it was a huge surprise to find that the effectiveness of (their ballistic missiles) was almost zero against modern air defence systems, which we received from our partners," he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday his country was ready to launch a much-awaited counter-offensive. The addition of modern fighter aircraft such as F-16s would improve the country's air defence capabilities, Havrylov said.

Persons: Volodymyr V, Havrylov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ben Wallace, Kanupriya Kapoor, Gerry Doyle, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Patriot, IRIS, NATO, British Storm, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Ukraine, Kyiv, Singapore, Russia, United States, Germany, Moscow, Vilnius, Lithuania, Crimea

☆ Indonesia proposes demilitarised zone, UN referendum for Ukraine peace plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Kanupriya Kapoor | Thomson Reuters | Edits Breaking News Across Southeast Asia Covers Longform Stories On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, June 3 (Reuters) - Indonesia's defence minister on Saturday proposed a peace plan for the war in Ukraine, calling for a demilitarised zone and a United Nations referendum in what he called disputed territory. He proposed a multi-point plan including a ceasefire "in place at present positions of both conflicting parties" and establishing a demilitarised zone by withdrawing 15 kilometres (nearly 10 miles) from each party's forward position. "We cannot stop supporting militarily Ukraine because we don't want the peace which is ... the peace of the surrender. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy has proposed a 10-point peace plan, which calls on Russia to withdraw all its troops from Ukraine. Chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva said Ukraine had no interest in a ceasefire that locks in Russian territorial gains.

Persons: Subianto, Prabowo, Joko Widodo's, Josep Borrell Fontelles, Borrell, Volodymr Zelenskiy, Ihor Zhovkva, Kanupriya Kapoor, Gerry Doyle Organizations: United, United Nations, UN, Union's European Commission, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Ukraine, United Nations, Singapore, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv

☆ 'Path is open' for Ukraine to join NATO -British defence minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Gerry Doyle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, June 2 (Reuters) - Britain supports adding Ukraine to NATO and "that path is open" to them, although political realities may slow the process, Defence Minister Ben Wallace said on Friday on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meetings in Singapore. "The best thing we can do to help Ukraine is now to help them defeat Russia," Wallace said in an interview. Ukraine's membership of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, is on the agenda for the group's July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Hanna Shelest, director of Ukrainian Prism, a think tank specialising in foreign policy and international security, said in Singapore that NATO membership would be a political decision. "We are not expecting to see a strong decision (about Ukraine’s membership) at Vilnius," said Shelest, who is based in Ukraine.

Persons: Ben Wallace, Wallace, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Hanna Shelest, Shelest, Li Shangfu, Lloyd Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, Gerry Doyle, Kanupriya Kapoor, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: NATO, Defence, Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Kyiv, Storm, U.S, Defense, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Britain, Ukraine, Singapore, Russia, Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukrainian, Moscow, London, Asia, United States, Australia, China

☆ Asia security summit kicks off amid US-China tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Joe Brock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Shangri-La Dialogue, which attracts senior military officers, diplomats, weapons makers and security analysts from around the globe, is taking place June 2-4 in Singapore. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver the keynote address on Friday evening, before U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and China's new Defence Minister Li Shangfu are expected to trade barbs in speeches over the weekend. Li, who was named China's new defence minister in March, was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 over weapons purchases from Russia. The United States is Australia's biggest security ally, and Beijing has criticised a deal announced in March to buy U.S. nuclear-powered submarines. Australia’s defence chief has said that as great power competition in the region persists, his country is focused on deterring conflict and deepening engagement with partners, including Pacific island and South East Asian nations.

Persons: Dr Ng Eng Hen, Lloyd Austin, Anthony Albanese, Li Shangfu, Li, Austin . Li, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Zhu Qichao, Joe Brock, Greg Torode, Kanupriya Kapoor, Xinghui Kok, Chen Lin, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S . Defense, Singapore Ministry of Defence, REUTERS, Singapore . Australian, U.S, Defence, Austin, National Intelligence, China, New Zealand, Albanese Labor, ASEAN, South East, Thomson Locations: Singapore, REUTERS SINGAPORE, United States, China, Taiwan, South China, Washington, Beijing, U.S, Russia, American, ., AUSTRALIA, Australia, Britain, Canada, New, Pacific, South

☆ Indonesia pushes tourism to boost mangrove restoration
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, June 2 (Reuters) - Tourists in Indonesia are discovering the benefits of mangroves as the archipelago pushes to replant or conserve carbon-rich coastal areas that have been decimated by human activity. Last year alone, the country lost 700,000 hectares of mangroves, according to Indonesia's Mangrove and Peatlands Restoration Agency (BRGM). "A lot of people and businesses have these mangrove forests levelled down and then build a tourist spot above it by piling sand to make artificial beaches. That contradicts nature preservation," said Muhammad Saleh Alatas, owner of The Mangrove Paddling Centre, which organises tours in the mangroves of Jakarta. Reporting by Tommy Ardiansyah, Johan Purnomo, Zahra Matarani; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Connie Sihombing, I've, Muhammad Saleh Alatas, Muhammad Ilman, Tommy Ardiansyah, Johan Purnomo, Zahra Matarani, Kanupriya Kapoor, Emelia Organizations: Restoration Agency, Nusantara Nature Conservation Agency, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jakarta

☆ Ex-aide to 1MDB fugitive Jho Low dies weeks after questioning
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Reuters) - A former aide to Malaysian fugitive Jho Low - wanted for his central role in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB corruption scandal - has died weeks after being questioned by Malaysian authorities on Low's whereabouts, his lawyers said on Wednesday. He was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on arrival and had his house searched, media reported. Malaysian authorities have previously said Low was believed to be in China, though Beijing has denied that. Low has been charged in Malaysia and the United States for allegedly masterminding the theft of $4.5 billion from now-defunct fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who co-founded 1MDB, was sentenced to 12 years in prison last year for graft linked to the scandal.

Persons: Jho, Kee Kok Thiam, Valen, Kee, Al Jazeera, Al, Low, Najib Razak, Hasnoor Hussain, Rozanna Latiff, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Malaysian, Partners, Malaysian Anti, Corruption, 1Malaysia Development, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysian, U.S, Malaysia, Macau, 1MDB, China, Al Jazeera, Beijing, United States

[1/2] Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat holds hands with coalition party leaders following a meeting with coalition partners in Bangkok, Thailand, May 18, 2023. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK, May 19 (Reuters) - Thailand's progressive Move Forward party on Friday said potential coalition partners need not support its controversial stance on amending the royal insult law, as it seeks to win the backing of other parties to form a government. The lese-majeste law prescribes up to 15 years of jail for perceived offences against the monarchy, which many Thais consider sacrosanct. Third-place winner Bhumjaithai party, which commands a critical voting bloc, said it would not support any premier that would amend the lese-majeste law. "We support medical marijuana, and recreational use must be regulated," a recently elected parliamentarian for Move Forward, Parit Wacharasindhu, said.

☆ Cambodia opposition figure calls upcoming election a 'sham'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy speaks during a press freedom event at the Gran Melia Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 19, 2023. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar UlfianaJAKARTA, May 19 (Reuters) - Prominent Cambodian opposition figure Sam Rainsy on Friday denounced the upcoming general election as a "fake and sham" after the country's the sole opposition party was disqualified from the race this week. July's poll will be a "fake and sham election for the simple reason that there will be no opposition," said Rainsy, the self-exiled former opposition leader, adding Cambodia was "in effect a one-party system". Rainsy urged democratic countries not to recognise the legitimacy of the Cambodian election and long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen.A Cambodian government spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment. The Candlelight Party is a reincarnation of the now-disbanded opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party, which Rainsy co-founded.

☆ Myanmar junta says 145 died in cyclone, NGOs fear higher toll
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A view of the damage caused by Cyclone Mocha in Sittwe, Myanmar in this handout image released May 17, 2023. Partners Relief and Development/Handout via REUTERSMay 19 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military-controlled media said on Friday 145 people were killed when Cyclone Mocha hit the country this week, in stark contrast to reports from rights groups and residents who fear hundreds may have died. The junta said in a statement that as of May 18 a total of 145 people had been found dead, including 91 in camps for internally displaced people. Rakhine has a large population of Rohingya Muslims - around 600,000, a persecuted minority that successive governments in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar have refused to recognise. Reporting by Reuters Staff; writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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