Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on November 5 that he will hand over leadership to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong before the next general election, which has to be called by November 2025.
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Indonesia imports more rice from Vietnam
The National Logistics Agency of Indonesia recently signed a contract for the import of 1 million tonnes of rice, as part of an additional quota of 1.5 million tonnes allocated from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan and Myanmar.
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Vietnam likely to be among fastest-growing economies in next decade: East Asia Forum
Vietnam has uniquely positioned itself to be among the fastest-growing economies in the coming decade, according to an article published recently on Australia-based website eastasiaforum.org.
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Indonesia intensifies crackdown on terrorism before 2024 elections
The counter-terrorism squad of Indonesian police (Densus 88) has arrested 45 terror suspects in October to ensure social security before the elections in February 2024.
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Thailand sets up task force to crack down on crimes
The Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) under the Thai Ministry of Interior has formed a central task force to step up the enforcement of laws against criminal offenders.
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ASEAN members pledge to boost culture, arts cooperation
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states have pledged to enhance their partnership in the field of culture and arts.
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Coordinated attacks, bombings rock south Thailand
Suspected insurgents launched a series of coordinated attacks in Tak Bai district, the southern border province of Narathiwa, Thailand on October 21, the country’s police force said.
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Indonesia kicks off election season
Indonesia officially entered election mode on October 19, with registration open for candidates keen to contest the upcoming presidential polls in February 2024.
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Indonesia becomes Southeast Asia’s second biggest military spender
With a total defence budget of 8.8 billion USD in 2023, Indonesia becomes the second-largest military spender in Southeast Asia, following Singapore, according to data and analytics company GlobalData.
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Myanmar closes over 200 schools due to floods
Myanmar’s Ministry of Education on October 13 announced that a total of 268 schools in Bago region in the south of the country were closed due to serious flooding.
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ASEAN, China to join humanitarian, disaster relief exercises
The Chinese army will send troops to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to participate in the live exercises held by the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Experts' Working Group.
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Thailand seizes over 2,000 guns in three-day nationwide crackdown
Thailand’s police have seized more than 2,000 illegal guns and 75,000 bullets and arrested 1,593 suspects in a three-day nationwide crackdown following a deadly shooting at a Bangkok shopping mall.
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Cambodia’s 11 provinces hit by prolonged rains, floods
Floods as a result of prolonged rains between September 16 and October 6 affected 11 provinces in Cambodia, killing at least three people and forcing nearly 2,000 households to evacuate to safer areas.
