ASEAN Leaders Meet in Laos to Discuss Worsening Civil War in Myanmar
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit began on Wednesday Oct. 9 in Vientiane, Laos with a major focus placed on tackling a critical issue within the region: the worsening civil war in Myanmar.
Australia Provides Assistance to Help Its Citizens Leave Lebanon
Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia, has recently urged Australian citizens in Lebanon to leave while they still can. An estimated 15,000 Australians remain in Lebanon after Israel initiated a ground operation in Hezbollah.
Thailand Is the First in Southeast Asia to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
On Tuesday, Sep. 24, 2024, Thailand’s landmark marriage equality bill was approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, making the nation the first in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.
Indonesia’s Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate by 0.25%
On Sept. 18, Indonesia’s Central Bank (Bank Indonesia) announced a decrease in their interest rate from 25 basis points (0.25%) to 6%, in a move that came as a surprise to most experts.
New Zealand Walks Back Historic Smoking Ban Legislation
In 2022, New Zealand was lauded for passing the world's first generational smoking ban. In a surprising turn of events, New Zealand has backtracked its course on the ban, announcing a disappointing reversal that has drawn criticism from public health officials.
Nepal Bans TikTok, Citing Disruption to Social Harmony
This past Monday, the Nepali government announced a ban on TikTok, the video-sharing app that has accrued over 1 billion users globally. Officials pointed to the prevalent hate content on the app as the main justification for the ban.