South East Asia

The goal by 2030 is to integrate the sector into the international market, making it more modern and scientific. Plans include facilities with hundreds of beds and support for medical tourism. Known as southern herbal medicine, it traditionally stands in contrast to the Chinese variety.

For the first time in 30 years, the government has reintroduced conscription. After completing their service, conscripts will remain in the reserves until they reach the age of 45. This comes against a backdrop of tensions on the border with Thailand, with 20,000 Cambodians still unable to return to their villages

The Philippine cardinal today brought to the Vatican meeting what he experienced in Manila’s poorest areas, among the victims of extrajudicial killings of drug addicts and small-time dealers. For him, fragility among families also stems from poverty, violence, and underemployment, but they can teach how to walk alongside others while trusting in grace.

Following Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei may also welcome the Myanmar leader. Meanwhile, the US has initiated direct talks with Myanmar, which is keen to gain international legitimacy.

On 7 and 8 October, just as the Thai capital was grappling with the damage caused by the Chao Phraya River bursting its banks, 17 delegates from regional bishops’ conferences gathered for a meeting organised by the FABC. Five lines of action were defined for a shared path forward.

The measure follows three deadly school shootings in recent months. The bill mandates the deactivation of existing accounts and requires platforms to monitor compliance. Senator Hontiveros voted against the measure, arguing that while teenagers need protection, they also need education on media usage.

Pope Leo XIV approved the prelate’s election following the resignation of 92-year-old Cardinal Re. The 69-year-old Philippine cardinal will serve a five-year term, renewable once. A briefing was held at the Vatican today regarding the initial proceedings marking the 10th anniversary of Amoris Laetitia. A Philippine couple was grateful for the presence of others and the opportunity to learn from different cultures. For Father Costa, these meetings are “rooted in shared prayer.”

The Mangkunegaran Palace hosted a celebration that also served as an act of thanksgiving for the presence of Catholics in local society, Father Herman noted. In this very public venue Christmas Mass was held in 1957, with the permission of the then-ruler of the local Islamic principality. Now Catholics can look to the future while preserving their roots and the past.

On 6 October 1976, dozens of students were killed during the crackdown on protests at a university in Bangkok. It remains a painful chapter in Thai history, marked by brutal violence, thousands of arrests, and perpetrators who largely went unpunished.

The court dismissed a petition challenging the eligibility for office of Indonesia’s vice-president, the eldest son of former President Widodo, on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to bring the case. Yet doubts persist over the lack of evidence regarding his educational credentials, an essential requirement for the position.

Published in April and celebrated by the official press, a book by businessman Nguyễn Thành Nam was banned following accusations that it distorted the history of the revolution and the image of the Communist Party's founder. Subsequently, a new publishing law was passed, mandating three levels of oversight.

For nearly five years, the union leader has been mobilising workers at Phnom Penh’s NagaWorld casino laid off in 2021. Amid protests, arrests, and legal proceedings, the dispute has become a symbol of the challenges facing independent unions in the country.