South East Asia

The latest toll stands at 37 dead, four missing, and more than 450 injured. Bishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the CBCP, has called on all Filipinos to contribute aid to the relief effort. Many parts of the earthquake-stricken area are still without power. Homes have been destroyed, and more than a thousand people have been evacuated, including in Indonesia.

The death toll now stands at 32, with 12 missing, following this morning's 7.8-magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre at sea. The tsunami warning has been lifted. Damage has been reported at the Divine Mercy Shrine, Lake Sebu, and several parish churches. The Conference of Major Superiors of the Philippines calls for prayers and solidarity with displaced families.

Authorities say content likely originated from a China-based platform and sought to inflame tensions against the city-state’s Indian community, a key pillar of Singapore’s multicultural society.

On 25 May, the Dicastery for Evangelisation issued an official decree granting international status to the shrine, the second in Catholic-majority Philippines. The formal declaration will be held on 23 September, the feast day of the saint from Pietralcina.

Myanmar’s newly elected president strikes deals on rare earths and infrastructure. But while the two governments negotiated in New Delhi, their armed forces exchanged artillery fire on the border, where weapons and fighters can easily cross. In Manipur, three Kuki civilians were killed this morning in yet another ambush, while more and more players are taking part in the violence.

Dadan Hindayana, who headed the agency for two years, has been jailed, along with Sony Sonjaya and Lodewyk Pusung. The prosecution cites “solid” evidence supporting the charges, whilst the investigation continues. The agency’s new head announces a radical change: the target of reaching 83 million people is no longer a priority

A book edited by Nicolò Tassoni Estense, Italian ambassador to Myanmar, and Piero Masolo, a PIME missionary, traces the cultural exchanges between the two countries, from Marco Polo and technicians from Piedmont (Italy) to the first missionaries. The cooperation is today being renewed even in Yangon’s most underprivileged areas, where diplomatic staff and the New Humanity NGO handed out over 2,100 meals to local families on Italy’s Republic Day.

Malaysia’s Refugee Registration Document framework, a programme for asylum seekers held in the country’s immigration detention centres, became operational on 1 June. So far, some 4,000 people have been registered, mostly Rohingya who fled Myanmar. The programme, the government stressed, is not aimed at granting citizenship.

According to the State of the Global Islamic Economy report, Muslim consumer spending on clothing is expected to reach $433 billion by 2028. This growth is driven not only by the demographic expansion of Muslim populations but also by the emergence of a new generation of young, educated female consumers who are attuned to contemporary fashion trends.

Stored gelignite reportedly caused a massive explosion that killed at least 55 people in a village in Shan State. The catastrophe has put the spotlight on the TNLA, a controversial militia that struck a deal with China. Meanwhile, according to the United Nations, more than 16 million people in Myanmar are currently suffering from acute food insecurity. International organisations are appealing for help for one of the world's least-funded emergencies.

A forum bringing together over a hundred civil society organisations has urged the government to impose stricter rules for assessing the environmental and social impact of Beijing’s investments in Cambodia. For the NGOs, the issues concern hydroelectric dams and the controversial Funan Techo canal, whilst Phnom Penh defends the projects as essential for growth.

Announced yesterday, the body includes Cardinal David, bishop of Kalookan, former International Criminal Court Judge Pangalangan, and a prominent medical doctor. It will assist survivors and grieving families in their quest for the truth about one of the most painful chapters in the country’s recent history. Reports and recommendations on its work will be published every six months.