On August 11, a vocational training institute in northeastern Cambodia launched a new scholarship aimed at helping young people from poor and vulnerable households gain practical skills for employment.
Category: Society
Indonesia’s Rapid Response Team Deployed to Tackle Bromo Forest Fire
On August 9, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, sent a Rapid Response Team (TRC) to help tackle a forest and land fire in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS).
Cambodia Urges Safe Return of Thousands of Displaced Civilians
Cambodian Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra urged urgent measures to enable thousands of displaced civilians to return home safely, voluntarily and with dignity, warning that the issue has become a wider humanitarian and human rights concern.
ASEAN Marks 59th Anniversary, Secretary-General Urges to Maintain “Habit of Working Together”
ASEAN member states commenced celebrations for the organisation’s 59th anniversary on August 8, with Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn delivering opening remarks that underscored the bloc’s progress and offered a reflection on its journey since 1967.
Thailand School Shooting Leaves Seven Dead, Renewing Calls for Tougher Gun Controls
On August 7, at least seven people were killed and 23 others injured after a 14-year-old student opened fire at his home and later at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi Province. This is one of Thailand’s deadliest school shootings in recent years.
59th ASEAN Day: Celebrating Southeast Asia Through Cinema
As Southeast Asia increasingly becomes the centre of flashpoints between major global powers, the region is often discussed through the lens of geopolitics, economic growth, or regional diplomacy. But as we celebrate the 59th ASEAN Day—which marks the establishment of the regional bloc that unites 11 member states on August 8, 1967—we celebrate Southeast Asia through its cultural expressions. Beyond official statements and policy debates, the region’s complexities are perhaps best understood through the stories its people choose to tell. Cinema has become one of the most compelling mediums for examining how Southeast Asian societies grapple with history, identity, inequality, faith and the legacies of conflict and colonialism.
Singapore Passes Road Traffic Bill to Curb Drink-Driving with Stricter Penalties
The Parliament of Singapore enacted the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill on August 4, introducing stricter drink-driving limits alongside a new criminal offence for reckless driving.
Philippines Hosts ASEAN Youth Summit to Advance Digital Resilience and Responsible AI Use
On August 5, the Philippines formally opened the ASEAN Youth Summit 2026, with the theme “Digital Resilience and Responsible Use of Technologies,” bringing together youth leaders, policymakers and development partners from across Southeast Asia to strengthen digital resilience and promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Indonesia Foils Malaysian Pilot’s Drug Smuggling Attempt, 70,000 Ecstasy Pills Found
On July 28, a Malaysian pilot was caught at Jakarta’s international airport in an attempt to smuggle over 70,000 ecstasy pills and a stash of methamphetamine.
Indonesia Leads ASEAN Push for Long-Term Disaster Resilience
On July 29, Indonesia called on ASEAN to shift its disaster management approach from disaster risk reduction towards long-term sustainable resilience, urging stronger international cooperation to better prepare the bloc for future crises.