Asean News

Saudi Arabia only allowed cinemas to reopen in 2018 after a decades-long ban JEDDAH (SAUDI ARABIA) - Less than four years after lifting a ban on cinemas, Saudi Arabia rolled out the red carpet Monday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah for celebrities descending on the kingdom's first major film festival. Saudi, Arab and foreign actors and actresses walked the red carpet in evening wear -- a far cry from the traditional black abaya that until recently was the officially mandated dress code for women. "It's a historical day in the kingdom," the festival's director Mohammed Al Turki told AFP. Movie houses were barred for decades until April 2018, but over the next 10 days, actors and directors will showcase their features at Jeddah's Red Sea International Film Festival. The festival starts a day after Jeddah hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix, also an attempt to portray Saudi Arabia in a different light. It will showcase 138 long and short films from 67 countries in more than ... » Learn More about From cinema ban to film festival: Saudi rolls out red carpet

Metro Manila, in particular, is already “robustly protected against a future surge of COVID-19,” says OCTA Research fellow, Fr. Nicanor Austriaco. (File photo by JILSON SECKLER TIU / Philippine Daily Inquirer) MANILA, Philippines — Current data suggest that the Philippines has obtained “substantial population immunity” against COVID-19, an OCTA Research fellow, Fr. Nicanor Austriaco Jr., said during the weekly taped “Talk to the People” of President Rodrigo Duterte that aired late Monday night. Austriaco, a Catholic priest who is also a molecular biologist, noted that the country currently had achieved its lowest number of cases and hospitalization rate and its highest mobility rate in 20 months even after the arrival of the Delta variant. “So what these three mean together is that it suggests that we have obtained substantial population immunity from natural infections and vaccinations in the urban areas of the Philippines,” Austriaco said. “Because the pandemic has raged and ... » Learn More about PH now has ‘substantial population immunity’ vs COVID-19 – OCTA fellow

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco received the Award of Distinction from officials of the UST Law Alumni Foundation — (from left) Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Edith Santos, Frankie Magsalin III, retired Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos, Deputy Court Administrator Thelma Bahia, and Maria Elena Go Francisco, the foundation’s current president. (Photo from Velasco’s office) MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco received on Monday an Award of Distinction from the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Foundation Inc. through the UST Faculty of Civil Law, of which he is an alumnus. Velasco got the award for his “sterling leadership” of the House of Representatives and his accomplishments as representative of the lone district of Marinduque, former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Marinduque Chapter, and former provincial administrator of Marinduque. The award is the highest honor that the alumni foundation bestows on distinguished ... » Learn More about Speaker Velasco gets Award of Distinction from UST Law Alumni Foundation

Galih Ardin (The Jakarta Post) PREMIUM Jakarta   ● Tue, December 7 2021 The Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) received 229,580 objection and non-objection applications during the pandemic in 2020-2021, compared with 152,494 in 2018 and 209,099 in 2019. The tax objection application is a mechanism that taxpayers can use to look for tax justice if they are not satisfied with the tax disposition issued by the DGT. Meanwhile, the non-objection application is a mechanism used by taxpayers to ask for relief from tax administration sanctions. Both applications are handled by the Tax Objection and Appeals Division under the coordination of DGT regional offices. However, if taxpayers are still unsatisfied with the objection and non-objection decision reached by this division, they can submit a tax appeal application to the Tax Court. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily ... » Learn More about Reforming Indonesian tax dispute settlement system

A. Lin Neumann and John Goyer (The Jakarta Post) PREMIUM Jakarta/Washington, DC     ● Tue, December 7 2021 It is a busy season for international engagement in Indonesia. With the country assuming the presidency of the Group of 20 for the first time and hopefully escaping nearly two years of a dreary COVID-19 funk, 2022 should see the country shine. The Biden administration’s stepped-up engagement with Indonesia and Southeast Asia overall reflects this. From visits to the region by the Vice President, the US Secretaries of Commerce and Defense, to President Joe Biden’s participation in the virtual US-ASEAN Summit in November, there is a new sense of diplomatic momentum across the region. Such welcome vibrancy regarding Southeast Asia has not been seen for a long time in Washington. The spotlight is now on Jakarta. This month, Indonesia will host visits by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. Other senior officials ... » Learn More about Indonesia’s winning hand and better future

PETALING JAYA: Rio Olympics mixed doubles silver medallists Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying have decided to part ways after a glorious 13-year partnership. Peng Soon, 33, took to social media to announce their decision on Monday (Dec 6). "Last week's World Tour Finals (which they made the semi-finals) was my last match with Liu Ying," he wrote. "I felt heavy-hearted, it wasn't an easy decision. After all, we have been playing together for 13 years. "We fail together, we succeed together, we grow together," he said. The announcement came just after Liu Ying said the pair would not play in the World Championships in Huelva, Spain, citing fatigue as the reason. Peng Soon and Liu Ying first paired up in 2009 and are considered as the country's first-ever full-fledged mixed doubles combination. The duo won 12 titles together and were once ranked as high as world No. 3 in 2013. ... » Learn More about Peng Soon, Liu Ying disbanding partnership

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei’s status as the most successful men’s singles shuttler in the World Tour Finals could soon be under threat. World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen is edging closer to the Chong Wei’s long-standing record of four titles after the Dane won the season-ending event for the third time when he outplayed Thailand’s surprise finalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-12, 21-8 in Bali yesterday. The victory saw Axelsen made up for the last edition’s disappointment in Bangkok earlier in January when he lost to compatriot Anders Antonsen in the final. The Tokyo Olympics champion reclaimed the crown he last captured in Dubai in 2017 when he beat Chong Wei 19-21, 21-19, 21-15. He also tasted success in 2016 in Dubai. Chong Wei holds the distinction of being the most successful since the season-ending event’s inception in 2008, triumphing on four occasions in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013. By featuring in yesterday’s showdown, Axelsen, a runner-up in 2015, has already equalled Chong Wei’s ... » Learn More about Viktor on the prowl

SIBU: A local YouTuber known as Cardock is counting on his popularity on social media to contest as an Independent in Dudong in the 12th Sarawak State Election. Sibu-born Fadhil Mohd Isa, 37, said he felt compelled to run this time as he wanted to stand up for those in the Dudong area who have yet to enjoy water, electricity and Internet facilities. “I felt compelled to contest when I saw how a state like Sarawak that is rich in natural resources still has places without water, electricity supply and Internet facilities. These are things that can benefit the people,” he told reporters on Monday (Dec 6). He is among eight candidates who submitted their nomination papers at the Dudong nomination centre here to contest the seat. The others are Wong Hie Ping (Parti Sarawak Bersatu), Jane Lau Sung Yee (Parti Bumi Kenyalang), Julius Enchana (Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru), Paul Ling Fong (DAP), Josephine Lau Kiew Peng (Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak), Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing ... » Learn More about Sarawak Polls: YouTuber banking on virtual popularity to contest in Dudong

KUCHING: The Election Commission is optimistic that at least 70% of voters in Sarawak will come out to cast their ballots on Dec 18. EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said he believed the people of Sarawak want to exercise their right to vote. "I believe 70% is possible. Sarawakians are good people and they are ready to carry out their duty as voters" he said at a press conference on Monday (Dec 6). Ghani was asked about voter turnout, particularly with the unpredictable weather expected throughout the election period. Voter turnout during the Melaka state election was around 65%. ... » Learn More about Sarawak Polls: EC expecting good voter turnout

KUCHING: The Election Commission has been urged to review the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the Sarawak state election. PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that although the world was still facing the Covid-19 pandemic, the election process should not be hindered. Anwar said the EC had said that it would study the SOP. However, he said that the study was not published after the Melaka state election, which concluded on Nov 20. "The EC should be proactive and discuss with political party representatives contesting in the state election," he said on Monday (Dec 6). Anwar also claimed the latest SOP was not made based on medical evidence. "Critical discussions on the SOP must be conducted," he said. He also questioned if there would be equal media access for all political parties and candidates. The latest SOP by the EC, among others, allows physical ceramah in 64 seats identified as having poor Internet coverage. Physical ceramah will be held under ... » Learn More about Sarawak Polls: Anwar calls for review of campaign rules