Malaysian House Speaker Johari Abdul called for more dialogue, not confrontation, over South China Sea disputes, saying the Philippines is "doing the right thing" in its diplomatic approach to China.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum is heading to the Philippines in 2026. The ley event for the region’s tourism leaders, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ tourism community will gather in Cebu. Myanmar was originally selected as host country but withdrew. Cebu was selected at the conclusion of this year’s ATF in Malaysia.

Southeast Asian foreign ministers are gathering for their first meeting this year under the regional bloc’s new chair, Malaysia, seeking a breakthrough over Myanmar’s drawn-out civil war and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The Philippines publishes annual economic growth data after a challenging year that saw the island nation grapple with a host of challenges, including natural disasters and global economic uncertainty. The country has revised its 2024 GDP growth target downward to a range of 6-6.5%, from a previously projected 7%.

The regional bloc ASEAN and China should make headway on a protracted code of conduct for the South China Sea by tackling thorny "milestone issues", including its scope and if it can be legally binding,

official says 6:27 AM UTC Asia Pacificcategory Myanmar refugees face sudden discharge from Thai hospitals shuttered by US aid freeze 6:23 AM UTC Asia Pacificcategory Priests in Philippines accused of sex abuse remain in active ministry, US-based group says ...

Myanmar has been in turmoil since early 2021 ... the site of heated confrontations between ASEAN member the Philippines and China, a major source of the region's trade and investment.

Trump may care little about Myanmar, but a robust U.S. foreign-policy infrastructure means the generals in Naypyitaw have nothing to celebrate, Scot Marciel tells The Irrawaddy.

“As the Philippines takes on the Chairmanship of ASEAN 2026, I invite you to join us in the Philippines for the 29th ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu in January 2026,” Frasco said in a statement, addressing ASEAN nations and partners.

Healthcare centres serving tens of thousands of refugees on the Thai-Myanmar border have been ordered shut after U.S. President Donald Trump froze most foreign aid last week, forcing Thai officials to transport the sickest patients to other facilities.

Chinese authorities have detained a key suspect in human trafficking cases linked to online scam networks in Myanmar.

Philippine priests accused of sex abuse remain in active ministry in the Catholic-majority country, a U.S.-based abuse tracking group said on Wednesday, urging the country's bishops to take action and hold the alleged perpetrators accountable.