Rudd's foreign policy made on the run - and it's showing Nov 17, 2009
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd talks with Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the recent APEC meeting. Hasty decisions have left Rudd's foreign policy looking tatty. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Myanmar up close Nov 13, 2009
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, includes Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Obama's summit with Southeast Asian leaders will be historic not only for the renewed US interest in US-ASEAN diplomatic ties, but also in that it will be one of the highest level meetings between a US president and a senior official - Prime Minister Thein Sein - in Myanmar's military junta. (Asia Times Online)
* Thaksin on mission to humiliate Nov 8, 2009
Recent snapshots show him golfing in Brunei and Dubai, inspecting diamond mines in South Africa, sipping coffee in a private jet and meeting prime ministers or presidents on trips to Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and the Maldives. His new relationship with Hun Sen is bound to revive speculation of private business deals between the two while he was prime minister. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Rudd's regional vision granted a soapbox Oct 24, 2009
The 10 leaders of Association of South-East Asian Nations Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Cambodia are already in Hua Hin for the 15th ASEAN summit. They will be joined by leaders from China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand and Australia for the East Asia Summit. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Berawan taboos & beliefs Oct 24, 2009
We saw that dense undergrowth and trees had overtaken the two burial poles, and the hut which used to hold the remains of an aristocratic couple exiled from Brunei had long since disappeared. Our cruise soon came to an end, and we were disappointed not to have come across any fisherman at work on the traditional selembu, the Berawans version of the liftnet. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Yudhoyono thanks his friends Oct 21, 2009
Kevin Rudd was flanked by other regional leaders from Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and East Timor. Australia's Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, was also present. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Susilo inaugurated as Indonesian president Oct 20, 2009
"We would like to welcome Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah from Brunei, President Jose Ramos Horta from Timor-Leste, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Australian Minister Kevin Rudd, Malaysian Prime Minister M Najib Tun Abdul Razak as well as special envoys from friendly countries," said Taufik. China sent Ambassador for Indonesia Zhang Qiuye to attend the ceremony. (Xinhuanet, China)
Suu Kyi verdict tests ASEAN's resolve Aug 14, 2009
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Alistair D B Cook is post-doctoral fellow and Mely Caballero-Anthony (ismcanthony@ntu. (Asia Times Online)
PEACE PROSPECT? Jul 26, 2009
The two sides are expected to meet next week in Kuala Lumpur to prepare for the resumption of talks and the return of about 60 peace monitors from Malaysia, Brunei, Libya and Japan who pulled out in November 2008. The rebels' decision to reciprocate Manila's truce came after MILF chairman Al haj Ebrahim Murad met with the rebels' central committee on Saturday. (AlertNet)
China launches yuan trade plan Jul 7, 2009
However it is expected to be extended so that the yuan could be used to settle trade between parts of eastern China (Guangdong and the Yangtze River delta) and the Asean group of countries (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). Last month, China's central bank reiterated its call for a new reserve currency to replace the US dollar. (BBC News -- Business)
Click to read:Poll: Most Back Public Health Care Option Jun 21, 2009
(Perhaps we need to help the thought leaders in the system, including Dr. Himmelstein, to shine an increasingly bright light on the handful of insurers, pharaceutical company execs and a few of the more lavishly and royally paid (think Prince of Brunei) who have invested heavily in buying influence in Congress -- including Max Baucus (and most of the other politicians responsible for acting on healthcare) - to retain as much as possible of the current system, or possibly delay the change long... (CBS News)
Crisis-hit Singapore tightens grip Jun 16, 2009
Singapore's law and second minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, stoutly defended the POA on April 16 at the fourth annual gathering of the Attorney General's Chambers of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. He said that the POA has helped to streamline current rules on public assemblies and rightly empowers police to halt the filming of security or covert operations, which could be compromised by public broadcasting. (Asia Times Online)
ASEAN's Pattaya problem Apr 18, 2009
(The other nine are Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Brunei, Cambodia and Indonesia ... After Thailand comes Vietnam (2010), Brunei (2011), and Cambodia (2012) - three states that are semi-authoritarian at best. (Asia Times Online)
China offers funds to boost Asean Apr 13, 2009
China's Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, announced the new funding plans in Beijing to a gathering of envoys from the 10 members of Asean - Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The $10bn investment fund was designed for cooperation on infrastructure construction, energy and resources, information and communications, China's state news agency Xinhua quoted Mr Yang as saying. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Timeline: Indonesia Apr 9, 2009
2000 - Two financial scandals dog the Wahid administration: Buloggate (embezzled funds from the state logistics agency), and Bruneigate (missing humanitarian aid funds from the Sultan of Brunei). The corruption case against former President Suharto collapses. (BBC News -- Asia-Pacific)
Who's in the frame now? Red faces over wronged redhead Mar 22, 2009
Johnson then said he had also once had in his possession compromising photographs of the wife of the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who he claimed he had been romantically involved with during the time Ms Rein was a consultant for the Sultan of Brunei. But he had destroyed the photos some time ago. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
* Taiwan News Quick Take Mar 14, 2009
Vietnam, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei each claim all or part of the Spratlys, which are believed to be sitting on large oil and natural gas reserves. EVENTS. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
LETTER: Obama appoints his own 'good ole boys' Feb 18, 2009
-- The government of Brunei ... ")The Clintons Saudi fundraisers:MSNBC Dec 18 2008 - Former President Bill Clintons foundation has raised at least $41 million from Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments that his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton may end up negotiating with as the next secretary of state.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave $10 million to $25 million to the William J. Clinton Foundation, a nonprofit created by the former president to finance his library in Little Rock, Ark., and... (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Tunkus legacy of compassion Feb 15, 2009
When Brunei refused to join the proposed Malaysian Federation in the early 60s, a senior British Cabinet Minister suggested that Tunku could take over the tiny British protectorate by force, and Britain would discreetly acquiesce with the move. Tunku is alleged to have told the Minister, How can I deprive a little kingdom of its right to be what it wants to be. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
