#association of southeast asian nations

[ranjith11]

The Silent Rise of ASEAN | asean global superpower | Geography facts

In this video, the Geography Guru takes you on an incredible journey into the heart of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 🌍 Dive deep with us as we unveil the silent yet robust ascendancy of ASEAN, a crucial alliance that often goes unnoticed. From its humble beginnings in Bangkok, Thailand, to becoming an economic powerhouse with a strong cultural foundation, ASEAN is truly a force to reckon with. Join us as we explore this remarkable journey.

[thejewishlink]

Israel, Vietnam Sign Free-Trade Agreement

By Pesach Benson • 25 July, 2023   Jerusalem, 25 July, 2023 (TPS) — Israel and Vietnam signed a free trade agreement in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat announced. It is Israel’s first free trade agreement with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The agreement was signed by Barkat and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Hong Dien in the…

[carlocarrasco]

Philippines aiming for 3-4 gold medals in the 32nd SEA Games

Even as the Philippines will be sending a reduced number of athletes to the 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as SEA Games and Cambodia 2023) in Cambodia anticipating a tough battle ahead, the nation’s triathlon team is aiming high to achieve SEA Games triathlon gold medal success there this May, according to a Philippine Star sports news report. Take note that the SEA…

[reasonsforhope]

"Canada's parliament has passed a bill that that will cover the full cost of contraception and diabetes drugs for Canadians.

The Liberal government said it is the initial phase of a plan that would expand to become a publicly funded national pharmacare programme.

The government estimates one in five Canadians struggle to pay for prescription drugs.

The federal government still has to negotiate individual funding commitments with Canada's provinces and territories.

A report from parliament's budget watchdog estimates this bill will increase federal spending by C$1.9bn ($1.3bn; £1bn) over the next five years.

Canadians currently pay for prescription drugs through a mix of private, public and out-of-pocket plans.

The programme will cover 100% of the cost of diabetes and contraception medication for those who do not have drug plan coverage, and out-of-pocket costs for those who do.

The federal government estimates that nine million Canadian women of reproductive age will have access to common types of contraception under the plan.

Birth-control pills and IUDs can cost between C$100 and C$300 a year.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada hailed the ball as a "historic achievement".

"Women across the country will be able to make choices about contraception based on what's best for their lives, not their wallets," it said.

In addition, some 3.7 million Canadians have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes drugs covered include insulin - for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which can cost between C$900 and C$1,700 a year - and Metformin, which helps lower blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the bill's passage "real progress" and urged provinces to quickly move forward with signing agreements.

The federal health minister has said he hopes that some provinces will have the plan in place by the end of this year, with all on board by next spring."

-via BBC, October 11, 2024

[dipplinduo]

Hey!

So here's the thing: I love and am so grateful for this platform - for all of you who follow me, read my stories, and share a collective love for all things dipplinshipping, mintteashipping, and pokemon fandom alike. A primary focus of my account, in fact, is alllllll about fortifying a happy little escape zone where we can all be happy and have fun together.

This post is a rare "not about that" post. I'm gonna keep my personal feelings on this pretty brief, but here's the thing: I've been fucking livid. For awhile. I'm angry and disappointed with world leaders and people in power. And as an American, I'm feeling a lot around our government: its egregiously wealthy stakeholders - who wildly abuse their influence for self-gain - and the corruption that is a hate-motivated, white supremacist, capitalistic agenda. If you live in the US, or even anywhere else, I can promise you this: Your existence and presence is always valid, and is not defined by an executive order. If you follow me or watch my posts from time-to-time, I hope that you can continue to find a positive escape with what I promote here. And I hope you know how much you are loved and valued. Genuinely. Please know these are some free, 24/7 resources avaliable, too: General: National Crisis Line - Call 988 OR: chat at 988lifeline.org* - *Inclusive services for individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing Crisis Text Line - Text "HELLO" to 741741 Free 24/7 crisis support via text for anyone in need. Resources For The LGBTQIA+ Community: Trans Lifeline - translifeline.org Hotline: 877-565-8860 (run by trans people for trans people)

National Center for Transgender Equality - transequality.org Resources on legal rights, ID document changes, and advocacy for transgender individuals.

PFLAG - pflag.org Support groups, crisis intervention, advocacy, and educational resources for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies.

Sylvia Rivera Law Project - srlp.org Legal aid and advocacy for low-income trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals.

The Trevor Project - thetrevorproject.org

24/7 crisis counselling for LGBTQIA+ Youth (ages 13-24)

Resources For People of Color:

EmbraceRace - embracerace.org Provides resources for people of color, particularly families, to cope with racial trauma and political stress in culturally affirming ways. The Steve Fund - stevefund.org Mental health resources for young people of color LatinoJustice PRLDEF - latinojustice.org Provides legal advocacy and community education for Latinx individuals on voting rights, immigration, and civil rights. Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA) - nativefinance.org Financial services, resources, and advocacy for Indigenous communities. The Loveland Foundation - thelovelandfoundation.org Offers free or discounted therapy for Black women and girls. Asian Mental Health Collective - asianmhc.org Mental health resources for Asian and Pacific Islander communities Inclusive Therapists - inclusivetherapists.com A therapist directory that centers the needs of marginalized populations

Resources For Immigrants and Undocumented Individuals: Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) - ilrc.org Provides legal resources and training for immigrants and their advocates.

National Immigration Law Center (NILC) - nilc.org Advocacy for the rights of low-income immigrants.

RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) - raicestexas.org Offers free or low-cost legal services for immigrants and refugees.

Border Angels - borderangels.org Supports undocumented individuals with immigration services and humanitarian aid. Resources Around Abortion: ReproCare Healthline - reprocare.com Hotline: Text "CARE" to 707-827-2273 Emotional support, information, and logistical assistance for people managing abortion care. Access Reproductive Care (ARC) Southeast - arc-southeast.org Provides funding and support for abortion access in the Southeastern U.S., including transportation and lodging assistance. Aid Access - aidaccess.org Telemedicine consultations and abortion pills access by mail for people who face barriers to in-person care. Center for Reproductive Rights - reproductiverights.org Litigates cases to protect and expand access to reproductive health care and abortion rights worldwide. Advocacy and Involvement Resources: Alliance for Justice - afj.org Join campaigns focused on protecting civil rights, access to justice, and equity for marginalized communities. Center for Popular Democracy - populardemocracy.org Supports marginalized communities through campaigns on racial and economic justice, immigration reform, and healthcare. Human Rights Campaign (HRC) - hrc.org Opportunities to volunteer, participate in advocacy campaigns, and fight for LGBTQIA+ rights through events and local organizing. National Immigration Law Center (NILC) - nilc.org Advocate for policies supporting immigrants, including DACA, workplace protections, and healthcare access. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) - edf.org

Advocate for climate change response initiatives via donations and campaign support

Please feel free to reblog/comment and add to this list.

with love,

dipplinduo

[arkipelagic]

A lot of those who insist that Filipinos are Pacific Islander instead of (or, in addition to) Asian often rely on loose interpretations of the term Pacific Islander and the fact that the Philippines was used as a stepping stone in the Austronesian expansion to the east. What they ignore or may not know is that (1) the superficial similarities between Pacific Islanders and Filipinos are not unique to Pacific Islanders and Filipinos but with Austronesian-speaking peoples in general, including Austronesian-speaking Southeast Asians and (2) we Filipinos simply did not have as regular and as vigorous a contact with the Pacific Islands - if any - compared to the Asian continent. We still don’t.

Think about it: the earliest known trade network in the Philippines included what is now Taiwan and Southeast Asia, i.e., the Philippine jade culture which dates as far back as 2000 BC and lasted for 3,000 years. Nephrite jade from Taiwan was manufactured in the Philippines and distributed elsewhere in the nearby region. After that were the Sa Huỳnh-Kalanay Interaction Sphere from 500 BC through AD 100 and of course the so-called Maritime Silk Road during historical times. What followed was then the very familiar colonial era of Iberian, Dutch, and British presence in Asia.

The earliest Filipino artifact with a given calendar date is the Laguna Copperplate Inscription which was written in the year AD 900 using a Brahmic script in a combination of Sanskrit, Old Malay, Old Tagalog and/or Javanese. Upon the arrival of Magellan six hundred years later in 1521, it was a man titled rajah who greeted him in Cebu. Half a century later, the aged grandson of the sultan of Brunei was ruling Manila. To this day, among the lesser Hispanicized and Americanized ethnic groups across the Philippines, the Ivatan of Batanes speak a family of languages shared with the Tao of Orchid Island, Taiwan and the people of Bangsamoro have more in common with Bruneians, Indonesians, and Malaysians than they do with the Māori, Kanaka Maoli, or Fijians. Indigenous Borneans are closely related to Filipinos.

As for myself, I was raised in Davao where you’ll find Cebuano, Ilonggo, Kagan, Maguindanaon, Maranao, Mansaka, Mandaya, Manobo, Bagobo, Chinese Hoklo, Japanese, and Indian people live; no one local I’ve ever met has identified as Pacific Islander and there was never a question as to whether I was Asian or not because I was surrounded by fellow Asians. It’s certainly hard to deny it when your country of origin is one of the founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, attempted to make a Malaysian-Filipino-Indonesian confederation happen, and contains the title “Pearl of the Orient” as a lyric in the national anthem.

Does this look like an archipelago that kept close touch with polities and cultures across the Pacific Ocean for thousands of years? Does this look like a society that is more Pacific Islander than Asian?

[vigilskeep]

Hi!! Do you know if there’s anywhere in thedas based on southeast asia ? It’s my first time playing dragon age and I want my character to be thai too so I’m hoping so lol

dragon age has a pretty spotty history of asian representation, but we are seeing more and more asian characters now—the main ones that come to mind being dorian from dai, and bellara and neve from veilguard—and they tend to come from the vicinity of tevinter, where veilguard will begin, so that might be a good place to start! bellara and neve’s associated local factions, the veil jumpers and the shadow dragons, will be among the options for your character’s background

i don’t know how far those asian inspirations will be applied to culture and locations more broadly, as well as just “casting”, because we haven’t been to these areas of thedas before. the nature of dragon age’s writing is that the history of thedas as a whole mimics europe’s in many ways, with each nation on the continent having its own european parallels. as previous games have been set in the predominantly white south of thedas, we’re yet to see how that’s handled in the north which we know to be primarily populated by people of colour, and how that diversity will be incorporated on a deeper level alongside the “role” in european history each nation plays, if that makes sense

all that being said, thedas is a varied place with long histories of migration, trade, imperialism, refugee movements, nomadic populations, marriage alliances of nobility, etc., between all its nations. though somewhere like tevinter might have your best shot at deeper representation and a similar-looking population, there’s absolutely nothing lore-breaking about writing your thai character into any background in thedas if you find something else more inspiring

[beardedmrbean]

A new marriage law set to go into force in Thailand on Thursday will grant full equality to same-sex couples, including legal, financial and medical rights. Only two other places in Asia — Nepal and Taiwan — have similar laws in place.

The struggle for marriage equality in Thailand has lasted decades.

Plus and Gaye, a lesbian couple who preferred not to give their full names, told DW that the new law "gives us the courage to look toward a future beyond relationships."

After being together for nearly 20 years, they are now eligible for tax deductions, health care consent and joint property management — rights that were previously reserved for heterosexual couples. 

The bill grants "basic human rights to the LGBTQ community," said Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn, human rights associate for Fortify Rights.

But she questions whether the law will be implemented properly.

"Officials need to be informed and trained to avoid discrimination," Yangyuenpradorn said, "whether it is when the couples register their marriage, sign medical consent forms or adoption papers."

It is also telling that gender-specific words, such as "husbands," "wives," "men" and "women," have been replaced with gender-neutral terms, but lawmakers did not include the word "parent" in addition to "father and mother."

What's next after Thailand's marriage equality bill?

Thailand has long been hailed as a haven for LGBTQ+ people. But Yangyuenpradorn doubts the country will build on the momentum of its marriage equality law.

"When the marriage equality bill was discussed in public, some would say: 'They [same-sex couples] just want to love each other, leave them be,'" Yangyuenpradorn said.

If the focus shifts to things like the gender recognition bill, which would allow people to obtain legal documents reflecting their gender identity, then it becomes apparent that "transphobic attitudes still exist."

"Some people are against allowing the LGBTQ community the option to amend gender markers due to entrenched fears of (gender) identity falsification," Yangyuenpradorn said.

Vietnam: Population backs marriage equality, laws lag behind

Support for same-sex marriage varies across southern Asian.

A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 65% of people in Vietnam are in favor of allowing same-sex couples to marry — more than anywhere else in Southeast Asia. 

Despite this level of public support, same-sex marriage seems a long way away in Vietnam. The country only stopped defining being gay, bisexual or transgender as an "illness" in 2022.

The current Vietnamese Law on Marriage and Family was amended in 2014 to allow for symbolic weddings that are not legally recognized. The law was due to be revised in either 2024 or 2025, yet it is nowhere to be found on the parliament's legislative schedule. Backers of same-sex marriage also face an uphill legal battle in Singapore. In November 2022, the parliament overturned a law that criminalized sex between men, but the lawmakers also amended the constitution to block full marriage equality.

LGBTQ+ people tread carefully in Muslim-majority nations

Support for same-sex marriage in Muslim-majority Malaysia and Indonesia is the lowest in the region, with only 17% and 5% of survey respondents in favor, respectively. "Muslims report the lowest support for same-sex marriage of any religious group in any place surveyed," according to the Pew Research Center.

LGBTQ+ communities face diverse issues within Muslim-majority nations, as well. Same-sex relations are not outlawed in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, except in Aceh province, where Sharia law is enforced.

"It is possible to live (closeted) lives in Muslim communities [in Indonesia], provided that people are extra careful," Dede Oetomo, a campaigner for LGBTQ rights in the archipelago, told DW.

In general terms, Oetomo said, "it is a war out there."

"From time to time, there is news of raids of gay gatherings or venues, disruption of pageants, or persecution of individuals by family or community members, sometimes by state law enforcement people," Oetomo said.

Brunei's laws call for stoning of gay men

Oetomo said there were reasons for hope — the number of faith leaders and communities supporting LGBTQ+ causes is increasing, which has helped introduce "a counternarrative of religious discourse."

"In some Eastern Indonesian cities," Oetomo said, "there is an attempt by LGBTQ organizations and intersectional allies to have anti-discrimination local ordinances, with some success in Ambon and Kupang."

Despite more people being in favor of same-sex marriage in Malaysia than in Indonesia

, there is still a legal ban on homosexuality in Malaysia, with violations punishable by a 20-year prison term. In 2023, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia would never recognize LGBTQ+ rights.

But nowhere in Southeast Asia is the intolerance as severe as in Brunei. It is one of 11 countries in the world that still has the death penalty for homosexuality. In 2019, Brunei introduced new laws that make sex between men punishable by stoning to death, although this was suspended after international backlash.

Philippines, Singapore still struggle with laws

Across the Philippines, regional authorities have passed a slew of local measures to protect LGBTQ+ communities from discrimination.

But, at the national level, an anti-discrimination bill based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression is still blocked after more than two decades of debate in parliament.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, the government recently passed its first workplace anti-discrimination law, which is expected to come into effect in 2026 or 2027. However, the bill does not cover discrimination over sexual orientation and gender identity.

Andrew, a 30-year-old Singaporean who asked that his full name not be used, told DW that this is a "massive" missed opportunity to discuss gender and sexuality issues and shift attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in the wealthy island state. He said removing media censorship of positive or neutral LGBTQ+ content would help move the nation toward more acceptance.

"It is disheartening to see that Singapore media still has not changed over the years," Andrew said, adding that gay characters are portrayed as "perverts or mentally disturbed."

"I think that just really fits the whole narrative that people in the LGBTQ community aren't good for society because that's what people see and that is what the older generation would then internalize," Andrew said.

[agentfascinateur]

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) condemns Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, and the killing of more than 39,000 Palestinians

[southeastasianists]

In Dili, Indonesia’s future means trying to forget about Timor-Leste’s past

Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, a former military officer, has been linked to alleged atrocities in Timor-Leste.

At Timor-Leste’s museum of memory, Hugo Fernandes supervises exhibits chronicling resistance and oppression during the Indonesian occupation – an era when Prabowo Subianto, now Indonesia’s president-elect, is alleged to have overseen atrocities.

Fernandes runs the Centro Nacional Chega! museum, a former prison in the capital Dili that dates to when Timor-Leste was a Portuguese colony. Faded photographs of Timorese resistance fighters and messages scrawled on the walls by prisoners who languished here during Indonesia’s brutal 24-year rule line its galleries. 

Despite the shadows cast by history, the impending ascent to power of Prabowo, a former army special forces commander who was declared the winner of the Feb. 14 Indonesian general election, has been greeted with diplomatic decorum in this tiny young nation of 1.3 million people also known as East Timor.

“Prabowo’s specific actions remain unclear due to limited information,” Fernandes, the museum’s director, told BenarNews. “Accusations of human rights violations have persisted, but concrete evidence and verification are difficult to obtain.”

“Chega!,” which means “enough! in Portuguese, stands as a testament to Timor-Leste’s efforts to navigate the delicate path between preserving the memories of its dark past and promoting reconciliation with its giant neighbor next-door.

“There are differing voices within the nation,” Fernandes says. “Some activists advocate for answers regarding past atrocities, while others emphasize the importance of moving forward with Indonesia.”

In 1999, East Timor voted overwhelmingly to break away from Indonesian rule, through a United Nations-sponsored referendum. Before and after the vote, pro-Jakarta militias engaged in widespread violence and destruction. East Timor gained formal independence in 2002 after a period of U.N. administration.

The occupation, which followed after Indonesia invaded East Timor in December 1975, was marked by famine and conflict. The number of deaths attributed to that era ranges from from 90,000 to 200,000, the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor reported.

This figure includes nearly 20,000 cases of violent deaths or disappearances. The commission’s findings indicate that Indonesian forces were responsible for about 70% of these violent incidents, set against the backdrop of East Timor’s population of around 900,000 in 1999.

And according to the Genocide Studies Program at Yale University, “up to a fifth of the East Timorese population perished during the Indonesia’s 24-year occupation … a similar proportion to the Cambodians who died under the Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot (1975-1979).”

Since 1999, the relationship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia has evolved, with Jakarta acknowledging its former province as a “close brother” and supporting Dili’s bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta welcomed Prabowo’s election win and expressed readiness to collaborate with Indonesia’s upcoming new leader.

“Very pleased, very pleased,” Ramos-Horta told BenarNews when asked about Prabowo’s victory. 

As a young man, Ramos-Horta, now 74, was a founder and leader of Fretilin, the armed resistance movement that fought to liberate East Timor from the Portuguese first and then the Indonesians.

He said he had personally called Prabowo, now Indonesia’s defense minister, to congratulate him, and that the ex-general planned to visit Timor-Leste before his inauguration on Oct. 20.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, a former guerilla leader who spent years in an Indonesian prison, was also happy with the news, Ramos-Horta said.

“President-elect Prabowo will contribute a lot, first to Indonesia, continuing stability and prosperity in Indonesia, and then in the region, as well as strengthen relations with Timor-Leste,” he said, adding Prabowo had “many friends” in his country, including his own brother, Arsenio.

When asked about Prabowo’s human rights record in Timor-Leste, Ramos-Horta said, “That is past. It’s already almost three decades, and we do not think of the past.”

Prabowo was a key figure in the military operations that crushed the East Timorese resistance.

The Timor-Leste National Alliance for an International Tribunal (ANTI), a coalition of civil society organizations, survivors, and families of victims, said reports had implicated Prabowo in a 1983 massacre in Kraras.

Some estimates said that  200 people were killed there, earning the area the nickname the “town of widows.”

In a statement released in November, the alliance said that as the head of the Indonesian army’s special forces command, Prabowo had directed actions resulting in severe human rights abuses and crimes, including the establishment of pro-Indonesian militias blamed for post-referendum violence in 1999.

In addition, Prabowo is linked to a 1991 massacre at the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili, where some 250 peaceful demonstrators were killed, the alliance said.

In 1998, Prabowo was discharged from the military after a council of honor officers found him guilty of several violations, including involvement in the abduction and disappearance of pro-democracy activists during the 1998 student protests that led to the downfall of Indonesian dictator Suharto.

Prabowo, 72, has denied any wrongdoing and said he was only following orders from his superiors. He has never been tried in a civilian court for the alleged crimes.

Prabowo’s presidential campaign team said that witnesses, including religious figures in Timor-Leste, had denied his connection to the Krakas killings.

For many Timorese, the memories of Indonesian occupation are hard to erase. 

Naldo Rei, 50, a former child guerrilla-fighter who was repeatedly imprisoned during that period, said he could not overlook Prabowo’s human rights record.

“While I don’t want to meddle in Indonesia’s internal matters, when it comes to human rights issues, Prabowo has a very distressing track record,” Rei told BenarNews, his soft-spoken and gentle demeanor belying his resistance years.

Rei spent his youth evading capture in the Los Palos jungle after the loss of six family members, including his father, to Indonesian military action.

In the early 1990s, he sought refuge first in Jakarta, then in Australia, before settling in an independent East Timor.

Rei, who is the author of “Resistance,” a memoir detailing his experiences, voices apprehension about the trajectory of Indonesian democracy.

“Prabowo’s victory, from my perspective, squanders the democracy that the people have fought for,” he said. “How many lives have been lost? He and other generals have blood on their hands.”

Januario Soares, a second-year medical student at the National University of Timor Lorosae, represents a growing sentiment focused on the future.

“Indonesia has chosen its leader. We need to focus on the future,” Soares said as he sat in the shade of a mahogany tree outside his campus in Dili.

He believes strengthening relations between the two countries is vital.

“The civil war left us divided, and in that division, we inadvertently opened our doors to Indonesia,” Soares said. “What followed was a period of violence against our people, a scar in our history.”

Yet, when it comes to Prabowo’s role in that history, Soares admitted he did not know much.

“The Indonesian people have made their choice. Perhaps Prabowo is the best among the contestants; that’s why they chose him,” he said.

Soares said he opted for a pragmatic approach toward the past, focusing on improving the quality of life and seeking benefits for the present and future.

“People change over time, and I believe Prabowo has changed too.” 

Damien Kingsbury, a political expert specializing in Timor-Leste, said Timorese leaders were obligated to maintain a delicate diplomatic stance due to the small nation’s reliance on Indonesia for imports and its aspirations to join ASEAN, the Southeast Asian bloc. Indonesia is one of ASEAN’s founding members.

“Of course, Ramos-Horta must be diplomatic,” said Kingsbury, a professor at Deakin University in Australia, who has written extensively on Timor-Leste and Indonesia.

“He is president of a small country that has an unhappy history with Indonesia and does not want to create any possible problems,” he told BenarNews.

Kingsbury pointed out that while Ramos-Horta, a Nobel laureate and prominent diplomat, is well-versed in the language of diplomacy, there is a generational gap in awareness of the nation’s tumultuous past.

“Younger people may not be aware of events of 20, 30 and 40 years ago, but that does not mean they did not happen,” he said.

“It must leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many that Timor-Leste’s leaders need to be polite to Prabowo.”

[mariacallous]

The FBI, working closely with an international team including the Czech and Baltic intelligence services, has helped link a series of international cyberattacks to a shadowy unit associated with the Russian secret service, the GRU.

According to a joint cybersecurity advisory report issued on Friday, the cyberattacks were undertaken by a group tied to Unit 29155 of the GRU.

Previously, the same unit has been blamed for an explosion at an ammunition site in 2014 in Vrbětice, deep in the Czech Republic’s southeast, as well as “attempted coups, sabotage and influence operations, and assassination attempts throughout Europe.”

However, in 2020, Unit 29155 expanded its portfolio “to include offensive cyber operations.”

Among other objectives, this offshoot group was used to collect information for espionage, cause reputational harm by stealing and leaking sensitive information, and destroying data.

“Unit 29155 cyber actors [are assessed] to be junior active-duty GRU officers under the direction of experienced Unit 29155 leadership,” said the report.

“These individuals appear to be gaining cyber experience and enhancing their technical skills through conducting cyber operations and intrusions,” it continued. Additionally, the report assessed that non-GRU officers had also been recruited, including known cybercriminals.

The unit is believed to be responsible for unleashing WhisperGate, a multi-stage wiper that has been deployed against the Ukrainian government, non-profit and tech organizations since January 2022. In addition to launching WhisperGate against Ukraine, the group has also targeted NATO states as well as countries in Latin America and Central Asia with its activity, including website defacements, infrastructure scanning, data exfiltration, and data leak operations. “Since early 2022, the primary focus of the cyber actors appears to be targeting and disrupting efforts to provide aid to Ukraine,” the report revealed. Furthermore, over 14,000 cases of domain scanning had also been recorded, with these impacting 26 NATO members and several other EU nations. “Whether through offensive operations or scanning activity, Unit 29155 cyber actors are known to target critical infrastructure and key resource sectors, including government services, financial services, transportation systems, energy, and healthcare sectors of NATO members, the EU, Central American, and Asian countries,” said the report. Led by the FBI, the investigative operation also involved teams from Britain, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, and the Czech Republic. Together, their joint findings have enabled the Cybersecurity Advisory to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures to thwart further actions by Unit 29155.

[ranjith11]

The Silent Rise of ASEAN | asean global superpower | Geography facts

In this video, the Geography Guru takes you on an incredible journey into the heart of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 🌍 Dive deep with us as we unveil the silent yet robust ascendancy of ASEAN, a crucial alliance that often goes unnoticed. From its humble beginnings in Bangkok, Thailand, to becoming an economic powerhouse with a strong cultural foundation, ASEAN is truly a force to reckon with. Join us as we explore this remarkable journey.

[humanrightsupdates]

ASEAN Needs to Rethink Its Myanmar Strategy

An overhaul in ASEAN’s approach to Myanmar is clearly needed, but tilting toward the junta is the exact wrong direction.

On December 19-20, Thailand will host regional representatives in their latest meetings on the Myanmar crisis. Neighboring countries will first come together to discuss border security with the Myanmar junta’s minister of foreign affairs, Than Swe, followed by a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

There were no reports of representatives of the opposition National Unity Government receiving an invitation, despite ASEAN’s stated commitment to constructive dialogue among all parties in pursuit of “Myanmar-owned and -led peaceful and durable solutions.”

Broad, official engagement with a high-level junta representative is an implausible response to the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar. Amid growing territorial losses to opposition armed groups, the military has ramped up its “scorched earth” tactics against civilians. The junta’s expanded aerial and artillery operations have resulted in bombed schools, displacement camps, and medical centers. Civilians describe living in fear of arrest, torture, and military attacks.

For a truly “Myanmar-owned and -led” solution, regional governments should be centering efforts toward dialogue and peacebuilding on the voices of the people of Myanmar, not a junta responsible for ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

ASEAN continues to cling to its failed Five-Point Consensus (5PC), despite acknowledging its “concern on substantially inadequate progress in the implementation of the 5PC” at its October summit. The agreement – inked in April 2021, less than three months after Myanmar’s military coup, and immediately disregarded by the junta – will be discussed at the foreign ministers meeting on December 20.

[thehopefuljournalist]

In the previous post I introduced Greenpeace. These are some wins from June posted on their website.

- Hyundai Construction Equipment commits to help stopping illegal mining in the Amazon

Greenpeace East Asia released the Stop the Excavators report in April of this year, calling to heavy machinery manufacturers to take measures that prevent their equipment being used illegally, in ways that cause violations of human rights.

This exposé revealed that Hyundai Construction Equipment is apparently the favoured brand used in illegal mining in Indigenous Lands in the Amazon.

Hyundai has now announced a series of measures to protect the forest, and will act to prevent this in the future.

- ReconAfrica suspends oil drilling in Okavango Delta

The Canadian oil company ReconAfrica has stopped drilling in Namibia’s Okavango Delta, after it was faced with lawsuits and environmental concerns. For now, the drillings have only been suspended, but this is a step in the right direction, proving that people power can work wonders.

In 2019, ReconAfrica announced fracking in some of Africa's most sensitive (both in terms of water supplies and as livelihoods for the communities in the area) environmental areas. Namibian youth climate activists, indigenous, environmental and human rights groups have been working since then to prevent this from happening.

- ASEAN steps up commitment to end forced labour and human trafficking practices of migrant fishers

In May 2023, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) leaders officially adopted the first ASEAN Declaration on Migrant Fishers Protection in history. This declaration follows many years of active campaigning by human rights advocates and civil society organizations. The campaign aims to push stronger policies to protect Southeast Asian migrants working in fisheries and their rights.

This declaration emphasised that protecting and fulfilling the rights of migrant fishers is an entire migration cycle (recruitment, placement, and repatriation), and so is a shared responsibility among the ASEAN states.

- Local fishers and civil society join forces to reforest mangroves in Senegal

The local community in the traditional fishing town Joal in Senegal started reforesting mangroves in a show of what direct action is really about.

Joal is located near mangrove forests, that are essential breeding grounds for many fish species, and are vital therefore for the fishing communities in those areas. They also store more carbon than tropical forests, and are capable of curbing climate impacts such as floods.

- Dutch creative agencies choose to no longer work with fossil fuel companies

23+ creative agencies in The Netherlands put together a Fossil No Deal, stating that they will stop working with fossil companies and no longer encourage fossil passenger transport. They call it verdrag verantwoord verleiden, a treaty for responsible seduction.

- Thailand applies new PM2.5 ambient standard

In the beginning of June, the new PM2.5 ambient standard was officially applied in Thailand. 

The new standard is now 15 μg/m3 for the annual standard and 37.5 μg/m3 for 24-hour standard, which is in keeping with the revised WHO air quality guidelines. This is a big step in the right direction to help reduce PM2.5 and solve air pollution in the country.

Greenpeace Thailand is still not at rest, though, and are continuing to fight to get the PM2.5 at its source, that is from the industries.

- In New Zealand, FSC abandons plans for ‘GE learning’ process

Greenpeace Aotearoa and other environmental organizations have been pressuring the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme to abandon its plans for a ‘Genetic Engineering (GE) learning’ process.

The long-standing principle of not certifying GE trees came under threat  after pressure from FSC certified plantation  company Suzano from Brazil that has a subsidiary doing GE eucalyptus tree research trials (for glyphosate resistance). 

- Citizens say yes to net zero emissions in Switzerland

 Swiss citizens have voted in favour of a new law to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The new climate law, which was initiated seven years ago, passed a referendum with about 59% of the voters.

Net zero is now enshrined in the “federal law on climate protection, innovation and strengthening energy security“.

Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see, news from your own countries, or if you'd like to add anything or share.

I'm also here to listen, my DMs and Asks are always open :)

Love you all, and see you next time, be safe!

[annachum]

Fenghuang Institute of Magic

The Fenghuang Institute of Magic is one of the oldest Wizarding schools in the world, and one of the ' Big 11 ' Wizarding schools. It is located in the Yellow Mountains region in the Anhui province, and it is founded in the Shang Dynasty ie 16th century BC

China has had various Wizarding schools over the centuries, yet Fenghuang becomes most famous for ' feng shui ' magic and mastering elemental magic. It also boasts one of the most rigorously disciplined educational regimes in the Wizarding world

Fenghuang Houses and House Sorting

There are 4 houses according to the classical 4 elements - Sea Serpent ( Water ), Fire Tiger ( Fire ), Mountain Monkey ( Earth), and Cloud Crane ( Air )

In sorting ceremonies, students get to stand in front of a sorting podium, recite a sorting incantation, and let the crystal ball enchant their robes with any house color ( Fire Tiger - red, sea Serpent - blue, Mountain Monkey - Green, and cloud crane - air )

Fenghuang School Uniforms

Currently, In regular schooling lessons, students mainly wear qiongsham uniforms of mainly deep red, with their house badges worn on their right chests

In martial arts training sessions, students wear Kung fu pant suits akin to their house colors.

Fenghuang Education system

Fenghuang boasts one of the most rigorously disciplined education systems. Students are educated in a wide variety of subjects, including Chinese, English ( later on ), Maths, Potions, etc. Then since 9th grade, students get to pick 3 to 5 electives while maintaining Chinese, English and Maths as compulsory.

High school students are also training to intake the Wizarding Gaokao, one of the toughest National Wizarding exams on the planet. Aside from written tests, Wizarding Gaokao also includes practical magical exams in magical combat, potions, etc

Fenghuang combat training

Students get to be under rigorous training in magical Kung fu since 1st year. Chinese magic doesn't always entail wands, yet it's often with hands and/or magical weapons. In school days, Students get up at 6.30am to get into morning jogs and warm up exercises before breakfast. And intensive Kung fu training is conducted between 3 to 6pm until dinner time.

Students get adequate study and rest times after dinner between 7pm to 10pm.

Fenghuang Campus

The Fenghuang Campus is built like a Taoist temple, in mainly red ceilings. It also has several pagoda gardens with lotuses.

Fenghuang diet

With such a rigorously disciplined school grounded mainly on Taoist teaching principles, students regularly get a mainly vegetarian diet as a way to boost their nutrients. On special occasions like the Chinese New Year, students consume meat dishes as well as the plethora of vegetarian dishes.

Fenghuang student demographic

Although Fenghuang mainly intakes Chinese students, international students can apply to study there. Fenghuang mainly consists of Chinese, Mongolian, Korean, Siberian and Southeast Asian students.

Some notable alumni and staff :

( the following may have some crossovers )

. Cho Chang's parents are Sea Serpent house alumni of Fenghuang

. Sun WuKong was one of it's most famous alumni, and he is of the Mountain Monkey House. Later on, after his 35 year pilgrimage to India ( read Journey to the West ), he becomes a regular guest teacher there in combat training.

. Zhu Bajie, one of the 4 travelers of the Journey to the West, becomes a magic culinary professor there after the Pilgrimage.

. Sha Zeng was a Sea Serpent alumni and after the 35 year pilgrimage to India, he becomes a teacher in water bending magic and later on a Head of the Sea Serpent house.

. Ying Li and her elder sister Ying Na are amongst the Mountain Monkey alumni of Fenghuang

. Various demons and mortal realm mages and fae in China are amongst the alumni of Fenghuang

Additional information

Fenghuang often has strong associations with Koldovstoretz as both schools boast amongst the most rigorously disciplined education systems in the Wizarding world. Fenghuang also has a long time rivalry with Mahoutokoro

[attorneysinphuket]

Thailand Privilege Visa

The Thailand Privilege Visa, formerly known as the Thailand Elite Visa, is a long-term visa program designed to attract high-net-worth individuals, retirees, and frequent travelers to Thailand. This program offers a range of exclusive benefits beyond traditional visas, making it an attractive option for those seeking extended stays in this beautiful Southeast Asian nation.  

Key Features:

Long-Term Validity: The visa grants multiple entries for periods ranging from 5 to 20 years, depending on the chosen membership tier.  

Streamlined Immigration: Enjoy expedited immigration procedures at airports and simplified visa renewal processes.  

Exclusive Benefits: Members gain access to a wide array of privileges, including discounts at hotels, restaurants, spas, and golf courses, as well as dedicated airport assistance and concierge services.  

Personalized Experience: The program allows members to customize their benefits based on their individual needs and preferences.  

Eligibility and Application:

The Thailand Privilege Visa is available to individuals from all nationalities.

The application process typically involves submitting necessary documentation, such as passport copies, photographs, and proof of financial means.  

Membership fees vary depending on the chosen tier and the length of validity.  

Benefits for Different Travelers:

Retirees: Enjoy a relaxed and comfortable retirement in Thailand with access to world-class healthcare and a vibrant cultural scene.  

Digital Nomads: Benefit from high-speed internet connectivity and a relaxed lifestyle conducive to remote work.  

Frequent Travelers: Simplify travel to Thailand with expedited immigration procedures and enjoy exclusive discounts and privileges.  

Important Considerations:

The Thailand Privilege Visa is a significant investment, and it's crucial to carefully research and compare the different membership tiers to choose the option that best suits your individual needs and budget.

While the program offers numerous benefits, it's essential to understand the specific terms and conditions associated with the visa and to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.

Conclusion:

The Thailand Privilege Visa presents a unique opportunity for individuals seeking long-term stays or frequent travel to Thailand. By offering a range of exclusive benefits and streamlined immigration procedures, the program aims to enhance the travel experience for its members while contributing to the economic growth of the country.

https://sites.google.com/view/attorneysphuket/immigration-services/thailand-privilege-visa