Laos, China, and 13 other countries have agreed to establish the RCEP, the largest free-trade bloc in the world, comprising nearly a third of all global economic activity.

A report in The Laotian Times said, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed virtually on Sunday, November 15, on the sidelines of the annual summit of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

It is hoped that the new trade agreement will help accelerate economic recovery among Asian nations following the coronavirus pandemic.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered security agencies Thursday, November 19, to crack down on pro-democracy protesters, as rights groups condemned police for using tear gas and water cannon at a Bangkok rally.

The country has been rocked since July by youth-led protests demanding a new constitution, unprecedented calls to reform the untouchable monarchy, and for Prayut to resign.

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A nationwide survey by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) found that cases of domestic violence rose by 66% since the start of pandemic safety measures in March, reported the Bangkok Post.

Dwindling household incomes and a spike in alcohol intake during the lockdown were said to be the main drivers. Thailand, according to ThaiHealth, has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world.

Two intergovernmental organizations whose reach extend over Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific have formalized their partnership to assist rural fisherfolk and smallholder aquaculture farmers.

The Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Bangkok-based Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on joint projects that are expected to contribute to a strengthened aquaculture sector in the region.

SEARCA’s programs are geared towards accelerating transformation through agricultural innovation (ATTAIN) to elevate the quality of life of agricultural families through sustainable livelihoods and access to modern networks and innovative markets. On the other hand, NACA promotes rural development through sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resources management in 19 countries, including 8 ASEAN countries covered by SEARCA.

The unique yet familiar experience of eating at hawker centers could soon be internationally recognized as a practice to be protected, after an expert body recommended that Singapore’s hawker culture be added to the Unesco intangible cultural heritage list.

A report by The New Paper says a 24-member Unesco intergovernmental committee will give the final verdict next month, but the report on Monday, November 16, by the international evaluation body puts Singapore in good stead to have its first inscription on the list.

If successful, hawker culture will join more than 463 other items similarly identified, including Chinese shadow puppetry in China, the making and sharing of kimchi in North and South Korea, and India’s yoga.

A total of 54 repatriation flights have been planned between November and December to bring home around 17,000 Vietnamese stranded overseas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report by the Viet Nam News said the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam, 4 domestic airlines will be conducting the flights – with more than half of them, 32 flights, by the flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, 12 by the budget carrier Vietjet Air, 5 by Bamboo Airways and 5 by Pacific Airlines.

Seven repatriation flights are planned to bring back Vietnamese citizens from North America in November-December, including 4 from the US and 3 from Canada. All of the 7 flights have been or would be carried out by Vietnam Airlines with the total seats of 2,485.