Wong Mei Ling wonders if an Asean identity can ever be forged.
In Singapore
MY FIRST contact with Asean was in secondary school when I heard about Asean scholars who were reputed for churning out As like a factory. It was only in University that I came to see Asean as more than just a bunch of highly-intellectually evolved beings. I came to understand Asean as a political and economic entity, but never a social one.
Tracy Quek watches Beijing's historic Olympic debut with Sichuan survivors.
Nirmal Ghosh hears that the former first couple will return from Beijing.
In Bangkok
Rumours that the former first couple of Thailand may not return from the Olympics Opening Ceremony were countered late today. Sources say the Shinawatras have booked their return tickets on a Thai Airways flight on Sunday.
Speculation had swept through Bangkok that following her conviction last week for tax evasion, Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra and her husband and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, may not return from their trip to China.
P. Jayaram on how baby Manji reminds him of his niece's twins.
In New Delhi
THE rise of "fertility tourism" in India has led to a controversial battle for custody over a baby girl, Manji Yamada. She was born to an Indian surrogate mother and is therefore for all purposes an India citizen. Normally, a foreign couple would just fly out with such a baby within a couple of weeks after birth.
Ong Hwee Hwee examines the competition between China and Taiwan.
Reme Ahmad in Singapore talks to Ong Hwee Hwee in Taipei
RA: How are the Taiwanese people looking at the Olympics in Beijing? Do they feel a sense of pride, or do they think like they would if the Olympics are being organised by another country?
OHH: For many Taiwanese, the Beijing Olympics have special significance because of the unique relationship between the longtime rivals. Taiwanese see it as their chance to fight back - for once - and even beat China on their home ground. With Taiwan fast losing the diplomatic battle for international recognition amid China's growing clout, it
Salim Osman explains why not much is being done to fight the haze.
Reme Ahmad in Singapore talks to Salim Osman in Jakarta
RA: People in Singapore and neighbouring countries don't seem to see a sense of urgency among officials in indonesia over the issue? Is that your feel too?
SO: I dont think it's fair to say that there is no sense of urgency among officials in Indonesia over the issue. They are sometimes hamstrung by bureaucratic red tape as forest fires come under the purview of many departments - Forestry, Environment and their counterparts in the regional government
Hazlin Hassan describes the scene around the courthouse where Anwar was charged this morning.
Reme Ahmad in Singapore talks to Hazlin Hassan in KL
RA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was charged in court with sodomy this morning in Kuala Lumpur. What was the scene around the courthouse like today?
HH: Roadblocks at major roads leading into the capital caused a massive gridlock this morning. Dozens of riot police, officers and traffic cops stood guard around the sprawling court complex in case his supporters started any protests.
Lee Tee Jong explains South Korea's beef with US President Bush's recent visit.
Reme Ahmad in Singapore talks toLee Tee Jong in Seoul.
RA: The beef protests have died down after being roused up again during Mr Bush's visit. What is the feeling about this issue now after months of protests? And what's next for the No-to-US beef movement?
LTJ: Most South Koreans are tired of the anti-US beef protests which have been going on for four months now. However, the scale and interest in the protests have fizzled substantially. At its peak in June, there were tens of thousands of protestors. In the last two weeks, that number has dropped to a few hundreds and
Reme Ahmad on what to expect before the Anwar v. Umno by-election.
THE mother of all Malaysian by-elections will be held this month on mainland Penang (not the island). Opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim will stand in the Permatang Pauh constituency left vacant by his wife, who stood down.
The Election Commission announced that there will be 10 days of campaigning from August 16th. This compares with 13 days of campaigning in the March general elections.
And in the middle of this, police have just served notice to Datuk Seri Anwar today to be in court by 10am tomorrow. He is expectedto be charged for sexual assault of his former aide.
Teo Cheng Wee on MILF's no-show at KL meet.
Reme Ahmad in Singapore talks to Teo Cheng Wee in Kuala Lumpur
RA. The Philippine and Malaysian foreign ministers seem resigned to the fact that the government will now face the court in their efforts to restore peace in the Philippines' volatile south. This land deal they hope to sign with the separatist rebels Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF): Do they seem confident to you that the deal could go through?
TCW: The ministers and officials all seem very confident that this will go through. They have all described it as a hiccup and the deal as watertight because they had
