Regional news from Southeast Asia in English — ASEAN politics, economy and diplomacy, covered by Thai PBS World.
From today, displaced people from Myanmar, who have taken shelter in any of the nine camps near the Thai-Myanmar border in Tak, Mae Hong Son, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces, can leave their camps to work outside for a maximum of one year.
Sidoarjo, Indonesia - Around 91 people are believed to be still trapped under the ruins of a collapsed school on Indonesia's main island of Java, authorities said as rescue teams searched for survivors.
Cebu, Philippines - A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake jolted the central Philippines, collapsing buildings and killing at least 26 people on the island of Cebu, authorities said early Wednesday, with fears the toll could rise as rescuers searched for survivors.
Timor-Leste could serve as ASEAN’s moral compass, drawing from its own history of resilience and democratic values, according to the ASEAN chair, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim..
Mandalay, Myanmar - Six Myanmar war widows speak softly of their grief as they walk inside the crumbling walls of Mandalay Palace, fresh arrivals in an earthquake-wracked city strained anew by conflict.
Finland and Cyprus will accede to the 1976 Asean Treaty of Amity and Cooperation at the upcoming Asean-related summits in Kuala Lumpur in late October, according to an informed source.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on Thailand and Cambodia to bring all issues related to their border conflict to the negotiation table through their Joint Border Committee (JBC).
Newly appointed Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul has posted a photo on his Facebook page of him talking on the telephone with Singapore’s prime minister Lawrence Wong, who congratulated him on his appointment.
A four-member ASEAN team will visit Naypyidaw on Sept 19 to meet with the leaders of the newly established Peace and Security Commission on issues related to the planned election and the implementation of the ASEAN peace process, according to informed diplomatic sources.
Myanmar’s air force launched air strikes against positions of the Karenni Army in the Kayah state today, injuring two civilians and damaging an abandoned office of the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), which has been fighting for an independent Karen state since 1957.
China hosted the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers for “friendly and candid” talks on Thursday, with both sides pledging to work towards a peaceful solution to a simmering border dispute.
As many as 500 articulated and ten-wheel trucks, laden with goods bought in Thailand and bound for the hinterland of Myanmar, are currently stuck in front of the Mae Sot-Myawaddy 2 border checkpoint in Mae Sot district of Tak province, because the Burmese military has imposed tighter controls on goods transport.
