Regional news from Southeast Asia in English — ASEAN politics, economy and diplomacy, covered by Thai PBS World.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will fly to the border district of Mae Sot in Tak province tomorrow, to follow up on operations after clashes in Myawaddy in Myanmar. His agenda includes meetings with relevant authorities working in the area, to receive updates on the latest situation, including aid plans for both Thais and Myanmar nationals
Fighting between Myanmar government and Karen rebel forces continued throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning, driving more civilians to seek temporary refuge in Mae Sot district of Thailand’s western province of Tak. The rebels launched mortar and drone attacks against the remnants of Myanmar troops, who have retreated from their last camp in Myawaddy
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down next month and his deputy Lawrence Wong will take over, the second non-member of the Lee family to lead the wealthy nation. “I will relinquish my role as Prime Minister on 15 May 2024 and DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Lawrence Wong will be sworn in as
Mae sot – Fighting near the Myanmar-Thai border has sent thousands fleeing into Thailand but hasn’t closed a lane of ramshackle shops in no-man’s land offering bootlegged whisky, Chinese aphrodisiacs and Burmese cigarettes. Kyaung Thet’s stall serves dozens of customers a day who buy Johnnie Walker Red Label for 380 baht ($10), handing the cash over
Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to elevate their relations to comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry’s press release said yesterday that both countries would announce their upgraded ties in June when their leaders are scheduled to hold a joint cabinet retreat in Hanoi. Vietnam has established the CSP
Myanmar junta troops stationed in an embattled border town have withdrawn from their positions, a spokesman for a Myanmar ethnic armed group and a Thai official told AFP on Thursday. “We took [Myanmar military battalion] 275 at 10 pm last night,” Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a spokesman for the Karen National Union told AFP, adding
Yangon, Myanmar – Residents of a Myanmar trade hub fled across the border to Thailand on Tuesday amid the sounds of explosions and after an ethnic minority armed group said they had seized a key military base nearby, locals told AFP. Fighters from the Karen National Union (KNU) said Saturday that they had seized a military base around
Thailand is committed to remaining neutral concerning, what is in effect, a civil war in Myanmar, and will help as required restore peace in the country, said Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara today. “We wish to see an end to the conflict and all conflicting parties start negotiations. Thailand, as a close neighbour, has previously
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will host a special meeting today to discuss the situation in Myanmar, particularly in Myawaddy Township, which has fallen into the hands of rebel forces. Participants in the meeting, scheduled after the weekly cabinet meeting, will include the foreign minister, military commanders in chief, and senior officials from the National Security
Rebel forces have captured seven army camps and a government command centre in Myawaddy province of Myanmar, after about four days of fierce fighting, according to rebel sources. Myanmar jet fighters carried out bombing raids against the rebels of the Karen National Union (KNU) and People’s Defence Force (PDF), but failed to stop their advance,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a store belonging to a Malaysian chain that had offered socks bearing the word “Allah” for sale, police said on Saturday. The incident came days after the mini-market chain’s executives were charged with hurting religious feelings over the sale of the socks at another of its
Naypyidaw, Myanmar – Myanmar’s junta holds its annual Armed Forces Day parade on Wednesday in a show of force as it struggles to contain a growing armed resistance that has captured broad swathes of territory. The military has suffered a series of major losses to an alliance of ethnic minority armed groups, and junta chief Min Aung
