ASEAN

Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra paid a courtesy call on Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet in Phnom Pehn today. /Photo : Hun Manet’s FB

Paetongtarn visits Phnom Penh at the invitation of Hun Sen

Pheu Thai party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra led her executive board members on a visit to Cambodia today, at the invitation of Hun Sen, the former Cambodian prime minister. The team…

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People gather outside the embassy of Thailand to get visas in Yangon on February 16 after Myanmar’s military government said it would impose military service.//AFP

Thailand must prepare for a possible influx of Myanmar’s young people

The State Administration Council’s (SAC) plans to draft more soldiers to fight the resistance forces poses serious challenges for Thailand’s volatile and porous border. Myanmar’s People Military Service Law, enacted…

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Planes at Surabaya International Airport. Photo credit: Bandara Juanda Facebook page.

Thai investors concerned over travel time, while interested in East Java (Video)

A Thai business delegation, comprising business leaders in the education, food, manufacturing and agricultural industries, has been impressed by the vibrancy and infrastructural projects in East Java, Indonesia. The lack…

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File photo : Rangsiman Rome

Thailand must stop indulging the Myanmar junta, say dissidents

Thailand should review its controversial junta-supportive approach to deal with the crisis in strife-torn Myanmar, dissidents fighting military rule said even as Bangkok began the implementation of a humanitarian corridor…

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Mae Sot braces for possible influx of refugees from Myanmar in April-Paithan

The Thai government should establish a safety zone or a humanitarian corridor at the Thai-Myanmar border, close to Mae Sot district of Tak province, in anticipation of a mass influx…

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Las Pacheco, Miss International Queen Philippines 2023//

Thais are the sweetest people I ever met : ex-Miss Philippines trans

A former Miss Philippines trans has called for and mutual respect in Thai-Philippines relationships, following a clash between transgender people from both countries in Bangkok on Monday night. Las Pacheco, Miss…

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File photo : PM Srettha Thavisin///srettga’s X

Thai PM has praised Singapore’s Taylor Swift concert deal – spokesman

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin does not criticise or envy Singapore for its success in convincing Taylor Swift to perform six concerts exclusively in Singapore this month, Government Spokesman Chai Wacharonke…

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Two Filipino trans charged with assault

Two Filipino transgender individuals were indicted on assault charges in Pathumwan district this afternoon, for alleged involvement, with others, in the attack on six Thai transgender people at a Sukhumvit…

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File photo : Rangsiman Rome

Thai parliament holds Myanmar seminar despite junta’s objection

The Myanmar military junta has “strongly objected” to the Thai parliament’s hosting of a seminar on the situation in Myanmar over the weekend in Bangkok. The seminar was joined by…

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Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong (L) and Philippines’ Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo shake hands during the opening of the Australia-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit in Melbourne on March 4, 2024. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

ASEAN-Australia summit to decry ‘threat or use of force’ in region

Leaders from Southeast Asian nations and Australia gathered in Melbourne on Monday are expected to denounce the “threat or use of force” to settle disputes in the region, a collective…

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This photo taken on February 4 shows a building destroyed and a damaged statue of Buddha (L) following fighting between Myanmar’s Military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Nam Hpat Kar, Kutkai township in Myanmar’s northern Shan State. In late October last year.//AFP

Myanmar now a ‘never-ending’ nightmare: UN

Geneva, Switzerland – Three years of military rule in Myanmar have inflicted unbearable cruelty, leaving people trapped in an unending nightmare as the conflict spreads, the UN human rights chief said Friday. The…

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Photo : PM’s twitter

Two Thais stand among the few worldwide capable of Quran repair : PM

Only a few people in the world can repair copies of the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, and two of those experts live in Thailand’s Narathiwat province, according to…

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Srettha will attend the Asean-Australia summit in Melbourne

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will attend the special Asea-Australia Summit in Melbourne, Australia, on March 4-6 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, according to an informed diplomatic source….

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East Timor’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao reacts as Japanese high school dancers perform during the gala dinner for the ASEAN-Japan commemorative summit in Tokyo on December 17, 2023. //AFP

Can Timor Leste join Asean next year?

At the recent Asean foreign ministers’ retreat in Luang Prabang, quite a few of the leaders supported Timor Leste joining Asean by next year. In particular, Malaysia, which takes over…

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Member of parliament and Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen shows his inked finger after voting at a polling station during the Senate election in Takhmao city, Kandal province on February 25.//AFP

Cambodia ex-PM Hun Sen returns to frontline politics for senate seat

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Cambodia’s ruling party claimed a landslide victory in Senate elections on Sunday, setting the stage for ex-PM Hun Sen to officially return to politics after he stepped…

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Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara during his recent visit to the border area in Tak which will be used as the staging point for humanitarian aid into Myanmar.

Parnpree expects humanitarian aid to Myanmar to begin in early March

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara said he expects the delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced people inside Myanmar to begin by the first week of March with the border area…

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Image from Joseph Akaravong’s Facebook. (The women’s faces were blurred by RFA to protect their privacy.)

Vientiane hotel halts ring-toss game amid digital outcry

A Chinese-owned hotel in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, was forced to terminate its ring-toss game, in which Chinese men took turns tossing hoops at young Lao women to win…

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Cambodia promotes ex-leader Hun Sen’s youngest son as deputy PM

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Cambodia’s parliament on Wednesday approved ex-ruler Hun Sen’s youngest son as a deputy prime minister, the latest member of the family to be promoted since the former…

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Photo : Hun Sen’s Facebook page

Hun Sen describes his reunion with Thaksin as “a meeting of brothers”

Former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen has described his relationship with his former Thai counterpart, Thaksin Shinawatra, as that of brothers and an excellent 32-year friendship. “We are brothers. We…

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This handout photo taken and released in October, 2023 by the Kokang Information Network shows members of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) walking past a Myanmar military base after seizing it during clashes near Laukkaing township in Myanmar’s northern Shan state.//AFP

3 high-ranking Myanmar officers sentenced to death for surrendering town: military sources

Myanmar’s junta has sentenced to death three high-ranking officers who oversaw the surrender of a strategic town on the Chinese border to ethnic minority fighters last month, military sources told…

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Former Cambodian PM Hun Sen to visit Thaksin tomorrow

Former Cambodian PM Hun Sen is scheduled to travel to Bangkok tomorrow to visit Thaksin Shinawatra, at the latter’s residence in Ban Chan Song La, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter…

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File photo : People gather outside the embassy of Thailand to get visas in Yangon on February 16,//AFP

Two killed in crush as hundreds queue for passports in Myanmar

Yangon, Myanmar – Two people were killed in a crush outside a passport office in Myanmar on Monday, a rescue worker said, as thousands rush to leave the country to escape…

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File photo : A general views of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat meeting in Luang Prabang on January 29.//AfP

ASEAN economic ministers to meet in Luang Prabang for strategic retreat next month

The ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat is scheduled to take place in Luang Prabang on March 8-9. The main agenda of this retreat, as outlined by the Lao chair, will be…

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People gather outside the embassy of Thailand to get visas in Yangon on February 16.//AFP

Thousands seek to quit Myanmar after military service announcement

More than 1,000 people lined up at the Thai embassy in Yangon on Friday as young people sought to leave Myanmar after the junta said it would impose military service….

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The front page of a local English newspaper shows Indonesia’s Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto (L) and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Surakarta City mayor and Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s son, at a book store on Feb 15.//AFP

Indonesia CSOs fight “deep fake” elections

The use of AI deep-fakes in Indonesia, during the run-up to this year’s elections, is ringing alarm bells among advocates for information integrity, as they are being used for political…

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Indonesia’s Defence Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto greets his supporters in Jakarta, Indonesia February 14, 2024. (REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)

Indonesia’s Prabowo claims victory in presidential election

Indonesia Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto declared victory in a presidential election on Wednesday after unofficial vote counts showed him with a huge lead that could see him win in a…

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A woman prays to find love on Valentine’s Day at Ha Pagoda in Hanoi on February 14, 2024. Young men and women flocked to an ancient pagoda in central Hanoi on February 14 hoping a Valentine’s Day offering would help them find a partner — a major priority for many Vietnamese.//AFP

Vietnamese Valentine’s: help me find a partner, Buddha

Hanoi, Vietnam – Young men and women flocked to an ancient pagoda in central Hanoi on Wednesday hoping a Valentine’s Day offering would help them find a partner — a major…

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Srettha walks a tightrope between maritime border and energy exploration with Cambodia

As Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin pursues closer ties with neighbouring Cambodia, he is also under pressure to speed up, set clear timelines and procedures for negotiations on the two countries’…

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The sun sets behind clounds in the Kerobokan district on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on January 20.//AFP

Bali $10 tourist e-tax comes into force

Denpasar, Indonesia – The Indonesian resort haven of Bali began imposing a 150,000 rupiah ($10) tax on arriving tourists Wednesday to preserve the culture of the “Island of Gods”, officials said. Tourist-dependent…

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Voters look at lists of candidates in Indonesia’s presidential and legislative elections at a polling station in Kwamki Narama district, Mimika regency, Central Papua on February 14.//AFP

Indonesia begins voting with ex-general Subianto the favourite

Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesians began voting for a new president Wednesday with Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto the frontrunner despite concerns over his human rights record and claims of improper support from…

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Military officers march during a parade to commemorate Myanmar’s 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on March 27, 2023. Myanmar’s military government on Saturday Feb. 10, 2024 activated for the first time a decade-old conscription law that makes young men and women subject to at least two years of military service if called up, effective immediately. //AP

Myanmar junta enforces military service law

Myanmar’s junta is enforcing a law allowing the military to summon all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve for at least two years, it said on Saturday, as…

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Progress made in ASEAN-China FTA talks in Hangzhou

ASEAN and China are reported to have made substantial progress in the 5th round of the ASEAN-China free trade agreement (ACFTA) upgrade negotiations held between January 29th and February 2nd…

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NASA’s DC-8 flying laboratory has flown Earth science missions for more than 25 years under NASA’s Airborne Science Program.//Photo : NASA

World’s biggest flying lab comes to Asia on air pollution mission

Clark, Philippines – NASA has kicked off a series of c, in an ambitious mission to improve the models that help to forecast and fight air pollution. Millions of deaths each year are…

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House committee welcomes humanitarian aid plan for Myanmar

Thailand’s plan to send humanitarian assistance to displaced persons inside Myanmar should be followed by a more active role by the current Srettha government in helping find a peaceful solution…

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Supporters of presidential candidate Anies Baswedan and vice presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar attend an campaign rally organised by youth volunteers in Jakarta on February 8.//AFP

Indonesia candidates turn to K-pop to pull votes

Indonesia holds its presidential election on Wednesday but candidates are looking to another country’s export to win votes — K-pop, the South Korean sensation that has swept much of the…

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File photo : Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi’s son Kim Aris.//AFP

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi in ‘strong spirits’, son tells AFP

Bangkok – Ousted Myanmar democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi is in “strong spirits”, her son told AFP Tuesday after receiving a letter from her — their first communication since she…

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The Thai peace delegation led by Chatchai Bangchuad (seventh from left)  and BRN representatives in Malay attires pose for a photo with talk facilitator Gen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin (middle) before their peace meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

First day of South peace talks end with positive note

Representatives of the Thai government and a major separatist group ended their first day of peace talks hosted by Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur with emphasis on how to create an…

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file photo

Southern peace talks resume today in Kuala Lumpur

Peace talks to end decades of armed conflict in the restive southernmost provinces of Thailand resumed after a year-long pause this morning in Kuala Lumpur, between a delegation from the…

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The graphic depicts the rotation of online gambling workers and scammers around Thailand.

Thais rescued from forced labour in Myanmar to return home on Wednesday

Ninety-two Thai nationals, lured to work in casinos in the Myawaddy district of Kayin state in Myanmar and who were rescued by Myanmar authorities, are due to return to Thailand…

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Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak

Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak’s jail term halved to 6 years in royal pardon

KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian pardons board today said it has decided to halve the jail sentence of former prime minister Najib Razak, who was convicted of graft and money laundering related…

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Protesters hold images of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration outside the UN office in Bangkok on February 1, 2024, to mark the third anniversary of the coup in Myanmar today.//AFP

Hundreds of Myanmar anti-junta protesters rally in Bangkok

Bangkok – Hundreds of protesters screamed and wept as they demonstrated against Myanmar’s junta in Thailand’s capital on Thursday, the third anniversary of an army coup that ended the country’s brief spell…

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File photo : This photo taken on December 13, 2023 shows a member of ethnic minority armed group Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) standing guard at a hill camp seized from Myanmar’s military in Namhsan Township in Myanmar’s northern Shan State.//AFP

Myanmar junta extends state of emergency by 6 months: statement

Myanmar’s National Defence and Security Council agreed on Wednesday to extend a state of emergency by six months, the junta said, again delaying elections the military has promised to hold. …

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Photo : Thai Foreign Ministry

Maritime dispute with Cambodia remains a hurdle for joint oil exploration

The Thai government is grappling with a dilemma on how to deal with an unresolved  maritime border issue with Cambodia amid political pressure at home, while also pursuing joint development of…

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Kem Sokha, former leader of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), greets the media at his home before going to Phnom Penh Municipal Court for the verdict in his trial in Phnom Penh on March 3, 2023.//AFP

Cambodian opposition leader begins treason conviction appeal

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – A top Cambodian opposition leader on Tuesday appealed against his 27-year treason sentence for trying to topple former premier Hun Sen’s government, his lawyers said. A court…

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Asean Foreign Ministers pose for a photo shooting during Asean foreign ministers meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos.//AFP

Myanmar sends representative to ASEAN meet for first time in two years

Myanmar’s junta sent a senior official to a gathering of ASEAN foreign ministers in Laos on Monday — the first time the diplomatically isolated country has attended a high-level meeting…

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Photo : AFP

Vietnam’s incense village turns into Instagram hotspot

Hanoi, Vietnam – In a tiny village in northern Vietnam, Dang Thi Hoa ties up a bundle of freshly dried incense sticks ahead of Lunar New Year and watches a line…

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Both Thai chief peace negotiator Chatchai Bangchuad (L) and Malaysian talks facilitator Gen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin (R) are hopeful of progress in the peace dialogue.

 Southern peace talks to resume in early February

The stalled peace talks designed to end more than two decades of violence in southern Thailand will resume in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,  early next month, according to acting Secretary General…

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File photo : This photo taken on December 14, 2023 shows a man digging a bomb shelter near his house amid clashes between the ethnic minority armed group Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Myanmar’s military in Namhsan Township in Myanmar’s northern Shan State.//AFP

India plans to fence off Myanmar frontier

New Delhi, India – India plans to erect a fence along its vast and porous frontier with Myanmar and will scrap a free movement border zone agreement, Indian media reported Sunday. The announcement…

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PM Srettha urges ASEAN to hike minimum wages

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said yesterday Thailand should not continue to use low labour cost as an incentive to draw foreign investments and urged ASEAN countries to work together to…

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File photo : Reuters

Nearly 300 Myanmar soldiers flee to India after rebel gains

Guwahati, India – Nearly 300 Myanmar soldiers crossed the border into India to flee an advance by armed insurgents fighting the country’s junta, an Indian paramilitary officer told AFP on Friday.  Clashes have…

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Photo : Malaysiakini

Malaysian filmmakers charged for hurting religious feelings

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Two Malaysian filmmakers behind a banned indie movie touching on differences and similarities between various faiths, including Islam, were charged in court on Wednesday for hurting religious…

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ASEAN FMs to meet ahead of Luang Prabang meeting

Asean foreign ministers will meet on January 29 in Luang Prabang to discuss and agree on the bloc’s agenda for the rest of the year, according to the programs released…

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Thailand is joining OECD

Thailand has submitted a letter of intent to join the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to a highly placed source. The Cabinet recently approved the letter…

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File photo : Foreign Minister Parnpee Bahiddha-Nukara

Thailand-Myanmar humanitarian plans in the offing

Thailand and Myanmar will soon initiate bilateral humanitarian assistance along their common border to alleviate the sufferings of displaced persons, Foreign Minister Parnpee Bahiddha-Nukara revealed yesterday in Davos, Switzerland. He…

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Commander of Thailand’s Armed Forces Gen Songwit Noonpackdee during a teleconference with Myanmar’s military chief Gen Min Aung Hlaing on Friday. (Photo from Myanmar’s Ministry of Information)

Thai military chief discusses cooperation with Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing

The commander of Thailand’s armed forces has held talks with Myanmar junta boss Gen Min Aung Hlaing to discuss cooperation to crack down on online gambling and online scams, according…

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Malaysia peace talks facilitator foresees “concrete” development (Video)

The Malaysian facilitator for the southern peace talks process said he is optimistic that there will be “concrete” development by the end of this year with a new round of…

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File photo : Junta spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun//AFP

Myanmar junta, armed alliance confirm China-mediated ceasefire

Yangon, Myanmar – Myanmar’s military and an alliance of armed ethnic minority groups announced a ceasefire on Friday after months of conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives and posed the biggest…

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Photo by Srettha Thavisin FB

Srettha to talk about haze problems with Hun Manet

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said today that he will call his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, to discuss the ongoing haze problem Srettha, who is visiting the northern province of…

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Photo : Brunei’s Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah.//Photo by Prince Abdul Mateen’s Instagram

Brunei’s polo-playing prince marries commoner

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei – Brunei’s polo-playing Prince Abdul Mateen, one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors, married his commoner fiancee on Thursday as part of a lavish 10-day celebration in the oil-rich…

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File photo : Alounkeo Kittikhoun

Veteran Lao diplomat named Asean special envoy to Myanmar

Laos has appointed a veteran diplomat as the ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar ahead of the ASEAN foreign ministerial retreat in Luang Prabang later this month, according to an informed…

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File photo : Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet

Cambodian PM will visit Bangkok next month

Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay a one-day official visit to Thailand next month to strengthen the bilateral ties, according to an informed diplomatic source. Manet will arrive in Bangkok…

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Part of the Shwe Kokko new city project in Myanmar near the Thai border. (Photo courtesy of the Irrawaddy)

KNU ready to work with Thailand and China to rid border crime

Myanmar’s oldest ethnic armed organization, the Karen National Union (KNU), said it is ready to cooperate with neighboring Thailand and China to combat “notorious and rampant” crime, including online scam…

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File photo : Thai PM Srettha Thavisin

Thailand’s new approach to Myanmar crisis a shot in the dark

The Thai government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is employing a new approach to the ongoing crisis in neighboring Myanmar, focusing on humanitarian assistance, but analysts doubt if it…

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This photo taken on December 10 shows female members of the Mandalay People’s Defense Forces (MDY-PDF) heading to the frontline amid clashes with the Myanmar military in northern Shan State.//AFP

I’m a Mandalay girl’: teenage soldier fights on Myanmar’s front lines

Shan State, Myanmar – An 18-year-old recruit in one of Myanmar’s pro-democracy fighting units prepares to launch a drone strike on junta troops, driven by anger and her mother’s call for revolution. Moe…

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File photo : East Timor’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao//AFP

Timor Leste: 11th Asean member in jeopardy?

Franking speaking, Timor Leste’s membership in Asean is becoming increasingly problematic. This is mainly due to the extensive comments by the country’s leaders on the role of Asean and the…

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Thailand to join the 4th Mekong Lancang Cooperation Summit online

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will join the fourth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders’ Meeting via video conference next week, said an informed government source. Srettha will join Chinese Premier Li Qiang…

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Christmas decorations for sale are seen on display at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur on December 7.//AFP

Malaysia OKs ‘Merry Christmas’ on halal cake

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  – Halal-certified bakeries in largely Muslim Malaysia can now put Christmas greetings on cakes for their customers, religious authorities said, reversing a three-year-old ban following public uproar. The…

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Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (front C) poses for a group photo with leaders of ASEAN-member nations and other participants prior to the Asian Zero Energy Carbon (AZEC) Summit, held in conjunction with the ASEAN-Japan commemorative summit, at the Japanese Prime Minister’s office in Tokyo on December 18.//AFP

Preparing ASEAN-Japan Ties for the Next Generation

Japan and ASEAN firmed up their already close relationship at their meetings in Tokyo over the weekend. After five decades, Japan has proved to be a reliable partner of ASEAN…

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Myanmar junta arrests two more journalists: outlet

Yangon, Myanmar – Myanmar junta authorities have arrested two journalists in night raids, their outlet said on Wednesday, as the military cracks down on independent media. Since toppling Aung San Suu…

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File photo : The photo taken in 2017 shows two orangutans that were smuggled into Thailand from Indonesia.

Last three orangutans smuggled into Thailand set to return to Indonesia

Thailand will repatriate next week the last three orangutans, smuggled into the country from Indonesia, a senior official from the National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Department said today. “We…

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[FILE] This photograph taken in Mulhouse, eastern France on October 19, 2023, shows figurines next to the logo of the social media video sharing app Tik Tok reflected in mirrors. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

TikTok announces $1.5 bn deal to restart Indonesia online shopping business

Chinese-owned short video app TikTok on Monday announced a $1.5 billion investment in GoTo group in a deal that would allow it to restart its online shop in Indonesia, the…

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Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin (left) and Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman, Vuong Dinh Hue at the Government House on Friday.

Thailand and Vietnam are ready for CSP

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said yesterday that Thailand is ready to upgrade ties with Vietnam as a comprehensive strategic partnership when he visits Hanoi early next year. He told Vietnamese…

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Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara (L) shakes hands with Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, Than Swe in Beijing on December 7,

Thailand and Myanmar form humanitarian taskforce

Thailand and Myanmar have agreed to establish a task force to handle humanitarian assistance for both Thai and Burmese people living along the border, who are affected by the ongoing…

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Tourists visit the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on November 16,.//AFP

Cambodian PM defends relocation of villagers from Angkor Wat

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet vowed Friday to continue relocating thousands of families from the Angkor Wat temple complex, despite growing international condemnation from rights groups. Officials…

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Motorists queue to fill their vehicles at a petrol station in Yangon on December 6, 2023, amid fuel shortages in the area. Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon is facing a fuel shortage.//AFP

Myanmar’s Yangon hit by fuel shortage

Yangon, Myanmar – Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon is facing a fuel shortage, residents and junta-controlled media said Wednesday, with hundreds of vehicles queueing up at dawn in the hope of securing…

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File photo : Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing stands in a car as he oversees a military display at a parade ground to mark the country’s Independence Day in Naypyidaw on January 4,//AFP

Myanmar junta chief calls for political solution with ethnic groups

Yangon, Myanmar – Myanmar’s junta chief has called on ethnic armed groups battling the military across the country to find a political solution, state media reported on Tuesday. The junta is…

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Volcanic ash spews from Mount Marapi during an eruption as seen from Batu Palano village in Agam on December 4.//AFP

11 hikers dead after Indonesia volcano erupts, dozen still missing

Padang, Indonesia – Eleven hikers were found dead Monday and another 12 were missing after a volcano erupted in Indonesia, with rescuers racing to carry injured and burned survivors down the…

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File photo : Earthquake-affected residents ride a boat as they evacuate from Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur province on December 3, 2023, following a 7.6 magnitude quake late on December 2. //AFP

Magnitude 6.9 quake latest to rattle southern Philippines

Manila, Philippines – A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines early Monday, the United States Geological Survey said, the latest in a slew of strong quakes…

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This picture taken and released by the Vietnam News Agency on March 31, 2021 shows Vietnam’s newly elected National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (C) taking oath during the National Assembly’s spring session in Hanoi. STR / Vietnam News Agency / AFP

Vietnam’s House speaker to visit Thailand

Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will pay a four-day to Thailand next week, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His counterpart, Wan Muhammad Noor Matha, will host…

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Medical workers treat an injured person at Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi, Lanao del sur province, after a bomb attack during a Catholic mass at Mindanao State University’s gymnasium.//AFP

Three killed in bomb attack on Catholic mass in Philippines

Marawi, Philippines – At least three people were killed and seven wounded in a bomb attack on a Catholic mass in the insurgency-plagued southern Philippines on Sunday, officials said. The…

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People gather at an evacuation center, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines December 2,.//Reuters

Strong quake in Philippines triggers tsunami warnings and evacuations

Manila – Evacuations were under way in the Philippines after a quake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck the southern region of Mindanao on Saturday night, triggering tsunami warnings in…

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File photo : Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger responds to opening statements by members of the Senate POW/MIA committee 22 September 1992 in Washington, DC. //AFP

‘My blood boils’: Kissinger’s bitter legacy in Southeast Asia

As global tributes to late US diplomat Henry Kissinger poured in, his death stirred fury across Southeast Asia. Homage has been paid to Kissinger’s realpolitik and intellectual heft as secretary…

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This photo taken on November 28 shows members of the Loikaw Local People’s Defence Force (PDF) preparing to go to the frontline near Loikaw in Myanmar’s eastern Kayah state.//AFP PDFs and allied ethnic minority groups have been battling the Myanmar army for weeks in and around Loikaw, a city nestled in lush hills and home to around 50,000 people in eastern Kayah state. (Photo by AFP) / To go with AFP story Myanmar-conflict-city, FOCUS

Myanmar pro-democracy fighters battle to take state capital

Loikaw, Myanmar – Myanmar pro-democracy fighters in a battered pickup truck drive past abandoned and bombed-out houses in the eastern city of Loikaw, on their way to the front lines of the…

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Over 14 million meth pills seized in Vientiane by Thai and Lao police

Thai and Lao police seized 14.8 million methamphetamine pills in Laotian capital of Vientiane between November 28 and 30, in joint operations between the police forces. Four Laotians and one…

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Members of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) walking past a Myanmar military base after seizing it during clashes near Laukkaing township in Myanmar’s northern Shan state on October 28, 2023//Photo: AFP

Myanmar ethnic minority fighters clash with military on major trade route

Yangon, Myanmar –  Ethnic minority fighters clashed with Myanmar’s military on a major trade route to Thailand on Friday, blocking traffic and sending people fleeing, residents and local media said.  Fighters…

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File photo : Mali the elephant receives food from a worker at the Manila Zoo on January 23, 2019.//AFP

Elephant at centre of animal rights campaign dies in Philippine zoo

Manila, Philippines – An elderly elephant has died in a Philippine zoo, an official said Wednesday, after a failed global campaign to relocate her to an animal sanctuary. Mali had been a popular attraction at…

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Ending violence in the trouble-plagued south of Thailand was one of the topics discussed during the recent meeting between Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.

Civil participation in southern peace talks urged

Political analysts and members of civil society in southern Thailand have called for greater participation by academics and representatives of local communities in the peace process in the trouble-plagued region….

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Concert in Kelantan with sexy Thai dancers stirs controversy

A concert featuring a well-known Thai folk songstress and scantily clad dancers at a Buddhist festival to celebrate Loy Krathong has stirred controversy in the conservative Malaysian state of Kelantan,…

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This handout photograph taken and released by the Myanmar’s Military Information Team on November 27, 2023 shows a China navy ship arriving at Thilawa port in Yangon.//AFP

China navy ships arrive in Myanmar for joint drills

Yangon, Myanmar – Three Chinese navy ships have arrived in Myanmar for joint drills with its navy, the country’s junta said, as a border conflict strains ties between the Southeast Asian nation and its…

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File photo : Asean Secretary General Dr Kao Kim Hourn

Asean chief visits Laos this week

The Secretary General of ASEAN, Dr Kao Kim Hourn will pay a three-day visit from 28-30 November to Lao in preparation for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, according to the…

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Members of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army pose for a photograph in October with weapons allegedly seized from a Myanmar army outpost on a hill in Chinshwehaw town, Myanmar. Photo: The Kokang online media via AP

Chinese military holds training drills near Myanmar border

Shanghai – China’s military will begin “combat training activities” from Saturday on its side of the border with Myanmar, it said on social media, a day after a convoy of…

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People rest in a monastery that has turn into a temporary shelter for internally displaced people (IDPs) at a village in Pauktaw township in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State.//AFP

Indonesia says held ‘positive’ Myanmar political talks

Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia on Friday said it had hosted “positive” talks with the main sides of the Myanmar conflict in a bid to kickstart a stuttering peace process almost three years after…

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File photo : Masatada Ishii

Thailand’s national football team gets a new head coach

Thailand’s national football team will officially introduce its new head coach, Masatada Ishii, 66, next week, after parting ways with Alexandre Polking on Wednesday. The Japanese coach is a former…

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This photo taken on October 22 shows children receiving food in a temporary shelter at a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Demoso township in Myanmar’s Kayah state. //AFP

Myanmar anti-junta fighters battle military in state capital

Myanmar anti-coup fighters were battling the military for control of a state capital, both sides said on Tuesday. Clashes across Myanmar have entered a fourth week, sparked by a surprise…

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Thais trapped by fighting in Myanmar repatriated today

A total of 266 Thais, many of whom were lured to work in Myanmar with promises of attractive pay, but were forced to work for Chinese-operated online scam gangs in…

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Laukkai town//Photo by Myanmar Skyline

Fighters from Myanmar ethnic minority say surrounded notorious scam town

Yangon, Myanmar – Fighters from a Myanmar ethnic minority said Tuesday they had surrounded a town controlled by pro-military militia near the China border where hundreds of foreigners, including Thais,…

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A destroyed structure is pictured in the aftermath of a military strike on a camp for displaced people near the northern Myanmar town of Laiza on October 11, 2023

Thais trapped in Myanmar will be home soon – PM

Forty-one Thai nationals trapped in Myanmar will be repatriated in the next few days, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. “Please wait a couple more days. They will be able…

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File photo : Laotian Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith//Laos News Agency

Laos to host ASEAN foreign ministerial retreat in January

The incoming ASEAN chair, Laos, will hold its foreign ministerial retreat on 28 and 29 January in Luang Prabang, according to informed diplomatic sources. The retreat will be the first of hundreds…

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China Coast Guard vessel (L) blocks the ML Kalayaan chartered supply boat (R) during a mission to deliver provisions at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on November 10,//AFP

Chinese vessels in high-seas chase of Philippine boat with media

South China Sea – As a Philippine Coast Guard rubber boat carrying journalists sped towards Filipino troops on a grounded navy vessel in the disputed South China Sea, three Chinese speed…

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