ASEAN

Miss Universe Dispute Leaves Six Southeast Asian Franchises in Limbo

The Miss Universe Organization is facing a major dispute just weeks before its 75th anniversary pageant, with contestants from six Southeast Asian countries caught in the middle. Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore could all be affected by a disagreement over who has the right to run their national...

Thailand Restores 30-Day Visa-Free Stay, Limits Visa-Free Land Entries to Twice a Year

Thailand has cut its visa-free tourist stay from 60 days back to 30 days,...

Laos Prepares For ASEAN Para Games With 12-Sport Bid

Laos is preparing to compete in 12 sports at the 14th ASEAN Para Games...

Bear Paws, Pangolin Meat Seized in Vientiane Restaurant Raid Amid Laos’ Wider Crackdown

Lao authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal wildlife trade after raiding a...

Bangkok Bar Fire Kills 27, Leaves Dozens Critically Injured

A fire late on Sunday night at a packed pub in Bangkok has killed...

ASEAN Ministers Urge Restraint Amid Taiwan Tensions

Foreign ministers from Southeast Asia have urged restraint as China conducted large military exercises off Taiwan, expressing concern that the situation could escalate into...

Police Officer in Vietnam Steals Gold, Gives It Away

A uniformed police officer in central Vietnam allegedly robbed a gold shop, then threw the expensive stolen items into the street, saying they were...

Lack of Birthplace Makes New Vietnamese Passport Ineligible for Visas in Germany, Spain

Vietnam’s new passports lack information regarding holders’ birthplaces, causing Germany and Spain to deny them visas, although embassies are working to find solutions to...

Myanmar Military Regime Extends State of Emergency

Myanmar's military junta has extended its state of emergency by six months, saying elections could only be held after the country has achieved stability. The...

Japanese Documentarian Detained in Myanmar

A Japanese video journalist was detained on Saturday by Myanmar’s security forces during a flash protest in Yangon. The Associated Press reports that Japanese documentarian...

Chinese Call Center Trafficker Arrested in Thailand

A Chinese national wanted for smuggling people across borders to work at scam call centers in Laos and Cambodia was apprehended on Saturday at...