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...

Public Calls for Thai PM’s Resignation After Leaked Call with Hun Sen Goes Viral

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing mounting public pressure to resign after a leaked phone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen went...

Vietnam Lawmakers Approve Merging Provinces, Slashing Nearly 80,000 Jobs

AFP - Vietnam's National Assembly on 12 June approved plans to merge provinces and cities, slashing nearly 80,000 state jobs, as part of major...

China’s Aircraft Maker Seeks Majority Stake in Lao Airlines Amid Reforms

The Lao government is weighing a proposal from China’s Commercial Aircraft Corporation (COMAC) to acquire a controlling stake in Lao Airlines, part of a...

Regional Operation Disrupts USD 20 Million Transnational Scam Syndicates, Thousands of Bank Accounts Frozen

Authorities across Asia have arrested more than 1,800 individuals as part of a sweeping operation targeting transnational scam networks, according to the Hong Kong...

Vietnam Abolishes Two-Child Policy Amid Declining Birth Rate

Vietnam has officially ended its long-standing two-child policy as the country grapples with a falling birth rate and a rapidly ageing population. On 3 June,...

Cambodia to File Complaint With ICJ Over Thai Border Dispute

AFP - Cambodia will file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over border disputes with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said...