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...

Lao Kip Listed as One of Most Undervalued Currencies in World

Business News Asia, an international website that provides business and financial news, analysis, and opinion on companies, industries, and economies in Asia, deemed the...

Top Diplomat From the Philippines Visits Laos

The Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, Enrique A. Manalo, accompanied by his spouse and delegation, arrived in Vientiane on...

Singapore Hangs Man for Drug Trafficking. It Will Hang Woman on Friday — The First in 19 Years

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore executed a man Wednesday for drug trafficking and is set to hang a woman Friday — the first...

Thailand Launches First Tokamak in Southeast Asia, as Major Milestone in Clean Energy Research

Thailand launched the first tokamak device in Southeast Asia on Tuesday with the help of Chinese scientists, marking a milestone in the development of...

Thailand’s Divisive Ex-prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Readies Return During Political Turmoil

BANGKOK (AP) — As Thailand grapples with the unexpectedly difficult task of naming a new prime minister, the most controversial former holder of the...

Laos Records Alarming Rate of HIV Infection Among Young People

A new report from UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, estimates that with 42 percent of HIV cases in Laos affecting people...