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...

Southeast Asian Nations Renew Alarm Over Myanmar Violence. But Diplomats Can’t Settle on Solution

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Southeast Asian foreign ministers renewed their alarm over — and condemnation of — air strikes, artillery shelling, and other acts of...

Cambodian Opposition Party Officials Arrested for Allegedly Encouraging Casting of Spoiled Ballots

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Two senior members of the only major functioning opposition party in Cambodia have been arrested for allegedly teaching voters...

Reformist Thai Party, Thwarted From Forming New Government, Seeks Law Change to Limit Senate’s Power

BANGKOK (AP) — The political party that captured first place in Thailand’s general election two months ago — only to see the country’s unelected...

ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Seeks to Reinstate Peace and Stability in Region

The 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held on July 11-12, in Jakarta, Indonesia, during which, leaders from the US, Russia, China, Australia, New...

High Times in Thailand: New Weed Laws Draw Tourists From Across Asia

BANGKOK (AP) — A Japanese tourist reaches into a baggie of cannabis he’s just bought in a central Bangkok weed shop, pulling out a...

EU Rejects Myanmar’s Diplomatic Role and Says It Still Doesn’t Recognize Generals

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The European Union’s top diplomat on Thursday expressed opposition to Myanmar’s upcoming role as the overseer of relations between the...