Thailand, Laos try to ‘make junta presentable’ amid ASEAN Myanmar inertia | ASEAN News

Thailand, Laos try to ‘make junta presentable’ amid ASEAN Myanmar inertia | ASEAN News

Chiang Mai, Thailand – Thailand’s controversial humanitarian initiative with crisis-torn Myanmar is facing growing criticism even after its fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) appeared to collectively endorse the scheme. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat wrapped up recently in Luang Prabang, the old capital of landlocked Laos,…

UN seeking more than 0m for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh | Rohingya News

UN seeking more than $850m for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh | Rohingya News

Bangladesh hosts more than a million Rohingya people, many of whom fled a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar. The United Nations is calling for more donations for Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh. In its annual response plan to the crisis, the UN appealed for $852.4m to provide food…

World watches as China sets out priorities for 2024 | Business and Economy

World watches as China sets out priorities for 2024 | Business and Economy

National People’s Congress discusses future of nation amid increasingly turbulent geopolitics. China’s plans for the coming year have been set out at its National People’s Congress. The country is aiming for the same modest economic growth as it did last year, but its economy is facing several challenges, and geopolitical…

Russia detains South Korean in country’s east on suspicion of spying | Espionage News

Russia detains South Korean in country’s east on suspicion of spying | Espionage News

Baek Won-soon was detained in Vladivostok earlier this year – the latest foreign national to be imprisoned in Russia. Russia has detained a South Korean in the country’s east, accusing him of spying. Citing the authorities, the Russian state-run TASS news agency identified the man as Baek Won-soon and said…

Five key takeaways from China’s annual meeting of parliament | Business and Economy News

Five key takeaways from China’s annual meeting of parliament | Business and Economy News

China’s week-long meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC), which gathered some 3,000 delegates from the political, business and cultural elite in Beijing, has closed without the customary press conference by the country’s premier. The annual meeting of the country’s parliament began on March 4 at the Great Hall of…

Fear of China, Russia and Iran is driving weapons sales: Report | Weapons News

Fear of China, Russia and Iran is driving weapons sales: Report | Weapons News

The aggressive postures of disruptive states drove arms sales in Europe, the Middle East and Asia during the past five years, according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Russia’s war in Ukraine contributed to a doubling of arms purchases in Europe in 2019-23 relative…

Carey and Marsh lead Australia to 2-0 Test series win over New Zealand | Cricket News

Carey and Marsh lead Australia to 2-0 Test series win over New Zealand | Cricket News

Carey shared 140-run partnership with Marsh as Australia won the second Test by three wickets in a tense finish. Alex Carey scored an unbeaten 98 and shared a 140-run partnership with Mitch Marsh to drive Australia to a three-wicket win in the second Test and a 2-0 sweep of the…

China wraps up national congress with eye on sagging economy | Business and Economy

China wraps up national congress with eye on sagging economy | Business and Economy

The world’s second-largest economy is facing challenges, including an ailing housing market and weak domestic demand. China’s leaders are wrapping up a weeklong key conclave at which they admitted more was needed to revive a sluggish economy battered by an ailing housing market, poor domestic demand and record-high youth unemployment…

Fears of mass migration from Myanmar as military plans to draft thousands | Conflict News

Fears of mass migration from Myanmar as military plans to draft thousands | Conflict News

Ko Naing* is just the sort of young man Myanmar’s military is looking for. Hoping to make up for recruitment shortfalls and battlefield losses against armed groups fighting to reverse its 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military last month announced plans to enforce a years-old conscription law. Starting in April, the military…