As chances of a Trump 2.0 presidency shoot up, how ready are Southeast Asian states?

SINGAPORE: Southeast Asian countries will be more prepared than before to manage ties with the United States should former president Donald Trump win a second term, as his chances rise after surviving an assassination attempt, regional experts say. This is because of what countries in the region have learnt from his time in office between […]

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Thai police say cyanide killed 6 foreigners in Bangkok hotel, including suspect

The rapid-acting, deadly chemical was found on drinking glasses and a teapot in the room at the luxury Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel, and interviews with relatives of the dead revealed there had been a dispute over debt related to an investment, police said Cyanide poisoning was likely the cause of the deaths of six foreigners […]

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Philippines, China to set up new channels to handle South China Sea rows, source and document say

The two countries have traded barbs repeatedly over jurisdiction in the contested South China Sea as the Philippines, emboldened by support of defence ally the United States, challenges China’s permanent presence around strategic features inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone The Philippines and China have agreed to set up new lines of communication to improve their […]

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Citizens of 93 countries do not need a visa to travel to Thailand

Thailand has introduced visa-free access facilities for citizens of 93 countries to boost the tourism sector. Citizens of these countries will now be able to travel to the Southeast Asian country without a visa. Under the scheme launched last Monday, travelers can stay in Thailand for 60 days with visa-free entry. Earlier this facility was […]

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Thai PM seeks extra $3.4 bln for stimulus as lawmakers criticise handout plan

BANGKOK, July 17 (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday tabled an additional 122 billion baht ($3.4 billion) budget for the 2024 fiscal year for his signature stimulus programme, as lawmakers held a debate to scrutinise the much-criticised handout scheme. “The government needs the budget to stimulate the economy by boosting money circulation […]

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Indonesia’s Widodo delays move to new capital, amid Prabowo’s potential shift on Nusantara

 Jakarta: President Joko Widodo has delayed relocating his office to Indonesia’s new 500 trillion rupiah (US$32 billion) planned capital city, citing missed deadlines for critical infrastructure, in a move observers say signals that development on his legacy project is significantly behind schedule. Widodo last month said he would start working from the new capital – […]

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South China Sea: Beijing urged to create deadline for Manila to withdraw from shoal

By Alyssa Chen Beijing should set a definitive time frame for Manila to withdraw from Second Thomas Shoal, taking a big step towards ending the long-standing “cat-and-mouse game” over the contentious submerged reef, a leading Chinese maritime expert said. Describing persistent confrontation over the shoal as “a bleeding wound”, Wu Shicun, founder of the Hainan-based […]

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