Southeast Asia
POST-COUP MYANMAR / Grid meeting half of power needs amid conflict: junta
Myanmar is producing about half of the electricity it needs each day, the junta has said, blaming scant rainfall for hydropower, lower natural gas yields and attacks by its opponents on infrastructure.
Afghanistan / 6 killed in mosque attack
A gunman stormed a mosque in western Afghanistan and killed six people, a government spokesman said yesterday, with local residents claiming the minority Shia community had been targeted.
Myanmar records hottest ever April temperature of 48.2°C: weather department
Myanmar recorded its hottest ever April temperature of 48.2 degrees Celsius (118.76 Fahrenheit), its weather department said on Monday, as the Southeast Asian nation bakes in a heatwave
Myanmar conflict: Senior NUG ministers, security experts seek Dhaka’s intervention
An international dialogue titled "Building Bridges of Harmony: A Holistic Strategy for Social Cohesion, Peace and Stability in Post-Civil War Arakan/Rakhine" was held at the EMK Center in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Saturday
20 Cambodian soldiers killed in ammunition base explosion
Twenty Cambodian soldiers have been killed in an ammunition explosion at an army base, Prime Minister Hun Manet said yesterday.
Singapore Airlines ordered to pay $3,580 to couple after recliner seats failed to work
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been ordered to pay two of its passengers 200,000 rupees (S$3,300) plus other costs after they filed a complaint concerning recliner seats on a flight from Hyderabad to Australia
Heat stroke kills 30 in Thailand this year as kingdom bakes
Thailand issued fresh warnings about scorching hot weather on Thursday as the government said heatstroke has already killed at least 30 people this year
Extreme heat scorches SE Asia
Extreme heat scorched parts of South and Southeast Asia yesterday, prompting schools across the Philippines to suspend classes and heat warnings in the Thai capital.
Lanka sees no need for talks with India on island it ceded
Sri Lanka does not see any need to re-open talks on a contentious island ceded to it by New Delhi 50 years ago, the foreign minister has said, after the low-key territorial squabble turned into a hot-button election issue in India.
Fighters target military in drone attacks on capital
Opponents of army rule in Myanmar said yesterday they carried out drone attacks on two military targets in its capital Naypyitaw, attacks which, if confirmed, would be a major blow to the image of a junta struggling to govern.
Pak ruling coalition wins Senate polls
Pakistan’s ruling coalition seized a majority in Senate polls yesterday, unofficial results showed, after the election commission delayed the vote in a province controlled by loyalists of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan.
Japan’s royal family makes formal debut on Instagram
Japan’s royal family is now on Instagram -- but don’t expect any candid selfies from its official account, which went live yesterday in a cautious social media debut for the ancient monarchy.
Nine children killed in Afghanistan
Nine children were killed in a blast in southeastern Afghanistan that was caused by a landmine laid during the country’s decades of conflict, a provincial official said yesterday.
Take notice of allegations of interference
Over 300 lawyers yesterday urged the Pakistan Supreme Court (SC) to take notice of allegations of interference in the judiciary by the intelligence apparatus under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, adding that any government-led commission “would be bereft of necessary independence and powers” to probe the claims.
Malaysia arrests armed man suspected of being an Israeli spy
Malaysia has arrested an armed man at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, its top police official said, describing the 36-year-old as a suspected Israeli spy
China to develop strategic infrastructure
Sri Lanka’s prime minister said yesterday that China has pledged to develop the island nation’s strategic deep sea port and the capital’s airport after talks with his counterpart in Beijing.
Thai parliament passes same-sex marriage bill
Thailand's parliament passed a same-sex marriage bill Wednesday, paving the way for the kingdom to become the first Southeast Asian nation to recognise LGBTQ marriage equality
Polls may not be held nationwide
Myanmar may not be able to hold its next election nationwide, the country’s junta chief admitted in comments published yesterday, as the military struggles to contain escalating violence against its rule.
