Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia

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.

1d ago

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

1d ago

Post-coup Myanmar / 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.

3d ago

13 killed in Philippine road crash

At least 13 people were killed in the southern Philippines on Monday after a collision between a dump truck loaded with sand and a passenger van, local authorities said

3d ago

At least 38 Rohingyas killed by Myanmar military air strikes in recent weeks

15 children among those killed, says Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK

6d ago

Myanmar crisis / UN alarmed by reports of casualties in airstrikes

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is alarmed by reports that military airstrikes in Myanmar, including on Monday in Minbya township, have killed and injured many civilians, a UN spokesman said.

1w ago

8 killed in Pak air strikes on Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Taliban said yesterday that Pakistan carried out two air strikes on its territory, killing five women and three children, and it fired heavy weapons at Pakistani forces along the border in retaliation.

1w ago

60 Afghans killed by weeks of snow, rain

At least 60 people have been killed by heavy rain and snow in Afghanistan over the past three weeks, the government’s disaster ministry said Wednesday.

2w ago

Imran votes by postal ballot

Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan and other incarcerated political figures have cast their votes through a postal ballot from Adiala Jail. However, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was unable to partake in voting as she was arrested after the completion of the postal voting process.

‘Vote matters’ despite alleged rigging

Pakistanis turned out early for election said they believe their votes count, despite allegations of rigging in the nation’s most fractious poll in recent history.

Imran not on ballot, but still on country’s mind

His name may not be on the ballot, but Imran Khan will be on the country’s mind as Pakistan votes in an election today that observers say is deeply flawed without his participation.

Pak govt hints at shutting down internet

Pakistan’s caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz on Tuesday hinted at the possible suspension of the internet service in case of security issues in any area on the election day today while Amnesty International called for uninterrupted internet access across the country during the polling process.

How do polls in Pakistan work?

Here are some facts about how the electoral system works in Pakistan:

King of comebacks Sharif looks set to be PM again

Three-time Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who has never managed to see out a full term, heads into today’s election on the brink of his biggest comeback to date.

Despite crises, polls dominated by personalities

Pakistan goes to the polls tomorrow with the jailing of popular former prime minister Imran Khan, the winner of the last national election, dominating headlines despite an economic crisis and other woes threatening the nuclear-armed country.

Thai govt to ban recreational cannabis use

The Thai government will urgently move a bill to ban the recreational use of cannabis, the health minister said on Tuesday, after the kingdom decriminalised the drug in 2022

PTI navigates blackouts to keep campaign alive

Former prime minister Imran Khan’s party has redefined election campaigning in Pakistan with its social media rallies and use of AI technology in a bid to sidestep a nationwide crackdown that has followed it online.

UN chief urges return to democracy on Myanmar coup anniversary

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Thursday for an end to violence in Myanmar and a return to democracy, three years to the day since the military seized power in a coup

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