Southeast Asia

Sacred oxen predict ‘abundant’ Thai harvest

Thai astrologers yesterday predicted an “abundant” harvest after a pair of sacred white oxen munched on grass and rice, and slurped up
9 May 2019, 19:51 PM

Stop bugging him: Duterte brushes off finger-sized pest

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte seemed unfazed when a finger-sized cockroach scrambled onto his shoulder as he spoke at a
9 May 2019, 19:48 PM

Myanmar prison riot leaves 4 dead

Four prisoners were killed during a riot at a northern Myanmar jail, officials said yesterday, coming on the heels of an amnesty which saw
9 May 2019, 19:46 PM

S’pore passes fake news law despite criticism

Singapore’s parliament Wednesday passed laws to combat “fake news” that will allow authorities to order the removal of online content despite
9 May 2019, 19:40 PM

Thailand likely to keep junta leader as PM

Thailand’s pro-army Palang Pracharat party was yesterday looking for coalition partners from a wide field of potential allies as it seeks to keep military junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led a 2014 coup, in office as prime minister.
9 May 2019, 19:36 PM

‘Rohingya presence posing serious threat to host community’

Leading economists and policy analysts reject the idea of providing Rohingya people with access to the local labour market in Cox’s Bazar and suggest quick repatriation of the Myanmar nationals to ease pressure on Bangladesh.
9 May 2019, 15:10 PM

Thai junta-backed party needs allies

Thailand’s army-backed party needs only a small number of allies to get enough votes to allow coup leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha to cling to power, according to final election results released late yesterday that were immediately challenged by anti-junta rivals.
8 May 2019, 18:00 PM

In exile in Bangladesh, a bittersweet revival of Rohingya culture

Chain-smoking singer Gudar Mia, who recently turned 80 in a refugee camp in Bangladesh, lit another cigarette, closed his eyes, and crooned the opening words of a Rohingya folk song.
8 May 2019, 05:02 AM

Elephants hail Thai King

Marching in lockstep outside the royal palace in Bangkok’s historic old quarter, 11 elephants bowed and trumpeted in homage to
7 May 2019, 18:00 PM

Indonesia thwarts bomb plots

Indonesia has thwarted a bid by Islamic State-linked militants to stage a series of bombings when it announces official election results later this month, authorities said.
7 May 2019, 18:00 PM

Situation still ‘dire’: UN

The UN yesterday praised the release of two Reuters journalists jailed for reporting on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, but warned that freedom of expression remains heavily restricted in the country.
7 May 2019, 18:00 PM

Indian PM Modi to visit Fani-ravaged Odisha today

Cyclone Fani ravages vast areas of coastal Odisha, leaving behind a trail that was as bad as the 1999 super cyclone and very little information flowing from districts left everyone, including the government, virtually groping on the extent of damage even till date.
5 May 2019, 05:23 AM

Cyclone Fani: UN moves to protect vulnerable Rohingyas in Bangladesh

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have taken measures to ensure the protection of Rohingya families in Cox's Bazar district during the expected heavy rains and strong winds caused cyclone Fani.
4 May 2019, 04:32 AM

Remove all barriers to repatriation

Bangladesh has urged Myanmar to remove all barriers to the repatriation of Rohingyas and take concrete steps to create conditions conducive to their return.
3 May 2019, 18:00 PM

Bangladesh for early start to Rohingya repatriation

Bangladesh has pressed Myanmar on early start of physical repatriation of the Rohingya refugees during a top bilateral meeting.
3 May 2019, 14:05 PM

Myanmar troops kill 6, detain scores in Rakhine

Myanmar security forces shot dead at least six people in the troubled western state of Rakhine yesterday, after soldiers and police
2 May 2019, 18:00 PM

Severe Indonesia floods kill 10

At least 10 people are dead and eight are missing after days of heavy rain-triggered floods and landslides on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, authorities said yesterday.
28 April 2019, 18:00 PM

Only people can change the prime minister: Mahathir

“Vote me out if you want,” says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in an apparent response to Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim's statement that the prime minister should be changed.
28 April 2019, 08:56 AM

UN urges int’l help for 1.2m Rohingyas

Top UN agency leaders have asked the international community to continue supporting the critical needs of 1.2 million people, Rohingya refugees and their local host communities, in south-eastern Bangladesh.
26 April 2019, 18:00 PM

UN leaders highlight need for support to Rohingya

UN humanitarian leaders reiterates their commitments to working toward the safe and sustainable solution for the Rohingya refugees in Myanmar and noted the UN efforts are on to help in creating conditions conducive to their return.
26 April 2019, 15:48 PM