“No surrender” – Thailand’s Pita vows to fight on after blow to PM bid
Bangkok, ThailandReuters Thailand’s Pita Limjaroenrat vowed on Thursday not to quit in his quest to become prime minister, after suffering defeat in a parliamentary vote fraught by abstentions and no-shows as conservative forces closed ranks to keep him at bay. The leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, the surprise winners of the 14th May […]
Thailand PM Prayuth retires from politics, nine years after his coup
Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced on Tuesday his retirement from politics, nine years after he took power in a military coup, and promised to stay in charge only temporarily. His announcement was widely expected after his military-backed United Thai Nation party was thumped in a 14th May election, in which it […]
Nearly a third of domestic workers in Malaysia in forced labour conditions – UN agency
Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaReuters Nearly a third of migrant workers employed in domestic households in Malaysia are working under forced labour conditions, according to a survey released by the United Nations’ labour agency on Thursday. The International Labour Organisation identified conditions such as excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, low wages, restricted movement, and being unable to […]
Thais cheer poll winner Move Forward as opposition parties agree to coalition
Bangkok, ThailandReuters Thailand’s two main opposition parties agreed on Monday to form a ruling coalition after they trounced in a weekend election military-backed rivals that have controlled government for nearly a decade. The Move Forward party and opposition heavyweight Pheu Thai dominated Sunday’s ballot in a rout of army-backed parties, but could face challenges in […]
Thailand opposition crushes military parties in election rout
Bangkok, ThailandReuters Thailand’s opposition secured a stunning election win on Sunday after trouncing parties allied with the military, setting the stage for a flurry of deal-making over forming a government in a bid to end nearly a decade of conservative, army-backed rule. The liberal Move Forward party and the populist Pheu Thai Party were far […]
Thai authorities issue extreme heat warnings for dozens of provinces
Bangkok Reuters Thai authorities on Saturday warned residents across large swathes of country, including the capital Bangkok, to avoid going outdoors due to extreme heat. Parts of Asia are reporting extreme heat this month, with record-breaking temperatures seen in some countries. In Bangladesh and parts of India, extreme heat is leading to surge in power demand, […]
Activists gather for Earth Day, urge action to avoid ‘dystopian’ future
Reuters Climate change campaigners gathered outside Britain’s parliament building ahead of Earth Day to urge action on global warming, while volunteers worldwide geared up to plant trees and clear trash to mark the 54th annual celebration of the environment. Earth Day this year, officially on Saturday, follows weeks of extreme weather with temperatures soaring to […]
Thai police say Chinese church members to be deported soon
Bangkok, ThailandAP More than 60 self-exiled members of a Chinese Christian church who were detained in Thailand after receiving UN refugee status will be deported by next week, probably to a third country, officials said Wednesday. Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn said representatives of Thailand’s Foreign Ministry and Immigration Bureau were holding talks with […]
Members of exiled Chinese church detained in Thailand
Pattaya, Thailand AP More than 60 self-exiled members of a Chinese Christian church who were detained in Thailand paid fines Friday for overstaying their visas, but remained uncertain about their legal status amid fears they would be deported against their will to their home country, where they face possible persecution. The 63 members of the […]
Hydropower impacts: China’s Mekong dams turn Thai fishing communities into ghost towns
China’s dam-building on the Mekong River is altering water flows and holding back sediment, affecting millions living downstream. RINA CHANDRAN, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, reports…