Tag: Thailand

Protectionism slammed as Southeast Asian leaders rally to trade pact

by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI / Dene-Hern Chen Agence France Presse BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Southeast Asian leaders made an impassioned plea against protectionism at a regional summit in Bangkok Sunday, warning that a dragging US-China trade spat could hammer their export-led economies. Tit-for-tat tariffs between Washington and Beijing have cast a dark cloud over global growth forecasts and experts warn any drop-off in spending by the world’s two biggest economies is likely to hit Southeast Asia […]

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President Duterte joins 34th ASEAN Summit opening

  The 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit formally opened Sunday with President Rodrigo Duterte joining fellow ASEAN leaders during the opening rites held at the Athenee Tower. The ceremony started with the playing of the ASEAN anthem, “The ASEAN Way.” After which, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha delivered his welcome remarks. During the ceremony, Thailand, the host country, presented a cultural performance displaying the rich and […]

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President Duterte now in Thailand for ASEAN Summit, says he will raise issue of China’s 9-dash line before summit

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Bangkok, Thailand on Friday night, June 21, to attend the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to participate in the discussions of issues affecting the region, including how to resolve disputes in the South China Sea. Before he left for Thailand, Duterte said he would raise the issue of China’s claim on the nine-dash line before the ASEAN Summit. “I will talk lengthily about […]

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ASEAN seeks conclusion of China-led trade deal this year: Thai PM

  BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Southeast Asian leaders are eager to sign a sweeping China-led trade pact by the end of this year, Thailand’s prime minister said Friday, with further talks expected at a Bangkok summit on the world’s biggest commercial deal. Beijing is seeking to shape the rules of free trade across the Asia-Pacific, as America retreats from multilateral deals under US President Donald Trump. The China-crafted Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) includes all […]

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Fire and blast at Thai port injures 25

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — A fire erupted on a cargo ship docked at a port in Thailand, triggering a blast and leaving at least 25 workers suffering from smoke inhalation and other injuries, officials said Saturday. The district around Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chonburi province, located two hours south of capital Bangkok, has been declared a “danger zone”, said port director Yuthana Mokkhao. The fire broke out on Saturday at 6.35 am (23:35 GMT […]

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Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia’s kids targeted by online paedophiles

  by Sophie DEVILLER and AFP bureaus Agence France Presse BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Southeast Asia is in the grip of a fresh surge of paedophile activity with predators orchestrating and watching abuse on live-streaming sites and via webcams, and paying for it with near-untraceable cryptocurrency, victims and children’s charities warn. With widespread poverty, lax laws, and creaking judicial systems, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and the Philippines have long been seen as soft spots by […]

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King Maha Vajiralongkorn crowned Rama X of Thailand

by Aidan JONES and Sippachai KUNNUWONG King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X of Thailand, was crowned Saturday in a dazzling show of pageantry, laced with Hindu and Buddhist ritual, vowing to reign “with righteousness” on behalf of the Thai people. Starting at the auspicious time of 10:09 am (0309 GMT), the public was granted a rare window into the cloistered halls of Thai power as the key rituals of the three-day coronation began. King Vajiralongkorn is […]

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Thailand set for coronation of King Rama X, first in 69 years

by Dene-Hern Chen Agence France Presse BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will be crowned this weekend in a pageantry-laden ceremony , as Rama X furthers his primacy over one of the world’s richest monarchies and a kingdom beset by ulcerous political divides. The May 4-6 coronation comes more than two years after Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne at the death of his father Bhumibol Adulyadej. Bhumibol reigned over seven tumultuous decades and was […]

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Thai Navy to remove bitcoin-rich couple’s sea home

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — The Thai Navy will begin removing a “seastead” home built by an American bitcoin investor and his partner off the coast of Thailand, an official said Saturday, as the couple remain in hiding from charges accusing them of violating the country’s sovereignty. Chad Elwartowski and his Thai girlfriend Supranee Thepdet, known as “Bitcoin Girl Thailand”, are facing charges of threatening the kingdom’s independence after authorities found their ocean-based home about 12 […]

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Thai junta holds onto lead as nation awaits election results

by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI and Joe FREEMAN Results of Thailand’s first election since the 2014 coup were expected to trickle out Monday, with the junta primed to retain its grip on power after a vote that saw its main rival diminished, but vaulted a new pro-democracy force into the kingdom’s politics. The Election Commission delayed without explanation a full announcement of preliminary results on Sunday night as a blizzard of complaints mounted over apparent mistakes in […]

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Thai junta poised to retain power as nation awaits vote results

by Joe Freeman Thailand’s election results were due Monday, with the junta appearing poised to hold on to power in a vote that saw its main rival diminished but vaulted a new pro-democracy force into the kingdom’s politics. Sunday’s poll — seen as a referendum on the military — was the first since a 2014 coup, and was held under new rules written by the junta to ease its transformation into a civilian government. Despite […]

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