Thais pay respects to late king Bhumibol Adulyadej outside the Grand Palace where his body has been taken after his death in hospital at the age of 88. (Video courtesy AFPTV)
ASEAN IN FOCUS
Grieving Thailand to begin king’s official mourning
by Anusak KONGLANG / Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Massive crowds of black-clad Thais lined Bangkok’s streets Friday hoping to see King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s body borne to his palace, as the nation grieved for a monarch whose passing leaves the country facing an uncertain future. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away at 88 on Thursday after years of ill health, ending seven decades as a stabilising figure in a nation of deep political […]
Thailand’s mega-rich monarchy
by Sally Mairs BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Late Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej has left behind one of the world’s richest monarchies, with a multi-billion-dollar empire spanning property, construction and banks. Analysts say the vast royal reserves have allowed the crown to build a deep network among the Thai elite, helping insulate the king from the political pressures felt by monarchs who rely chiefly on state funding. But as with all issues linked to the Thai […]
Tributes for Thai king as concern swirls over nation’s future
BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — World leaders paid tribute to Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a champion of his people during a momentous seven-decade reign, as observers warned his death could plunge the country into renewed turmoil. Bhumibol, whose reign witnessed regular bouts of political turmoil, coups and violent unrest, was revered as a serene and caring father of the nation, and a bulwark in troubled times. His death Thursday at the age of 88, with […]
Thailand’s beloved king, unifying figure, dies at 88
by Apilaporn VECHAKIJ Sally Mairs BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — King Bhumibol Adulyadej, long a unifying figure in politically fractious Thailand, died Thursday and uncertainty over the succession quickly arose as his crown prince reportedly sought a delay in taking over. The death of the 88-year-old Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, removed a revered father figure in a country where political tensions are still raw two years after a military coup. US President Barack Obama led […]
Thai junta chief to meet prince as king health fears grow
by Jerome TAYLOR / Marion THIBAUT BANGKOK, Thailand | AFP | — Thailand’s junta chief said Wednesday he planned to hold talks with the Crown Prince following days of unprecedented concern over the health of ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Bhumibol, 88, is the world’s longest-reigning monarch and beloved by many in Thailand. But he has not been seen in public for nearly a year as he battles a series of ailments in a Bangkok […]
Body of new-born baby found on plane in Indonesia
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — The body of a new-born baby has been found in the toilet of a plane after it arrived in Indonesia from Doha, with police waiting to question a female passenger, an official said Tuesday. The grim discovery was made late Sunday by cleaners as they moved through the Qatar Airways flight after its arrival at the main international airport serving Jakarta. The foetus was estimated to be between five and seven […]
DOLE joins OECD, ADB, GIZ in addressing employment, skills issues in ASEAN region
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), together with the Organization gor Economic Co-Operation And Development (OECD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), is conducting a two-day international policy forum to discuss how best to promote sustainable and inclusive skills policies in the Philippines and the ASEAN region. https://youtu.be/ak97tLDQEew
Duterte hopes for Philippines’ reconciliation with China
President Rodrigo R. Duterte expressed hope that his administration would come to terms with the Chinese government, amid his impending state visit to China on October 18 to 21.
Ailing Thai king’s health ‘not stable’: palace
BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Doctors treating Thailand’s hospital-bound King Bhumibol Adulyadej placed the ailing monarch on a ventilator this week, the palace said Sunday, adding that the 88-year-old’s health was “not stable”. Bhumibol is the world’s longest-reigning monarch and beloved by many in Thailand. But he has not been seen in public for nearly a year as he battles a series of ailments in a Bangkok hospital. Historically the palace has tightly controlled news about […]
Indonesia holds military drill at South China Sea islands
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — The Indonesian air force Thursday held a major exercise around its islands in the South China Sea where there have been clashes with Chinese vessels in waters claimed by Beijing. Thousands of personnel as well as F-16, Sukhoi and Hercules planes took part in the drill around the remote Natuna islands in the far northwest of the archipelago, with President Joko Widodo in attendance. Military spokesman Tatang Sulaiman said the exercise […]
Thailand considers Zika tests for all pregnant women
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand is considering testing all pregnant women for Zika, the health ministry said on Monday, following confirmation last week of its first known cases of microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size, linked to the Zika virus. The two confirmed cases of microcephaly were the first in Southeast Asia linked to Zika, which has been spreading in the region after outbreaks in […]
