Author: Pyae Soe

The European Union announced on Friday that it will begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova to join the 27-member political and economic bloc starting next week. All 27 members agreed to the Ukraine and Moldova joining the European Union. Negotiations will begin for both countries on Tuesday in Luxembourg, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union said on X. The move comes at a critical time for both nations with Ukraine in the middle of an invasion by Russia and Moldova facing a Russian-led insurgence by a breakaway state. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the European Union for its “robust political…

Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh resigned on February 26 in anticipation of postwar governance challenges. “I see that the next stage and its challenges will require new governmental and political arrangements,” Shtayyeh said, emphasizing “the emerging reality in the Gaza Strip, the national unity talks, and the urgent need for an inter-Palestinian consensus.” American and Palestinian officials expect that Abbas will nominate Mohammed Mustafa, the chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund, as Shtayyeh’s successor. Expert Analysis “Bringing in Palestine Investment Fund chief Mohammed Mustafa and pushing out the current prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh is the rearranging of the…

On the first anniversary of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’s deadliest border war, marked in September, irascible Kyrgyz national-security chief Kamchybek Tashiev aired his frustrations at the slow progress in talks aimed at demarcating the disputed frontier. Tajikistan, said Tashiev, was making “territorial claims” against Kyrgyzstan in the talks. “But our answer is that there should be no such claims,” Tashiev fumed, noting ominously that Kyrgyzstan had found “new documents” related to the border. “Based on those, we know that many parts of Kyrgyzstan had been given to Tajikistan,” he claimed. “If [Tajikistan] does not renounce its territorial claims against Kyrgyzstan then…

As part of a broader outreach to Central Asia, the Vice President of the European Commission (EC), Mr. Margaritis Schinas, paid official visit to Tajikistan on January 16.  Vice President Schinas met with Prime Minister of Tajikistan Qohir Rasoulzoda, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin, and Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabias to discuss the priorities of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union (EU).  In his interview with Asia-Plus, Mr. Schinas told about the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, contribution education in Tajikistan and common values.    Q. What issues will be in the focus of attention during the…

Thai hostages freed after weeks being held captive by Hamas in Gaza have spoken of their relief after returning to Bangkok, where they were welcomed home by overjoyed relatives. A group of 17 Thai nationals arrived on a flight from Israel on Thursday after Bangkok’s foreign ministry and Thai Muslim groups worked to negotiate their release. At least 32 Thais were abducted by Hamas fighters when they attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240 others, according to Israeli authorities. At least 39 Thais were killed in the attack, according to the Thai government. When…

National Police Chief Police General Torsak Sukvimol revealed that of the 1,320 cases linked to guns, the majority centred on illicit sales and wrongful firearm ownership. The crackdown’s focal point? To stem the tide of gun violence, a recent wave of which involved technical college students settling scores most alarmingly. Klong Toey witnessed an incident on Nov 11, followed by another in Dusit district a week later, underscoring the urgency of the issue. Pol. Gen. Torsak warns that illegal firearms are a reality in this country. Continuous suppression operations are crucial. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) is stepping into the breach. Police…

Vientiane, Laos – Keo remembers the day he consumed so much yaba that he “lost his mind.” The 37-year-old from Laos took more of the drug – a potent combination of methamphetamine and caffeine – than he had ever done before. “I took 10 pills and I was totally lost. I didn’t recognise my family, I didn’t even recognise my children,” the father of two told Al Jazeera at the Transformation Center, a drug rehab facility 25km (16 miles) outside the Lao capital Vientiane, where he is receiving treatment. “I couldn’t sleep at all. I didn’t drink, I didn’t eat. I…

An UK-Vietnam business forum was held in London on October 16 by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the West London Chamber of Commerce (WLCC), bringing together businesses from the two countries. The forum, part of activities of a delegation from the VCCI and northern Hai Duong province in the UK from October 15-18, aims to introduce potential, business and investment opportunities in Vietnam in general and Hai Duong in particular to UK enterprises and connect the business communities of both sides to cooperate more effectively, making the most of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).Addressing the event, Ambassador to the UK…

New Delhi: India participated in the Myanmar government’s commemorative event to mark eight years of the Nationwide Ceasefire agreement on Sunday, October 25 – an event which is part of Nyay Pyi Taw’s charm offensive to bring back ethnic armed groups into a peace process which had been scuttled by the coup two years ago.  This is the first time that the Myanmar junta has hosted a public event with ethnic leaders since the military coup toppled the civilian government and imprisoned civilian leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi. The ceasefire agreement was signed in October 2015 between the Myanmar government…

Thailand’s new government announced yesterday that it will temporarily waive tourist visa requirements for visitors from China, in an attempt to revive the country’s economically pivotal tourism industry. Thailand’s new government announced yesterday that it will temporarily waive tourist visa requirements for visitors from China, in an attempt to revive the country’s economically pivotal tourism industry. Relevant authorities had been consulted to ensure that they are ready to handle the expected surge in travelers, said Srettha, who took office on September 5. According to The Associated Press, the government proposed the measure due to the likelihood that the number of Chinese tourists this year…