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Friday, September 25, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
THAILAND: For APEC Summit, Gov’t Wants Bangkok Smelling Like Roses
When leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific economies arrive in Bangkok for an economic summit in mid-October, they will be denied a close encounter with daily scenes of life in this country, ranging from democracy to the sex industry.THAILAND: Burmese Find No Reprieve from Low Pay, Harsh Work
After two years of passively accepting her employer's orders, Khin Wa finally found the courage to be defiant. She refused to give into his latest demand - work a 14-hour shift after completing a gruelling 28-hour one that she had just completed a while ago.SOCIETY: In Thai Town, Burmese Take Little Comfort as the Majority
Once again, the Burmese who people this border town have a reason to fear the nights. On Thursday evening, a female migrant worker from Burma was raped and killed close to a garment factory here.RIGHTS-BURMA: Ex-Political Prisoners Seek Justice from Thai Town
Bo Kyi knows how cruel a prison term in Burma can be. He spent seven years behind bars for his political activism, and he was just in his twenties when this ordeal began.There are many others living in Mae Sot, a town on the Thai-Burmese border who can identify with Kyi, having suffered a similar fate at the hands of Burma's military government.
RIGHTS-BURMA: Ex-Political Prisoners Seek Justice from Thai Town
Bo Kyi knows how cruel a prison term in Burma can be. He spent seven years behind bars for his political activism, and he was just in his twenties when this ordeal began.HEALTH-THAILAND: Motherhood a Risk for Burmese Migrants
When she heads to the only health clinic in this border town where Burmese migrant workers feel welcome, Khin SoeYee runs the risk of being arrested.WTO-CANCUN: Cambodia’s Entry Could Be Panacea – or Bitter Pill
Cambodia's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) this week is triggering a debate over whether this will be a panacea or a bitter pill for the country's 170,000 people living with HIV/AIDS.BURMA: U.S. Blunder over Suu Kyi Gives Junta Chance to Vent Rage
For once, Burma's military regime appears to be enjoying the upper hand over one of its most trenchant critics, the U.S. government.CAMBODIA: Poll Win to Make Premier Longest-serving Leader in Region
South-east Asia is getting ready to see the last of the region's longest serving prime minister - Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad, who steps down in October after 22 years in power - but it will not have to wait much longer for his successor.ASIA-PACIFIC: Neglect of HIV/AIDS Problem Will Undercut Economy
Countries across Asia and the Pacific may soon be staring at a drastic cut in their labour force - and see their economies undermined - if their leaders fail to take action to stall the deadly march of HIV/AIDS, a senior U.N. official here.POLITICS-BURMA: Suu Kyi’s Defiance Puts ASEAN in a Corner
By going on a hunger strike, Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi may have pushed South-east Asian governments into an embarrassing corner, from where they will have to reveal where they stand on her act of moral courage.BURMA: Suu Kyi’s Hunger Strike Casts Doubts on Junta’s Reforms
Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi appears to have delivered the perfect riposte to the machinations of her captors, Rangoon's military government. She has launched a hunger strike, according to the U.S. government.HEALTH: Singapore Blazes Trail in Anti-Smoking Drive
Smoking will never be the same in Singapore a year from now, when the city-state's latest anti-smoking policy shows its face. All cigarette packets will have to bear graphic pictures warning smokers about the dangers of their habit.CULTURE-THAILAND: Hill Tribes’ Conversion Eroding Tradition
Ake Chermu has a pivotal role in this village, where faith in animism runs deep. The 67-year-old Ake is the shaman, the religious leader who keeps alive the ceremonies associated with the rice harvest or when new homes of bamboo are built.THAILAND: All Eyes on Premier’s Threat to Drug Producers in Burma
At home, short temper and intimidation have worked to get Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra desired political results, but will the same combination help him when taking on stubborn outsiders?RELIGION-SOUTH-EAST ASIA: Pan-Islamic State More Fantasy than Fact
Among the many theories that are gradually crumbling in the ongoing 'war against terrorism' is one that came to life almost a year ago - that South-east Asia needs to fear a campaign by Muslim extremists to carve out a pan-Islamic state in the region./WTO-CANCUN/TRADE-ASIA: Activists Want to Convert Conference into Battlefield
Asian activists have set their sights on converting next month's World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting into a battlefield with a single aim in mind: destroying the relevance of this multilateral trade body.THAILAND: Key Arrest Means Muslim Militants Are Not Welcome
This week's arrest in Thailand of the man named by the U.S. government as 'South-east Asia's bin Laden' brings this country clearly into the fold of those nations determined to flush out Muslim militants.ENVIRONMENT: South-east Asia Gradually Embracing Clean Energy
The lead that Thailand and the Philippines has taken to tap the vast unused sources of clean energy in South-east Asia is being is a welcome shift away from the high dependency on fossil fuels such as oil and coal, environmentalists in the region say.THAILAND: Gov’t Faces Political Storm Over Anti-terrorism Law
The Thai government faces a political storm after it did an about-turn on its counter-terrorism policies, and then ignored the parliament in its rush to crack down on individuals and groups that could unleash violence in the country.THAILAND: Gov’t Faces Political Storm Over Anti-terrorism Law
The Thai government faces a political storm after it did an about-turn on its counter-terrorism policies, and then ignored the parliament in its rush to crack down on individuals and groups that could unleash violence in the country.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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