Laos reports 9 deaths from unexploded ordnance this year

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Nine people were killed and 39 injured in unexploded ordnance (UXO) accidents across Laos in the first 10 months of this year, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone told the National Assembly on Monday at its 8th Ordinary Session. The country has cleared UXO from 5,256 hectares of land, achieving 70 percent of its target, while the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme covered 1,565 hectares, reaching 21 percent of its planned area. The government has a

November 20, 2024

Thailand's economy grows at fastest pace in two years

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Thailand's economy grew 3 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, its fastest pace in two years, beating Reuters and Bloomberg median forecasts of 2.6 percent and 2.4 percent respectively, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported on Monday. The growth surge follows September's government handout of 10,000 baht ($285) to 14.5 million vulnerable citizens, along with improvements in exports and services sector perform

November 20, 2024

Viet Nam unveils ambitious semiconductor talent development plan

SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Viet Nam plans to produce 10,000 semiconductor engineers yearly as part of its semiconductor ecosystem development strategy through 2050, with the Vietnamese market expected to expand to $18.23 billion next year, officials announced at the SEMIExpo in Hanoi last week. The country has attracted major tech firms, including Samsung Electronics, which launched a specialized master's degree program for top graduates. Intel and Amkor have also established lo

November 19, 2024

Thailand's 'monkey city' grapples with mass escape of 200 primates from shelter

SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - About 200 monkeys escaped from an aging enclosure at an animal shelter in Thailand's Lopburi province on Saturday night, raiding homes and a police station, forcing officers to quickly shut all doors and windows, according to news reports. Reports on Monday said around 60 monkeys have been recaptured so far, including 40 that returned to a nearby temple offering fresh fruits and vegetables. City authorities are repairing the damaged shelter and setting

November 19, 2024

Super typhoon Mayi strikes Philippines, marking sixth storm in a month

SEOUL, November 18 (AJP) - Super typhoon Mayi hit the Philippines' eastern province of Catanduanes before moving to Luzon island on Sunday, bringing winds of up to 240 kilometers per hour, with over 750,000 residents evacuated from vulnerable areas, civil defense authorities reported. Roberto Monterola, a disaster response official in Catanduanes, described the rain as light but said the winds were powerful, producing an eerie howling sound. Monterola also noted that storm sur

November 18, 2024

Laos inflation soars past 30% as national debt weighs on economy

SEOUL, November 18 (AJP) - Laos is experiencing severe economic hardship with inflation rates surging from 23 percent in 2022 to 31 percent in 2023, with projections showing 25 percent for 2024, the Asian Development Bank reported on Sunday, as prices of basic necessities like rice, sugar, oil, and chicken have nearly doubled. The Southeast Asian nation's national debt has surpassed $13 billion, reaching 108 percent of GDP, largely due to Chinese loans funding the $6 billion Chi

November 18, 2024

Indonesia, Australia launch largest-ever joint military drill

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - About 2,000 Indonesian and Australian troops began their largest-ever joint military exercise on Wednesday in East Java's Situbondo region, featuring tanks, attack helicopters, and combined air, sea, landing, and ground operations, the Jakarta Post reported. The four-day "Keris Umerah 2024" exercise follows a defense cooperation agreement signed in August, with Indonesian Commander Empri Airudin stating "this exercise aims to build trust

November 15, 2024

Thailand's baby hippo 'Moo Deng' boosts zoo visitors fourfold, drives regional tourism

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Daily visitors to Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province have quadrupled to 12,000 from 3,000, with a record 14,000 visitors on Oct. 13 and 300,000 for the month, the Bangkok Post reported on Thursday. Chonburi Governor Thawatchai Srithong said tourism revenue in the province reached 27 billion baht ($770 million) between July and October, a 4 percent increase from the same period last year, crediting the baby pygmy hippopotamus born in Ju

November 15, 2024

Philippines hit by unprecedented five typhoons in a month, more storms approaching

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - The Philippines faces an unprecedented series of typhoons, with four storms currently active in the Western Pacific region, as Typhoon Usagi approaches landfall in Cagayan province on Thursday, following typhoons Jami, Kongrey, Inching, and Doraji since late October, according to news reports. The Japan Meteorological Agency said this marks the first time since record-keeping began in 1951 that four typhoons have simultaneously operated in the region durin

November 14, 2024

Singapore proposes landmark law to block scam victims' bank transactions

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Singapore has introduced a first-of-its-kind anti-scam bill to parliament that would grant police powers to restrict banking transactions of individuals likely to transfer money to suspected scammers, even when victims insist on proceeding despite warnings. Under the proposed law, police can issue restriction orders lasting up to 30 days, renewable five times for a maximum of six months, to block transfers, ATM access, and other account transactions, while

November 14, 2024