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South East Asia
Vietnamese President Sang visits US to discuss ‘comprehensive partnership’
U.S. President Barack Obama and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang on Thursday spoke of a “comprehensive partnership” between their countries aiming for even greater cooperation. After his talks with Truong Tan Sang, the second Vietnamese head of state to visit the White House since the normalization of relations in…
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East Asia
Filipino demonstrators protest against China’s claims on South China Sea
Hundreds of people in the Philippine capital protested Wednesday against China’s claims to much of the vast South China Sea, saying Beijing’s intrusions into other countries’ territories would tarnish its image as it becomes a world power. Waving Philippine flags and blowing horns, the protesters massed in front of a…
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[Malaysia Report] Georgetown, a lifeful ‘mirroring art street’
Penang is an island off that northwestern coast of Penisular Malaysia, which has nice beaches though a little lackluster when compared to some other states in Malaysia. Penang is rich with multicultural histories of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences as well as known as “food paradise” of Malaysia. Georgetown…
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South East Asia
Myanmar releases nearly 70 political prisoners as promised by President Sein
Myanmar started releasing nearly 70 political prisoners Tuesday, just days after the president promised during a European tour to free all who remain behind bars for opposing the government by the year’s end. The continued incarceration of prisoners of conscience in Myanmar, which is in the process of opening up…
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South East Asia
A bus and truck collision on busiest highway in Thailand kills 19 people
A double-decker passenger bus caught fire after colliding with a truck on one of Thailand’s busiest highways early Tuesday, killing 19 people and injuring 23, authorities said. The bus drivers and most of the passengers were stuck in the bus when it caught fire, police Lt. Assavathep Chantanaree said. The…
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East Asia
Japan joins US-led TPP negotiation as 12th member at trade talk held in Malaysia
Japan became the 12th member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations on Tuesday as it officially joined the ongoing free trade talks in Malaysia. The Japanese delegation of more than 100 officials was only able to join the 18th round of negotiations in Malaysia’s resort city of Kota Kinabalu after…
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South East Asia
Cambodian national election body rejects opposition leader’s bid to vote and run
Cambodia’s national election body on Monday rejected a late bid by the country’s opposition leader to register as a candidate and vote in the general election this coming weekend. The National Election Committee said in a letter to Sam Rainsy, head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, that he had…
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South East Asia
Thai people celebrate arrival of three-month retreat ‘Vassa’ with candles
Boats decorated with flowers sail on a canal in Ayutthaya province, Thailand, July 22, 2013. People celebrated the arrival of Vassa with candles and flowers on Monday in Thailand. This day is also called “Candle Festival” in English by foreigners. Vassa is the three-month annual retreat observed by monks and…
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South East Asia
Myanmarese devotees pour water on Buddha statue to celebrate Full Moon day
Buddhist devotees pour water on a Buddha statue at Shwedagon Pagoda during celebrations of the Full Moon day of Warso, the fourth month of Myanmar calendar, Monday, July 22, 2013, in Yangon, Myanmar. <AP Photo/NEWSis/Khin Maung Win> Buddhist devotees visit Shwedagon Pagoda during celebrations of the Full Moon day of…
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South East Asia
Philippine President Aquino III urges Congress to pass economic reform bills
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III urged Monday the Congress to immediately pass a number of economic bills that will help further improve the economy and continue with the reforms in the government. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Aquino called on the Congress to pass the proposed…
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