Bangkok Post
PM strengthens Australia ties
Thailand and Australia have agreed to deepen cooperation on transnational crime and expand bilateral trade and investment under the Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) while seeking to strengthen their strategic partnership. The agreement...
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Pardon rules under review
Critics have questioned the fairness of Thailand’s justice system after the early release of former drug lord Laota Saenlee, whose life sentence was reduced to less than 10 years. They cited loopholes in sentence calculation, prisoner classification...
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Govt to stay neutral in US-China AI race
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand would maintain its neutral position between the United States and China and would not be pressured to choose sides in the global race for artificial intelligence (AI). Mr Anutin was responding to...
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Thailand eyes Dawei port role
Thailand is positioning itself as a key player in the proposed Dawei deepsea port project in Myanmar, as Russia expresses interest in investing in major infrastructure projects in the region, including the long-delayed port. Thai participation would...
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DEPUTY PMS MAP OUT PLANS FOR GROWTH
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas has urged greater investment in basic infrastructure to propel Thailand into a new economic era. He has also set out a vision to transform Thailand into a high-income nation within 12...
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A toast to the future
The host and honoured guests prepare to toast at the 80th-anniversary Bangkok Post forum, ‘Vision Thailand: The Next Era Begins’, at Centara Grand at CentralWorld in Bangkok yesterday. FROM LEFT Thirakiati Chirathivat, director and member of the...
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US agrees to boost defence cooperation
Thailand and the United States have reaffirmed their 193-year alliance, underscoring their commitment to strengthening modern security cooperation to address emerging security challenges. The move came during a meeting yesterday between Prime Minister...
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Fixed-term licences eyed
The government is considering introducing fixed-term firearms possession licences as part of a comprehensive overhaul of Thailand’s 1947 firearms law. It also plans to impose stronger controls on the import, sale, transfer, possession and use of guns...
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New gun-control measures laid out
The government has announced sweeping new gun-control measures, including a nationwide ban on carrying firearms outside the home. The move follows two recent shooting incidents, one at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi last Friday and another...
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Anutin slams police treatment of suspect in PAO chief killing
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday ordered the Nonthaburi governor and provincial police chief to take decisive action in the case of former MP Chalong Riewraeng allegedly shooting dead Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO)...
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Shooter used online guides
The 14-year-old student who carried out the deadly shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School studied how to use firearms online for one to two years prior to the attack, police say. Provincial Police Region 1 deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Atthaphon...
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ROYAL FAREWELL
Their Majesties the King and Queen attend the cremation ceremony of Dr Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, founder of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Plc (BDMS) and Bangkok Airways, at Wat Thepsirintrawat yesterday. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn also...
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6 slain in school shooting
Eight people were killed and 21 injured after a 14-year-old boy opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi’s Bang Kruai district and at his home before taking his own life. Police are investigating the motive. The school shooting unfolded...
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MoUs boost Myanmar ties
Thailand and Myanmar signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) yesterday aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in labour, transboundary water quality management and space technology. The two neighbours pledged to strengthen ties across a broad...
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Stern test from within
Less than four months after taking office, the government appears to be confronting the greatest threat to its survival — not from an emboldened opposition, but from mounting pressures within its own ranks. When the Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party formed a...
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Gold card to stay, reform ‘necessary’
The 30-Baht Universal Health Coverage scheme is not being abolished, but reforms are needed to prevent the system from failing due to a budget crisis. The changes are also needed to ensure the system remains efficient, stable and sustainable, said Dr...
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Malaysia demands evidence of insurgents’ entry
Malaysia has asked Thailand to provide evidence that armed insurgents fled across the border after attacks in the far South, saying it has yet to receive proof supporting such claims. Kelantan police chief Mohd Yusoff Mamat said Malaysian security...
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Govt reviews power deals
The government is reviewing longterm power purchase agreements (PPAs) with private producers as part of efforts to lower electricity prices, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt said yesterday. Mr Pakorn, who chairs a committee reviewing issues...
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Anutin vows justice over murders
>> Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has expressed condolences to the family of two Russian siblings killed in a high-profile murder case and apologised to Russian tourists and the Russian people over the incident. He urged police and prosecutors to...
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Suspect confesses to killing of missing Russian siblings
A suspect arrested over the disappearance of two Russian siblings has allegedly confessed to killing them, claiming he stole their motorcycle, while police continue verifying his account. Police arrested ex-convict Thana Kerdthong, 43, and Thongchai...
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Two men arrested in hunt for young Russian siblings
Police have arrested two Thai men while expanding the search for two missing Russian siblings in the Pattaya area, using sniffer dogs to look for clues. Pol Lt Col Prabda Suksuntree, superintendent of Pattaya police station, said yesterday that...
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Police discover buried bike in Russian sibling case
Police have recovered the buried motorcycle belonging to two missing Russian siblings in Chon Buri and are searching for four men who fled after being spotted near the site where it was hidden. The discovery was made yesterday in a forest in Moo 9 of...
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Interior faces graft clean-up
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday called on senior Interior Ministry officials to turn recent corruption scandals into an opportunity to rebuild public confidence. He was referring primarily to alleged fraud in the...
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Firms back growth push
Thailand’s leading corporations have joined forces with government agencies to establish 928 district-based social enterprise companies nationwide, aiming to strengthen local economies and create lasting social impact during the country’s two...
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PM eyes redundant agencies
The government will begin dissolving a number of state agencies from September as part of a public sector reform programme aimed at eliminating overlapping responsibilities and improving administrative efficiency. The first organisation to be...
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Wat Mahathat named Heritage Site
>> Unesco has i nscribed Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat on its World Heritage List, making the ancient temple Thailand’s ninth World Heritage site. The decision was adopted yesterday at the 48th session of the World Heritage...
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Axe set to fall on Land Bridge
The government is set to end the Land Bridge megaproject after a review found low financial viability, increased budget risks and environmental concerns. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, who chaired the committee...
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DSI busts crypto mining gang
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has dismantled a major illegal cryptocurrency mining network accused of stealing electricity directly from the high-voltage power grid, with total damages estimated at more than 4 billion baht and links to...
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PM to sue over Senate claims
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and two key Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) figures will take legal action against iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanont for linking them to alleged collusion in the Senate election process. “There will be no compromise,” Mr...
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Millions await welfare review
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered an extension to the appeal period for applicants rejected from the state welfare card programme. He also instructed government agencies t o establish dedicated appeal centres and deploy mobile survey...
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6 million to get new aid offer
The Finance Ministry will today ask the cabinet to move six million people who failed to qualify for the 2026 state welfare card programme into a new co-payment scheme, while easing rules blamed for unfairly excluding low-income people. The new...
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Off they go
Runners set off in the 10-kilometre race during the 15th Bangkok Post International Mini Marathon 2026 Run for Nurses, co-organised by Bangkok Post and B.Grimm Group, at Suan Luang Rama IX Park in Bangkok yesterday. Participants competed for the Royal...
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PM courts investors on China trip
>> Chinese investors remain confident in Thailand as an investment destination, citing the country’s strong infrastructure and strategic location, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday. Speaking during his visit to Chengdu, Mr Anutin said...
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Anutin seeks Chinese AI ties
Thailand is seeking new economic opportunities through closer cooperation with China, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, clean energy and other future industries. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met Chinese President Xi...
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Govt aims to finish EU FTA talks this year
Thailand aims to conclude free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union (EU) by the end of this year, although differences over agricultural products and raw materials remain unresolved. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul made the...
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5,814 caught in exam scandal
The Department of Local Administration (DLA) has submitted a list of 5,814 candidates whose examination scores were found to be irregular to the Central Examination Committee for consideration of revoking their appointments. A decision is expected at...
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Fire spurs venue law rethink
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged a sweeping review of Thailand’s entertainment venue laws and zoning regulations following the deadly fire at Rong Beer Na Ladprao. Mr Anutin acknowledged that many existing rules are outdated and no...
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Pub fire probe begins
A preliminary inspection into the deadly inferno at Rong Beer Na Ladprao beer hall has uncovered multiple safety violations, as police investigate the blaze that killed at least 32 people and injured 73 others. The Interior Ministry found that a fire...
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Bloc eyes Myanmar impasse
Asean foreign ministers renewed pressure on Myanmar to advance the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus (5PC), with the detention of political prisoners, including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, remaining a concern during talks in Bangkok. The issue was...
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BoT to vet big cash deposits of over B5m
>> The Bank of Thailand (BoT) plans to require customers depositing more than 5 million baht in cash to disclose the source of the funds from the fourth quarter as part of tighter measures to curb the grey economy and illicit financial activities,...
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Anutin, Anwar eye trade of B1tn
Thailand and Malaysia have set a target of raising bilateral trade to US$30 billion (about 1 trillion baht) and opening a new road link between the Sadao and Bukit Kayu Hitam border checkpoints. Yesterday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his...
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PM vows to boost Malaysia ties
Thailand and Malaysia have agreed to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, trade and security, with the two countries pledging to accelerate crossborder projects and work on expanding economic ties. Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said Prime...
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Early retire bid ‘cannot wait’
The government’s proposal to expand voluntary early retirement for civil servants is needed to tackle longstanding structural problems that can no longer be postponed, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt said yesterday. He said the proposal is not...
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Fuel price cuts on the way
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed Energy Minister Ekanat Promphan to move swiftly to reduce domestic retail fuel prices, saying lower global crude oil prices should be passed on to consumers to ease living costs and lower business...
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Energy reform ‘must proceed’
Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the government would need to work more closely with the private sector on energy transition measures if the Constitutional Court decides to reject its 400-billion-baht emergency borrowing decree, stressing...
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Amnesty for the half-hearted
The Senate has approved the Peaceful Society Promotion Bill, paving the way for an amnesty for a wide range of political offences committed over the past two decades while excluding cases under the lese majeste law. The legislation, often referred to...
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New curbs for airline crew: CAAT
>> The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has announced new regulations aimed at tightening control over airline crew members’ handling of personal items, prohibiting them from accepting or transporting goods for others. The move follows the...
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PM warns drug networks
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has admitted the arrest of a Thai Airways crew member in Australia on alleged drug-smuggling charges has damaged the nation’s international reputation, declaring narcotics suppression a national agenda item. Chairing...
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Court jails eight for illegal surrogacy
The Criminal Court has sentenced four obstetricians and four brokers to prison terms of up to 15 years for their roles in a transnational commercial surrogacy network, ruling that they treated the human body as a commodity and deliberately circumvented...
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Majesties pay tribute to fallen
Their Majesties the King and Queen laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Tuesday, paying tribute to fallen servicemen during their official visit to France. Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari...
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Macron welcomes Their Majesties
Their Majesties the King and Queen were formally welcomed in Paris on Monday during an official state visit marking the 170th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Thailand and France. Accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess...
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Royal visit marks France milestone
Their Majesties the King and Queen’s state visit to France marks a rare royal milestone, celebrating 170 years of diplomatic relations and reinforcing one of Thailand’s oldest and most enduring partnerships with a European nation. The five-day visit,...
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BIG WIN FOR CHADCHART
Chadchart Sittipunt secured a landslide victory to win a second term as Bangkok governor, finishing comfortably ahead of his nearest rival. He pledged to tackle corruption and vowed to demonstrate over the next four years that Bangkok can become a...
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Australian nabbed at airport ‘admits’ killing teen girl after row in Pattaya
>> An Australian man was arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport while attempting to leave Thailand after police linked him to the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl whose body was later found concealed in a suitcase in Pattaya. Pol Col Anek Srathongyu,...
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DLA eyes big exam re-check
The Department of Local Administration (DLA) will seek permission to reexamine about 480,000 local government recruitment examination papers amid continuing allegations of examination fraud. Officials said the rechecking process, if approved, would be...
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PM urges exam scam probe
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday ordered an investigation into alleged cheating in local government recruitment examinations valued at more than 4.5 billion baht. Any appointments found to have resulted from fraud would be declared void,...
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Fast Pass scheme lifts nation’s profile: PM
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has declared Thailand the most investment-ready country in the region following the launch of the Thailand Fast Pass programme yesterday, which is set to accelerate approvals and permits for investors. Speaking at...
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Govt sets path to prosperity
Thailand has set an ambitious goal of escaping the middle-income trap and attaining high-income status within the next 12 years, under targets announced after the inaugural meeting of the Joint Public-Private Consultative Committee yesterday. The...
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Contracting gets overhaul
The government is overhauling public procurement law to move away from lowest-bid contracting, aiming to improve project quality, reduce delays and ensure better value for public funds. Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said legal officials are...
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World heritage status for temple in sight
>> Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat has moved a step closer to becoming Thailand’s ninth World Heritage Site after Unesco’s advisory body recommended its inscription. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin...
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PP MP linked to illegal trading
People’s Party (PP) list-MP Pawoot Pongvitayapanu allegedly received 28 million baht from a network suspected of illegal foreign exchange (forex) trading, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) says. DSI director-general Pol Maj Yutthana...
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Thailand eyes Russia trade
Thailand and Russia are seeking to strengthen trade and investment cooperation in sectors ranging from energy and fertilisers to digital technology and innovation. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also used the Asean-Russia Business Forum to...
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Phiphat loses key EEC post
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has assumed direct oversight of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), replacing his deputy Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. The move follows cabinet acknowledgement of two orders removing Mr Phiphat, who also serves as the...
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Regal remembrance
Their Majesties the King and Queen, accompanied by HRH Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana and HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, preside over the royal merit-making ceremony with funeral rites in honour of HRH Princess...
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Mideast truce ‘positive news’
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday welcomed the reported ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, describing it as a positive development that could help ease global uncertainties and support economic stability. Speaking at...
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Experts question steel plant’s reopening
The government’s decision to allow Xin Ke Yuan Steel to resume operations has raised fresh questions about public safety and whether regulations adequately address concerns surrounding steel produced through induction furnace (IF) technology. The...
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Crowds gather to mourn Princess
>> Large crowds gathered along the designated procession route yesterday to pay their respects to Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati as her royal remains were transferred from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital to the Grand...
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A NATION MOURNS
Thailand entered a period of nationaln mourning on Thursday following the passinng of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati at the age of 47. The Royal Household Bureeau announced that the princess passed away peaccefully at...
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JAS wins rights for World Cup
Jasmine International (JAS) has secured exclusive Fifa broadcasting rights in Thailand through 2030 in a deal worth US$70 million (around 2.31 billion baht), giving Thai audiences access to the 2026 and 2030 Fifa World Cups as well as a range of other...
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PM vows to ramp up Hanoi ties
HANOI: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday pledged to strengthen economic ties with Vietnam and support Thai investors operating there, saying closer cooperation between the two countries would help drive growth across Asean. Meeting...
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Chadchart tops poll as race nears
A new survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) Poll shows former governor Chadchart Sittipunt holding a commanding lead in the early stage of the 2026 Bangkok gubernatorial election race. The survey, conducted between June...
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Diplomats, students, weavers band together for Thai silk show
>> The annual Thai silk fashion show opened last night to promote Thai silk through cultural diplomacy, with an honorary fashion shows featuring cabinet ministers, senior officials and diplomats. The 15th edition of the event, staged by the Ministry...
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53 Huai Khwang firms probed
The Department of Business Development (DBD) is stepping up a crackdown on 53 high-risk firms suspected of using nominee arrangements in Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district, amid concerns over Chinese-operated businesses and irregular financial...
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Welfare rules spark backlash
A wave of public criticism has erupted over the government’s revised eligibility criteria for the state welfare card programme, under which parents may lose their entitlement to benefits if their children claim tax deductions for parental...
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Border move ‘saps trust’
Cambodia’s decision to initiate compulsory conciliation proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) has undermined trust and complicated efforts to reach a negotiated settlement on overlapping maritime claims, Foreign...
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