A meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh has ended with foreign ministers from the 10-member bloc failing to reach agreement on a code of conduct to ease tensions in the South China Sea. The Philippines slammed the disarray at the end of the talks on Friday, saying it deplored the failure […]
Thailand High Court Dismisses Challenges to Constitutional Amendments
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 4:45 am (UTC-5)
Thailand’s Constitutional Court has dismissed opposition petitions challenging the legality of government amendments to the constitution. The court ruled Friday that the changes do not threaten the role of the monarchy, but also said a referendum is necessary to decide whether the government can go ahead with the amendments. The current constitution was drawn up […]
Clinton to Meet with Burma President
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 2:20 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to meet with Burmese President Thein Sein Friday, after the United States formally lifted economic sanctions against the southeast Asian nation. A senior State Department official told VOA the talks will take place on the sidelines of a conference in Cambodia. Clinton met with President Thein Sein […]
Thailand High Court to Rule on Constitutional Amendments
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 1:50 am (UTC-5)
Thailand’s Constitutional Court will decide on Friday whether government plans to amend the constitution are legal. The current constitution was drawn up by the military, which deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the party of current prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra — Thaksin’s sister — says the amendments are needed to bring more democracy to […]
US Improves Visa Application Process for Chinese Visitors
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 1:25 am (UTC-5)
A growing number of Chinese citizens are taking advantage of recent changes that make it easier to apply for visas to the United States. The U.S. State Department says its has processed more than one million visa applications so far this year. That is an increase of over 43 percent compared to same period last […]
China’s Economic Growth Slows to 3-Year Low
Posted July 13th, 2012 at 1:25 am (UTC-5)
Chinese officials say economic growth has slumped to a three-year low, dragged down by global economic uncertainties. The National Bureau of Statistics reported Friday that the economy grew by 7.6 percent in the second quarter of 2012, sharply slowing from a 9.7 percent growth rate in the same quarter of 2011. The figure was the […]
Rights Groups Criticize Indonesia’s Prison Term for Shi’ite Cleric
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 7:50 pm (UTC-5)
Rights groups are criticizing an Indonesian court for sentencing a Shi’ite cleric to two years in prison for blasphemy. They call the verdict a setback for religious freedom in the predominantly Sunni Muslim nation. In Thursday’s ruling, the court in Madura island’s Sampang district convicted Tajul Muluk of insulting Islam in his religious teachings. Citing […]
China Signals Readiness for South China Sea Talks
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 12:55 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has wrapped up regional meetings in Asia with a call for southeast Asian nations to work “collaboratively and diplomatically” to resolve territorial disputes, such as disagreements over the South China Sea. At a news conference Thursday, Clinton said all parties involved in claims to the disputed waters should refrain […]
Some Rights Groups Skeptical About US Easing of Burma Sanctions
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
Some rights groups are reacting with skepticism to the United States’ decision to formally lift economic sanctions against Burma. On Wednesday, Washington announced it was allowing U.S. companies to invest in the Southeast Asian nation for the first time in 15 years, in response to economic and political reforms underway there. The move does not […]
China Signals Readiness for South China Sea Talks
Posted July 12th, 2012 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
U.S. officials say China may be prepared for talks with its neighbors on a code of conduct for resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held in talks in Cambodia Thursday with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who U.S. officials say cautiously signaled his country’s willingness to take […]
