Southeast Asia – A Thai Offshoot With Ancestral Heat (New York Times)

A Thai Offshoot With Ancestral Heat (New York Times)
Sripraphai is an offshoot of a restaurant in Woodside, Queens. Since it opened in October, it has been packed.

US report lauds Philippines for religious freedom (Asia News Network)
The Philippines was singled out for praise by the United States for exerting special efforts to respect religious freedom and tolerance, as well as promote interfaith dialogue in the world arena, according to a recent report by the US State Department.

Thai, Cambodian military leaders to meet (UPI)
BANGKOK, Nov. 20 (UPI) — Thai and Cambodian military leaders will meet next week amid growing tensions over Phnom Penh’s appointment of a fugitive former Thai premier as an adviser.

Indonesian envoy gets ministership (Arab News)
RIYADH: The outgoing Indonesian ambassador in Riyadh has been appointed Indonesia s minister of social affairs.

Greenpeace rallies to stop deforestation in Indonesia (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Hundreds of Greenpeace activists rallied Saturday in support of a commitment by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation.

Jakarta Bay pollution reaches critical level: Governor (Asia News Network)
Starting with a fleet of 400 fishermen, Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo kicked off Saturday (November 21) a Herculean effort to remove 14,000 cubic squares of garbage polluting Jakarta Bay every day. Fau …..

High-living Singapore monk jailed for fraud (AFP via Yahoo! News)
A high-living Buddhist monk who ran one of Singapore’s most well-known charities was Saturday jailed for 10 months for fraud, court officials said.

Myanmar, Laos sign two MoUs on visa exemption, double taxation avoidance (People’s Daily)
Myanmar and Laos Friday signed two memorandums of understanding in Nay Pyi Taw respectively on mutualvisa exemption for holders of diplomatic passport and avoidance of double taxation, the state-run Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV)reported in a night broadcast. The signing came shortly after Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith met with Myanmar Prime Minister …

Thailand must end detention of Hmong: rights group (AFP via Yahoo! News)
A leading rights group Saturday called on the Thai government to allow 158 Lao Hmong refugees, who have been detained for three years pending deportation, to be resettled in four western countries.

Indonesia seizes 75 tons of explosive material (USA Today)
Officials say they have confiscated 75 tons of an explosive material being shipped from Malaysia to Indonesia and are investigating possible links to terrorism.

Jakarta Bay pollution reaches critical level: Governor (Asia News Network)
Starting with a fleet of 400 fishermen, Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo kicked off Saturday (November 21) a Herculean effort to remove 14,000 cubic squares of garbage polluting Jakarta Bay every day.

Myanmar, Laos sign travel and tax treaties (EARTHtimes.org)
Yangon – Myanmar and Laos strengthened relations with the signing of visa-exemption treaty for their respective citizens and a double-taxation avoidance agreement, state media reported Saturday. The two agreements were signed Friday in the military’s…

US report lauds Philippines for religious freedom (Asia News Network)
The Philippines was singled out for praise by the United States for exerting special efforts to respect religious freedom and tolerance, as well as promote interfaith dialogue in the world arena …..

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