World

Thailand's ruling Bhumjaithai Party announced late Wednesday its resolution to nominate two candidates for the premiership in the upcoming election, including party leader and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

At the Summit of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue (CA+JAD), the Tokyo Declaration was issued, setting out an ambitious roadmap to promote cooperation across multiple fields between one of Asia’s leading economies and a region rich in potential. Japan and the five Central Asian countries agreed to enter a new phase of cooperation, elevating their ties to a broad and multidimensional strategic partnership.

Sri Lanka Police will roll out an island-wide security and traffic management operation during the Christmas and New Year period in order to ensure public safety amid increased travel and large public gatherings, the country's Police Headquarters said.

A working group is being formed in the Ukrainian parliament to promptly address the issue of holding possible presidential elections during martial law, a senior lawmaker said on Monday.

France has officially taken over the chairmanship of the Group of Seven (G7) from Canada. As the country assuming the role of G7 chair in 2026, France is carrying a dual challenge on its shoulders.

The Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting to address the Thai-Cambodia conflict was held on Monday in Kuala Lumpur, as the regional grouping seeks to promote de-escalation.

In 2025, strategic autonomy has become an urgent requirement for the European Union (EU) across multiple fields, from security and defence to economics, trade, and technology. Amid a world marked by volatility, the EU’s desire to reduce dependence, strengthen internal capacity, and enhance its standing is understandable. However, the path to autonomy is not an easy one, as a gap remains between ambition and actual capability.

Representatives of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye have expressed support for the near-term establishment and operationalization of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration in Gaza, U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff said Saturday.

The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment convened a meeting to review progress and plan future efforts to reduce poverty and malnutrition, focusing on improving living conditions and providing health and nutrition support.

In an effort to strengthen the European Union’s (EU) energy self-sufficiency, the European Parliament (EP) has just approved a plan to completely eliminate imports of Russian gas. However, this decision has met with opposition from some member states, who fear that “shutting off” the flow of gas from Russia could trigger a price surge in the energy market, harming the economy.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the situation in Venezuela on Tuesday, the Security Council presidency confirmed Thursday.

China on Thursday called on Cambodia and Thailand to remain calm and exercise restraint and achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, while rejecting speculation arising from the reported use of Chinese weapons.

A consultative workshop to review Africa’s strategic counter-terrorism action plan recently opened in Algeria.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that the country's intelligence systems would be examined following the fatal mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday night.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has forecast that the global oil market will remain stable in 2026, with supply expected to stay closely balanced with demand amid moderate macroeconomic risks facing the world economy.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim unveiled new ministerial appointments on Tuesday as part of a cabinet reshuffle.

Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday confirmed to the media that the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) on the Cambodia-Thailand situation, initially scheduled for Dec. 16, has been postponed to Dec. 22 at the request of Thailand.

The prospect of Ukraine joining the European Union (EU) by early 2027 is generating significant interest, reflecting Europe’s evolving strategic calculations. Yet a considerable gap persists between strong political commitments and the practical conditions required, making this timeline both a strategic aspiration and a major test for the EU itself.

Flights between Phnom Penh and Bangkok as well as those between Siem Reap and Thailand are operating as normal although the Cambodia-Thailand border fighting is still going on, a Cambodian civil aviation spokesperson said on Saturday.

As Timor Leste officially becomes the 11th member of ASEAN, alongside warm congratulations, a number of concerns have emerged regarding the prospects of integration into the “common home”.