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A careful study of state-controlled Channel 9 news by the Anutin Charnvirakul government found no truth to ill-intentioned rumours that government was interfering with freedom of government-controlled news (photo). Government spokeswoman Ratchada Dhanadirek tried not to laugh.
ASEAN VIETNAM The total end of the Vietnam press. It isn’t a crackdown; it’s the Vietnam Communist Party system.
To Lam, the sudden Godfather of all of Vietnam, has decreed Discipline works only when every institution speaks with the same voice. The báo dạo (photo) is gone; offices are deserted. Any Facebook post that disagrees from the Party line gets a $300 fine -- a monthly income -- soon to be $2,000. Carl Robinson, a rare Vietnam watcher, reports from Australia.
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool Mom.
Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom.-- The Donald says “Sir” has failed on immigration and energy.
The attempted October 7 pogrom by Hamas killed 39 Thais with 31 taken hostage. From about 30,000 Thai workers at that time, the number of Thai workers in Israel -- mostly in agricultural jobs in kibbutzim -- has increased to 50,000. Photo above shows Thais lined up for a flight to Israel at Suvarnabhumi (BKK).
SCIENCE Florida Scientists Broke Their Own Record Removing Four Tonnes of Burmese Pythons. The only question this report should spark is, “Do they taste good?”
ASEAN OPINION The unavoidable prisoner: Aung San Suu Kyi at 81 The military occasionally invokes Aung San Suu Kyi’s name, or hints at private meetings, to ease outside pressure. But the generals’ view of her has long been rooted in fear, resentment, and contempt. As is China’s.
OF INTEREST in this lengthy and obviously Peking-approved analysis: Not once does the word ‘Rohingya’ or the word ‘genocide’ appear. Photo is a banner of Suu Kyi displayed before the regime’s secret police confiscated it.
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NOTE: Inquirer is published in the Philippines, 2026 home of ASEAN More than 130 current and former lawmakers from 11 countries have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who just turned 81. In an open letter addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as ASEAN chair, the lawmakers urged ASEAN to press for the release of Suu Kyi and thousands of other political prisoners held by the ruling Burmese junta. More than 130 current and former lawmakers from 11 countries have urged Asean to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and thousands of other political prisoners, as she marked her 81st birthday on Friday. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in the 1990 elections, but the military refused to hand over power and placed her under house arrest. ASEAN has an opportunity to show that regional solidarity means something—that the people of Southeast Asia can count on this institution in their darkest hours.
In last known photo taken on April 30 before she was disappeared, Suu Kyi is speaking with two military junta officers.
FUN GAMES SMILES ETC ETC ETC Each weekend the boys at Powerlineblog file a collection of memes. The Week In Pictures: World Cup Edition
A day later, sci-fi writer Sarah Hoyt releases an even bigger one. Lazy Memes Of Summer
Still East Asia’s choice as best Sunday columnist. The very mention of Nakhon Phanom sparks pleasant memories. My introduction to the town began in the early 1970s while waiting at Udon Thani bus station at dawn. I recall asking an elderly Thai gentleman where the bus left for Nakhon Phanom. It was met with a blank look. I tried again but with no success. My command of Thai was even worse than I thought. Then his eyes suddenly lit up in recognition. “En Kay Pee! (NKP)”, he exclaimed and pointed to a dilapidated orange bus, which turned out to be the slowest bus in Thailand. The journey is best described as “tortuous”.
KICKBALL FINALS COUNTDOWN
A look at where FIFA is getting its World Cup money Excluding spending by the hosts themselves, it appears to be washing more Gulf money than the 2022 Qatar event did.
Elimination Round Under Way Netherlands 5 -- 1 Sweden. The Oranje has gone unbeaten in 14 consecutive World Cup matches. Germany 2 -- 1 Ivory Coast Belgium 0 -- 0 Iran, another exciting game. soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer soccer so ACTUAL FOOTBALL Riders outlast Stamps 40-37 in OT to stay unbeaten Hamilton Tabby Cats 41 -- 27 BC Lions Toronto Argos 44 -- 24 Ottawa Whiteclad Redblacks (true story)
THE UNDERGROUND ALIEN/NAZI BASE IS ACTIVATING Hundreds of Mysterious Quakes Have Been Detected Deep Under Antarctica. With Video.
