Stefano Vecchia

A recent shooting incident and reports of Chinese criminal gangs operating in Thailand have had a negative impact on Chinese visitors to the Southeast Asian country. Still Thai tourism depends heavily on Chinese travellers. Meanwhile, the Russians, who now can enjoy a visa-free period of 90 days, are coming in droves, both young draft dodgers as well as seasoned businessmen who want to protect their wealth.

No mercy from Palestinian militiamen in front of the many Asian migrants working as farmers on kibbutzim near Gaza. Some are also among the hostages taken into the Strip. Concern in the Indian and Filipino communities in Israel. Still living in the People's Republic of China is the mother of Noa Argamani, the girl kidnapped at the rave party in the desert whose video immediately went viral.

The new law is a milestone to counter economic migration from the Philippines. About 5.87 million Filipinos are unemployed, official figures show. The plan includes coordination with small and medium-sized businesses to improve workers' skills.

Thais over 60 make up about 21 per cent of the population, proportion expected to rise to 38.5 by 2050. On average, they get 600 and 1,000 baht (US$ 16-28) per month, but changes proposed by the former military-led government and the current progressive opposition are deemed inadequate.

In a Senate hearing, the Philippine authorities admit that the country remains at the top of the sad rankings on the worldwide spread of the phenomenon. "Serious shortcomings in terms of computer security: we lack the tools to identify the perpetrators of these crimes and reach them".

The resignation opens up room for the opposition in the House of Representatives. Thailand’s new government takes office today, still controlled by the establishment (military and monarchy), which Pita had tried to shake up. The young leader is included in the “Time100 Next” list of emerging leaders.

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center shows a major regional cleavage. In Indonesia and Malaysia, support for an active role of religion in politics is growing, Singapore favours religious pluralism, including the right to change religion.

The 59-year-old Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist was tried for tax evasion as head of the Rappler. Her defence team showed that charges were politically motivated and unfounded, the work of former President Duterte. She still faces two more legal proceedings.

In its latest report, the Mekong River Commission points to progress in water quality thanks to joint efforts by Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to stop the construction of more Chinese-built dams. Nevertheless, the intergovernmental agency warns that threats to the river basin’s ecosystems remain high. And certainties must be provided to the riverine communities.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations remains split. The membership of repressive regimes is a source of growing embarrassment, while pressure is mounting for the block to take a clear position on the war in Ukraine. Cambodia is represented internationally for the first time by Hun Manet, son of strongman Hun Sen, a staunch ally of China.

The Malaysian government says it has no plans to scarp controversial security legislation adopted to fight terrorism but used to repress all forms of dissent. Disappointed, ASEAN parliamentarians for human rights call for a “stop [to] the use of draconian measures that curtail fundamental freedoms.”

More than 2.7 million voters can elect the president, a ceremonial but symbolically important post. For the first time, candidates from all ethnic backgrounds can run. Experts see the vote as a referendum on the People's Action Party’s long rule.