By AFP and published by CNA Seoul: US President Donald Trump said “inappropriate and hostile” military drills with South Korea designed to prepare for a possible attack by the North would be scaled back hours before they started on Monday (Aug. 16). Trump cited his “good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un,
Tag: military
Thai-US trade talks irrelevant to Cobra Gold military exercise: PM
By Thai Newsroom Reporters PRIME MINISTER Anutin Charnvirakul today (Aug.14) categorically denied that bilateral trade relations between the United States and Thailand would ultimately have anything to do with the Cobra Gold military exercise between the two allied countries. Anutin was apparently responding to unconfirmed speculation that the annual military exercise jointly hosted by
Read moreThailand not linking Cobra Gold 2027 war games to US tariff cuts: Ministry
THE THAI Defence Ministry denied that Thailand is using the holding of Cobra Gold 2027 military exercise to wrestle tariff reduction from the US with the war games being held as planned while still studying letting US set up a drone manufacturing plant here, TV Channel 7 said this afternoon (Aug. 13). RADM Surasan
Read moreAs global military spending grows, Travel & Tourism faces a perilous future
THREE major travel industry events are due to be held simultaneously in Bangkok today (April 29): [=] The Skift Asia Forum [=] The Travel Daily Media Global Summit Bangkok – 2026 [=] The Thailand MICE X-Change 2026 The programmes and events of all three were finalised months ago. In many ways,
Read moreKrabi residents urged not to panic over US combat aircraft using provincial airport
THE Thai air force urged Krabi residents to not panic over US combat aircraft landing and taking off at this Andaman coastal province’s airport reassuring that it is unrelated to the Middle East conflict and are in fact troop rotation and medical flights, Naewna newspaper said today (April 8). AVM Chakrit Thamvichai, the Thai
Read moreLight air force aircraft crashes in Chiang Mai
THE Thai air force has confirmed an AT-6 light attack/armed reconnaissance aircraft crashed in a Chiang Mai forest this morning (Jan. 29) while on a training mission with investigation underway, Amarin TV said. Fire & Rescue Thailand posted images on its Facebook page showing the aircraft engulfed in flames and also said that the
Read moreCambodia to implement military conscription in 2026
By AFP and published by CNA Phnom Penh – Cambodia’s military will begin conscripting civilians next year, Prime Minister Hun Manet said Monday (July 14), adding that rising tensions with Thailand was the reason for activating a long-dormant mandatory enlistment law. Cambodia’s parliament in 2006 approved a law that would require all Cambodians aged
Read morePublic urged to not share anti-Cambodia video clips
DEPUTY Prime Minister/Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai urged the public to not share distorted video clips as it could escalate into war with Cambodia while pointing out that current military exercise is cyclical, Amarin TV said late afternoon today ( March 7). Army Chief Gen. Pana Klaewplodthuk has confirmed there is no movement, just preparations
Read moreChina says US is ‘playing with fire’ after latest military aid for Taiwan
By AP and AFP – published by CNA Beijing – The Chinese government protested on Sunday (Dec. 22) the latest American announcements of military sales and assistance to Taiwan, warning the United States that it is “playing with fire”, AP said. On Saturday, US President Joe Biden authorised the provision of up to US$571
Read moreNo hope for global peace as ‘merchants of death’, mostly American, rake in billions
THE Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), the world’s leading think-tank tracking global military expenditure, on Dec. 2 released new data on revenues earned by the 100 largest companies dealing in weaponry and military services. What’s that got to do with Travel & Tourism? Everything. The shocking statistics and trends unveiled in the report
Read moreEx-communist insurgent-turned-defence minister Phumtham unwelcomed by military
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE NAMING OF PHUMTHAM Wechayachai for defence minister by de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra was exponentially raising waves of unwelcoming sentiment and undesirable anguish among the military, either currently serving or retired, said former senator Somchet Boonthanom yesterday (Sept. 3). Somchet, a retired army general, accused the billionaire
Read moreChina and Cambodia begin 15-day military exercises as questions grow about Beijing’s influence
By AP and published by Yahoo!News Svay Chok, Cambodia – Cambodia and China began 15-day military exercises today (May 16) as questions grow about Beijing’s increasing influence in the Southeast Asian nation. About 1,315 Cambodian military personnel and 760 Chinese are participating in the regular “Golden Dragon” ground and sea manoeuvres, including three Chinese
Read moreAs the global Arms Bazaar booms, Travel & Tourism pays the price
ON APRIL 23, 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published its annual World Military Expenditure report for 2023. It showed that the Arms Bazaar raked in $2,443 billion, the highest level ever. The figure was up 6.8% over 2022, up for the 9th consecutive year and the steepest year-on-year rise since 2009.
Read more2 Malaysian military helicopters collide and crash while training, killing all 10 people on board
By AP and published by Yahoo!News Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Two Malaysian military helicopters collided and crashed during a training session today (Apr. 23), killing all 10 people on board, the navy said. The helicopters were rehearsing at a naval base in northern Perak state for the navy’s 90th anniversary celebration next month when
Read moreDroves of young Myanmar men and women fleeing military service to Thailand
AFTER the Myanmar junta recently announced that it is immediately imposing military service, young men and women quickly started fleeing to Thailand by walking through the forest with a bigger wave of tens and thousands of them expected to flood across the border soon, Naewna newspaper said this evening (Feb. 19). The announced enforcement
Read moreThousands seek to leave Myanmar after military service announcement
By AFP and published by CNA Yangon – More than 1,000 people lined up at the Thai embassy in Yangon today (Feb. 16) as young people sought to leave Myanmar after the junta said it would impose military service. The military said last weekend it would enforce a law allowing it to call up
Read moreHouse panel digs into draft-dodging kickback scandals
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES Committee has quietly launched an in-depth investigation into unsolved scandals surrounding alleged payoffs over the annual army drafting procedures throughout the country. House committee chair Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn confirmed today (Feb.2) some people have volunteered to help the House panel by trying to collect facts and figures
Read moreISOC missions can no longer be run as in Cold War era: PM
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE INTERNAL SECURITY Operations Command’s missions can no longer be carried out as in the Cold War era which ended long ago, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The prime minister tweeted on his X page to suggest that the army-led agency give up on the outdated Cold War rationale
Read moreSuthin dared to find out truth about ISOC’s ‘secret funding’
By Thai Newsroom Reporters DEFENCE MINISTER SUTHIN Khlangsang has been dared to look into “secret funding” regularly provided for missions of the Internal Security Operations Command and see to it that it does not slip into the pockets of army generals. Somchai Srisutthiyakorn posted on his Facebook page to suggest Suthin literally find out
Read moreUS military wins ‘unimpeded’ access to Papua New Guinea bases
By AFP and published by CNA Port Moresby – The US military can develop and operate out of bases in Papua New Guinea, according to a landmark security pact underpinning Washington’s efforts to outflank China in the Pacific. The full text of the deal was tabled in Papua New Guinea’s parliament on Wednesday evening
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