Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, together with the Shan State chief minister, the commander of Triangle Region Command and officials, paid homage to Presiding Patron of Kengyin Monastery of Kengtung in Shan State (East) long-life Sayadaw Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Bhaddanta Khemacara yesterday afternoon.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has issued an order to Harvard University that prevents the school from enrolling foreign students. The order says current international students must transfer to a different university or lose their legal status in the US.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gave the order. She accused administrators of fostering violence and anti-Semitism, and of working with the Chinese Communist Party. She also warned other schools that they could face similar bans.

Malaysia's labor productivity per hour worked grew 1 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, registering 42.5 ringgit (9.98 U.S. dollars) per hour, official data showed Thursday.

Malaysia's economy expanded 4.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 as compared to 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the total hours worked increased 3.3 percent to register 9.8 billion hours, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have completed negotiations to further refine their free trade area to include the digital and green economy and other new industries, China's commerce ministry said on Wednesday (May 21).

ASEAN, made up of 10 Southeast Asian countries, is China's largest trading partner, with the value of total trade reaching US $ 234 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to Chinese customs data.

The Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetables Producer and Exporter Association (MFVP) notified growers and suppliers to contact the MFVP via 09 43127656 to export dry coconut shells to the Republic of Korea.
Myanmar implemented the “Potential Product (coconut) value chain” project under the ACEMES-ROK Fund between May 2023 to April 2024 and offered coconut handicraft courses, according to the Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization.

Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win yesterday afternoon inspected the Shwe Pyi agriculture and livestock zone project and the Nyaunghnapin agriculture and livestock special zone in Yangon Region.
At Sein Lan Agriculture Production and General Trading Cooperative Ltd and Htun Organic Cooperative Society’s Agricultural Farm, he viewed the cultivation of seasonal vegetable plants and other crops, sending of vegetables to the market, and use of EM-bokashi at the farms.

Israeli troops fired what they say were "warning shots" at a group of diplomats in the city of Jenin in the West Bank on Wednesday. The Israeli Defense Forces claimed the group had entered a restricted area without authorization. No injuries were reported.

Palestinian news agency WAFA said the delegation included diplomats from at least 20 countries, including Japan. They were visiting the city to assess the situation.

Israel has decided to recall most of its delegation involved in ceasefire and hostage release talks with the Islamic group Hamas in Qatar.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced on Tuesday that "the senior members of the negotiating team will return to Israel." The office said its working-level representatives will remain in Doha. Qatar is mediating the negotiations.

Two Israeli embassy staff members a man and a woman were shot and killed near a Jewish museum in the US capital Washington on Wednesday evening.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the deaths in a social media post. Police said in a news conference that a 30- ear-old male suspect has been taken into custody.
Ref : NHK

Photo: Bangkok Post

THE EU on Wednesday decided to review Article 2 of its trade agreement with Israel, which was signed in 2000. The EU in its statement noted that Humanitarian principles matter for every conflict around the world and should be applied consistently in every warzone.
“Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need,” the statement said.