BANGKOK -- Thailand's Constitutional Court on Friday removed suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for violating the constitution over her phone conversation on the border issue with Cambodia.
A panel of judges agreed by six votes to three to strip Paetongtarn of premiership status, ruling that her actions constituted a serious violation of ethical standards. (Thailand-PM-Remove)
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VIENTIANE -- Days of heavy rain have triggered flash floods across parts of Laos, damaging homes, roads, and farmland, with authorities warning of further flood risks as rainfall continues.
The Lao weather bureau issued a warning to prepare for the potential impacts of Typhoon Kajiki, which is bringing widespread thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds to many areas across Laos from Aug. 25 to Aug. 31. (Laos-Torrential Rain-Floods)
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TOKYO -- Japan's defense ministry on Friday submitted a record defense budget request of 8.8 trillion yen for the fiscal year 2026, with a focus on deploying various missiles and drones.
The budget request, up from last year's record 8.5 trillion yen initial request, is the fourth in a five-year defense buildup plan of around 43 trillion yen, as Japan zeroes in on its target of spending 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense by 2027. (Japan-Defense Budget)
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SEOUL -- The new South Korean government, led by President Lee Jae-myung, who took office in early June, proposed an expansionary budget plan for 2026 on Friday, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and research and development (R&D).
Lee presided over a cabinet meeting to endorse his administration's first full-year budget of 728.0 trillion won (524.2 billion U.S. dollars) for next year, up 8.1 percent compared to the previous year. (South Korea-Expansionary Budget) ■
