BANGKOK -- Thailand's Election Commission on Sunday began accepting applications for party-list candidates and notifications of prime minister nominees from political parties ahead of a general election set for February.
Speaking at a press briefing, Election Commission Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee stated that the registration process for party-list members of the House of Representatives went smoothly, with 52 political parties submitting applications in the morning. (Thailand-Election-Candidates)
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SEOUL -- At midnight Sunday local time, the "Phoenix Flag," a symbol of South Korea's presidency, was raised at Cheong Wa Dae, which is widely known as the Blue House, after a hiatus of nearly three years and seven months.
The presidential office said earlier on Sunday that President Lee Jae Myung will make his first visit to the Blue House to begin working there on Monday. (SKorea-Presidential Office-Blue House)
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DHAKA -- Bangladesh witnessed another deadly year of dengue outbreak as the South Asian country recorded 102,562 cases and 412 deaths so far in 2025.
Of the total, according to data released on Sunday by the Directorate General of Health Services, 8,165 cases were reported in December, following a total of 24,535 cases in November. (Bangladesh-Health-Dengue)
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YANGON -- Voting for the first phase of Myanmar's 2025 multi-party democratic general election was held on Sunday.
The 2025 general election is being held in three phases. The second and third voting phases are scheduled for Jan. 11 and Jan. 25, 2026, respectively. About 5,000 candidates from 57 political parties are competing for seats in the Union Parliament (Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw) and state and region parliaments. (Myanmar-General Election-First Phase) ■
