Myanmar goes to the polls

A historic national election saw participation from 32 million of Myanmar’s voters on November 8.
Myanmar goes to the polls ảnh 1Myanmar’s voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Yangon. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Nay Pyi Taw (VNA) – A historic national election saw participation from 32 million of Myanmar’s voters on November 8.

The first national election since the end of outright military rule in 2011 opened at 6 a.m. Polling stations were scheduled to close at 4 p.m. The count will take at least two days.

The Government prepared security measures in Yangon and others areas through November 14, with more than 8,000 police officers mobilised. In Yangon, more than 4.9 million people could vote at 5,495 stations.

According to the Union Election Commission, 6,189 candidates representing 92 registered political parties and independent candidates are running for more than 1,000 seats in parliament and elected bodies at different levels.

Among 1,163 constituencies, 330 are set to elect members to the House of Representatives; 168 will elect members to the House of Nationalities; 636 will elect regional or state parliaments; and 29 are set to elect regional or state parliaments for various ethnic groups.

Earlier, President U Thein Sein said in a speech that he respected the election results and the new Government would be established in accordance with the national constitution.

The President noted he was ready to work with new elected leaders for a peaceful political transition.

Thein Sein and his Deputy, Nyan Tun, decided not to run for election. However, his army-backed Union and Solidarity Development Party (USDP) is still able to elect him to president.

Opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy (NLD) is barred from the nation's top office by a constitutional clause that states that anyone with a foreign spouse or children cannot become president. Her sons and late husband are British.

Some sources forecast that if the NLD wins, she might become senate president, and her close assistant Htin Kyaw could become the president.-VNA

VNA

See more

Officers measure emissions from a pickup truck at a checkpoint set up in front of Chatuchak Park on Phahon Yothin Road in Bangkok in January 2024. (Photo: Bangkokpost)

Thai cabinet approves carbon tax to curb emissions

The Thai cabinet approved a carbon tax of 200 THB (5.9 USD) per tonne of carbon emissions on January 21, as part of the country’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul.

Illustrative image (Photo: Nation Thailand)

Thailand's births fall below 500,000 for first time in nearly 80 years

Thailand's population has declined by 100,000 in 2024 to 65.95 million, marking a historic demographic shift as annual births fell below 500,000 for the first time since 1949, despite the government's efforts to promote childbearing through the Having Children for the Nation campaign.

Tourists in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: VNA)

Thai council urges ASEAN unity in US trade talks

The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) of Thailand has recommended that Thailand collaborate with other ASEAN nations to negotiate trade agreements with the US to avoid high import tariffs and penalties.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, recently issues a statement in Jakarta. (Photo: Antara)

Indonesia welcomes WTO ruling on EU curbs on palm oil biofuel

Indonesia has welcomed a recent ruling by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which found that the European Union (EU) discriminated against Indonesian palm oil-based biofuel, giving it unfair and detrimental treatment, in setting biofuel regulations, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

Indonesia launches 37 energy projects (Photo: Tempo.co)

Indonesia launches 37 energy projects

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto kicked off 37 strategic projects related to the construction of power plants on January 20 as the country is on track to achieve energy self-sufficiency.

Logo of the Asean National Police (ASEANAPOL) (Photo: ASEANAPOL)

ASEANAPOL enhances crackdown on scam call centres

The Asean National Police (ASEANAPOL) will prioritise the elimination of scam call centres linked to trafficking in persons and forced criminal activities as part of its regional action plan this year, Director for Plans and Programmes of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat Police Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc has said.

The Earthquake Observation Division of Thailand marks the epicentre of the 3.4-magnitude quake on Google Maps in Pai district of Mae Hong Son at 11.57 pm on January 19. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Continuous earthquakes shake northern Thailand

The Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department said 15 quakes Wiang Nuea tambon, Pai district in Thailand's northern province of Mae Hong Son from 9.56pm on January 19 to 3.46pm on January 20.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at a recent press conference (Photo: VNA)

Thailand eyes cryptocurrency to boost economy

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has announced the government’s decision to allow the use of payment products and services through digital assets in storage areas in Phuket, a popular island destination in the country.