Thais sends Cambodian wanted by Phnom Penh back to Denmark

The leader of a Cambodian anti-government group who was at risk of being extradited to his homeland for imprisonment says he is safely back in Denmark where he has had political asylum for seven years.
Sam Serey, head of a fringe opposition group called the Khmer National Liberation Front, said by message that he was deported from Thailand on Friday morning after being arrested on Wednesday for overstaying his visa. Cambodian authorities had said they would seek his extradition, but apparently…

Kim Jong-un’s sister to join North Korea’s delegates for peace talks with South Korea

Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, and senior aides are to join the North Korean leader at his historic summit meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday, with peace in the Korean peninsula hanging in the balance.  North Korea confirmed its delegates list only on Thursday. After learning who Kim intended to bring with him to the inter-Korean parley, South Korea then expanded its list in a last-minute move.  Kim will use nuclear weapons to push for…

Philippines demands explanation after Kuwait expels envoy as diplomatic crisis deepens over mistreatment of maids

Manila demanded an explanation on Thursday after its ambassador to Kuwait was expelled, shocking Philippine authorities and deepening a diplomatic row over the treatment of domestic workers in the Gulf state.
The two nations had been working to resolve differences sparked by the murder of a Philippine maid, whose body was found stuffed in her employer’s freezer in Kuwait earlier this year.  
But relations plunged after the Philippines released videos last week of…

Kuwait gives Philippine ambassador one week to leave country amid maid dispute

Kuwait on Wednesday gave a one-week deadline for the Philippines ambassador to leave the small, oil-rich Gulf Arab nation over a growing diplomatic dispute regarding the abuse of Filipino housemaids and workers in the country.
Kuwait also recalled its own ambassador from Manila over the row, according to a bulletin on the state-run KUNA news agency.
The Philippines had no immediate comment on the decision.
The announcement came after Kuwait summoned the Philippine ambassador over comments he…

Sun, sea, sand, Swat team: police prepare for temporary closure of Philippine island of Boracay

Philippine police preparing to shut down the resort island Boracay staged drills in riot gear on Wednesday, startling the laid-back beach community as workers mounted a last-ditch legal effort to halt the six-month closure.
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the holiday destination off-limits to tourists from Thursday, saying the tiny island has become a “cesspool” tainted by dumped sewage.
As part of police drills, officers in full riot gear clashed with bottle-throwing people…

Why economic cooperation could be the stumbling block at the inter-Korea summit

The leaders of North and South Korea might stumble over barriers to economic cooperation when they meet for their historic summit in the border village of Panmunjom on Friday, diplomatic sources said. Although South Korea wanted to revive relations with a North Korea battered by United Nations and US sanctions, Seoul was not expected to present a detailed economic cooperation plan at the meeting, the sources said.  Korea summit: is Kim Jong-un sincere? Here’s how to tell A…