More than two dozen people have gone missing after intense rainfall in China’s Tibet region caused severe flooding in the Bhote Koshi River, which flows through both Nepal and China. The floodwaters swept away the 'Friendship Bridge' linking the two nations, officials reported on Tuesday (July 8). In Nepal, at least 18 individuals are missing, including six Chinese workers and three police officers, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), which also noted that eight electric vehicles were washed away and a small hydroelectric plant was damaged.

On the Chinese side, state news agency Xinhua reported that 11 people are missing. The Chinese nationals missing in Nepal were employed at the Inland Container Depot project, located around 80 kilometers north of Kathmandu and supported by China, said Arjun Paudel, a senior official in Rasuwa district. He added that several shipping containers carrying Chinese imports were also swept away. “There’s been significant property loss, and we are still assessing the full extent,” he told Reuters. The Nepal Army has rescued 11 people so far, and search and rescue efforts continue, army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet confirmed.

China has recently ramped up its investment in Nepal, focusing on infrastructure projects such as roads, hospitals, and power plants. However, the country itself has been grappling with relentless rain and flash floods in recent days, with further damage expected due to an incoming tropical storm. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, at least 79 people — including 38 children — have died in weather-related disasters such as floods, landslides, and collapsed homes since June 26, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported Tuesday.

The NDMA has issued new warnings for flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods in the Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, citing rising temperatures and an approaching weather system. Notably, Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chilas district recorded Pakistan’s highest temperature on Saturday at 48.5°C, surpassing its previous record of 47.7°C set in July 1997, according to NDMA spokesperson Sophia Siddiqui.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Screengrab/Facebook/Nepali Army.

Thailand’s opposition parties announced on Thursday (July 3) that they will postpone filing a no-confidence motion against suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, choosing instead to wait for a ruling from the Constitutional Court. Despite this delay, they pledged to unite in order to prevent a political stalemate. Earlier this week, the Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn from her role after it accepted a petition from 36 senators. The petition accused her of unethical conduct and dishonesty following a leaked phone call between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

On Thursday, ahead of Parliament’s reopening, leaders from five opposition parties — including the Bhumjaithai Party, which recently left the ruling coalition — held a meeting and agreed to work together in pressuring the government. "We need to wait for a clear outcome from the Constitutional Court regarding Paetongtarn’s case before deciding when to proceed with a no-confidence vote," said Opposition Leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut.

Natthaphong, who also heads the People's Party — the largest party in Parliament — stressed that the opposition will work together to avoid a political crisis, even if the court removes Paetongtarn from office. "I assure you, all opposition leaders are in agreement that we won’t allow the country’s politics to reach an impasse," he said. Meanwhile, the government, which holds only a narrow majority in Parliament, is facing pressure from both public demonstrations and internal political tension. In response, it has reshuffled the cabinet to strengthen ties with coalition allies.

On Thursday, 14 newly appointed ministers were sworn in by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Paetongtarn, despite being suspended as prime minister, will assume a new position as minister of culture. Later in the day, the cabinet is expected to meet and name Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai as the acting leader. Phumtham, 71, a former defence minister, is also set to take over as interior minister following the changes.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her duties as it considers a case seeking her removal from office. The move intensifies pressure on her administration, which is already facing challenges on multiple fronts. In a statement, the court confirmed it had accepted a petition filed by 36 senators. The complaint accuses Paetongtarn of misconduct and ethical violations under the constitution, following the leak of a sensitive phone conversation with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen.

While the court deliberates, a deputy prime minister is expected to step in as caretaker leader. Paetongtarn, however, will stay in the cabinet in her new role as culture minister, appointed in a recent reshuffle. The government has not yet issued a response to her suspension. The leaked June 15 phone call—intended to ease rising tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border—sparked public outrage. In it, Paetongtarn was heard bowing to Hun Sen and criticizing a Thai army commander, a sensitive move in a country where the military holds significant sway. She later apologized, explaining her comments were part of a negotiation strategy.

The incident has weakened her coalition, which now clings to a fragile majority after a key partner withdrew and signaled plans to pursue a no-confidence vote. Protesters are also calling for her resignation. Only 10 months into her tenure, Paetongtarn’s leadership is being tested severely. Her struggles reflect the waning influence of the Pheu Thai Party—long dominated by the Shinawatra family—which has endured numerous military coups and legal setbacks since 2001.

Paetongtarn, 38, entered politics as a newcomer, stepping in after the dismissal of her predecessor Srettha Thavisin, who was removed by the court for appointing a minister with a criminal history. Her administration has also faced difficulties reviving Thailand’s sluggish economy. Public support has dropped dramatically, with a recent poll showing her approval rating plummeting to just 9.2% in June, down from 30.9% in March. Compounding her challenges, her father and political mentor, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is dealing with his own legal troubles. On Tuesday, he appeared in court on charges of insulting the monarchy—an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Thaksin has denied the charges and reaffirmed his loyalty to the royal family.

The case arises from a 2015 interview he gave while living in self-imposed exile. After returning to Thailand in 2023 to serve a sentence for corruption, Thaksin, 75, avoided jail by staying in hospital detention for six months. He was released on parole in February. The Supreme Court is now reviewing the circumstances of that hospital stay and may decide to return him to prison.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

On Thursday (June 26), Thai and Cambodian leaders visited different sections of their disputed land border amid rising tensions linked to a territorial disagreement, as Thailand’s government faces increasing instability. The strained relations follow brief armed clashes late last month in a contested border area, resulting in the death of one Cambodian soldier. Since then, both countries have engaged in retaliatory actions, including troop deployments, Cambodia’s halt of fuel and gas imports from Thailand, and Thailand’s partial closure of several checkpoints along their 817-kilometer border.

The dispute has added pressure to Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is struggling to revive a weak economy and maintain a fragile coalition in the face of mounting protests and an impending no-confidence vote in parliament. During her visit to the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo province, across from Cambodia’s Poipet, Paetongtarn was welcomed by supporters, some holding signs of encouragement like "Love You Prime Minister Paetongtarn." She stated her visit aimed to review efforts against transnational crime and assess the effects of strict border controls, which have halted all cross-border traffic, including tourists and trade.

“We’re here to understand how this policy affects people and to find ways the government can assist,” she told officials during a meeting. Earlier in the week, the Thai leader blamed Cambodia for the rise in illegal online scam networks—a claim denied by Cambodian officials. Meanwhile, across the border in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visited troops and officials near Thailand’s Surin province. Video footage showed him arriving by helicopter, dressed in military uniform, and addressing local authorities.

Previously, Paetongtarn and Hun Sen enjoyed close relations, partly due to Hun Sen’s longstanding ties with Paetongtarn’s father, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. However, a leaked phone call in which Paetongtarn criticized a senior Thai military official—an act considered taboo in Thailand—has sparked backlash and intensified political challenges for her.

Although she has since apologized, the Bhumjaithai Party cited the call as its reason for exiting the ruling coalition last week. The party has also announced plans to push for a parliamentary no-confidence vote against Paetongtarn and her cabinet. Adding to her troubles, a group of senators has requested Thailand’s Constitutional Court and anti-corruption agency to investigate her conduct, which could result in her dismissal. Meanwhile, anti-government groups are preparing for mass protests beginning Saturday to demand her resignation.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is making his first visit to Asia since assuming office. With Trump imposing heavy tariffs on both host nations and regional allies, what message is Rubio bringing to the region? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss this with Steven Okun, CEO of APAC Advisors and former official in the Clinton Administration.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

On July 1, Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her duties while it reviews a case calling for her removal. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the possible outcomes with Bangkok-based political and business advisor Jay Harriman.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Singapore-based agribusiness giant Wilmar International is once again under scrutiny as Indonesian prosecutors challenge a prior acquittal related to alleged irregularities in securing palm oil export permits. Andrea Heng and Susan Ng discuss the potential impact on the company with Aaron Choo, Senior Assistant Director for Special Projects and Sustainability at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Asia’s top security summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, was marked this year by rising geopolitical tensions, key absences, and a series of discreet high-level conversations behind the scenes. Held annually in Singapore, the summit serves as a vital platform for defence officials from around the world to meet, exchange views, and build strategic relationships. However, this year's edition took on a particularly charged atmosphere amid ongoing rivalry between the United States and China.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.