Myanmar marks new year festival mourning quake losses

> Thousands marked the start of #Myanmar's water festival on Sunday (Apr 13) in the ruins of last month's earthquake, with the country's most raucous holiday muted by the tragedy of the tremor

> The Thingyan festival typically celebrates Myanmar's new year with water-splashing rituals symbolising cleansing and renewal, but the central cities of #Mandalay and #Sagaing lie devastated from the 7.7-m quake https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-new-year-festival-mourn-earthquake-5062876 #SouthEastAsia

Exploring the river's edge and boat traffic near #Yangon, #Myanmar. A daily photo from my archives.
bewarethecheese.com #photography #travel #asia #southeastasia

'Everybody wants one' Apple's iPhone 16 hits Indonesia stores after months-long ban

> the US tech announced last month that its latest #smartphone models would hit the shelves, weeks after striking a deal with the Indonesian government to invest in the country.
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/04/12/039everybody-wants-one039-apple039s-iphone-16-hits-indonesia-stores-after-months-long-ban #Indonesia #SouthEastAsia #TootSEA #iPhone #Apple #expatasia #smartphones

Xi to visit Southeast Asia amid China's grievous export crisis

> China has vowed to “seek common ground and shelve differences” with Asian neighbours after the United States imposed a 145% tariff on all Chinese goods on April 9. Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to three Southeast Asian countries – Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia – from April 14 to 18, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/xi-to-visit-southeast-asia-amid-chinas-grievous-export-crisis/# #SouthEastAsia #China

images of the straight-line map-wing butterfly (Cyrestis nivea)

Exploring the river's edge and boat traffic near #Yangon, #Myanmar. A daily photo from my archives.
bewarethecheese.com #photography #travel #asia #southeastasia

#Thailand vows crackdown on false claims of origin in US exports

> Thai authorities will step up a crackdown on the practice of foreign companies circumventing high US #tariffs by claiming false certificates of origin as it prepares for negotiations with the Trump administration to secure relief from a 36% tariff hit.

> The Southeast Asian nation, which had an almost US$46 billion trade surplus with the United States, https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3001182/thailand-vows-crackdown-on-false-claims-of-origin-in-us-exports #SouthEastAsia

A U.S. academic charged with breaking Thailand's strict royal defamation laws has been granted bail but remains in custody pending an appeal to immigration authorities who earlier revoked his visa. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/10/asia-pacific/politics/thailand-us-academic-royal-insult/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #thailand #us #southeastasia

More than a week after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, a lack of internet access is severely impeding any disaster response, local residents and humanitarians say. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/10/asia-pacific/myanmar-internet-earthquake-aid/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #internet #myanmar #earthquakes #southeastasia