Thailand is pushing forward with its plan to become a member of the BRICS group of emerging economies as early as October at the bloc’s next summit in Russia, a Thai Foreign Ministry official said.

Thailand submitted a formal letter of intent to join during the BRICS ministerial meeting more than a week ago and hoped to receive positive feedback, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura on Thursday, in a bid to become the group’s first member from Southeast Asia.

Joining BRICS would allow Thailand to leverage further in advancing South-South cooperation as well as to play a more proactive role and contribute to crafting the global architecture, Nikorndej told a news conference as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

Thailand places importance on prioritising multilateralism and strengthening the role of developing countries in the international arena, which aligns with BRICS principles, and participating in the group would also enhance the kingdom’s opportunities on the international stage, a government statement said.

The BRICS is the acronym for an emerging-market cooperative mechanism that initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

In January, the bloc expanded its membership to include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia. AGENCIES

 Russian President Vladimir Putin has said South Korea would be making a “big mistake” if it supplies arms to Ukraine.

“If that happens, then we will make corresponding decisions that will not please the current leadership of South Korea,” Putin said on Thursday during a trip to Vietnam.

The South Korean government had earlier expressed concern over a new Russia-North Korea strategic partnership that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country is attacked.

Seoul said the security commitments violated UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.

It also suggested it could reconsider its long-standing policy of not supplying weapons to Kiev.

North Korea, ruled by President Kim Jong Un, is subject to far-reaching UN sanctions and import bans due to its nuclear weapons programme, including the trade in weapons and the transfer of military technologies to the country.

During a state visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, Putin signed the partnership agreement with Kim.

At a press conference in Hanoi on Thursday, Putin called Seoul’s concerns unfounded.

He said South Korea had nothing to fear as the pact would only apply if either Russia or North Korea was attacked by a third country.

“As far as I know, (South Korea) is not planning any aggression” against North Korea, he said.

This means that “there is no need to fear our cooperation”.

Putin also said that he would not deploy any North Korean soldiers in Ukraine.

However, he threatened to deliver high-precision weapons to North Korea as a response to Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. AGENCIES

The International Day of Yoga is being celebrated in several countries across the world, including Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, and Malaysia, which witnessed enthusiastic participation in events organised by the Indian missions.

These events underscored the global appeal of yoga and its benefits for a healthy lifestyle.

In Japan, despite the inclement weather, the Indian Embassy in Tokyo celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple. The event saw overwhelming participation from a large number of people.

The embassy shared pictures on X saying, “Rain or shine Yoga in Japan: Celebrations of the 10th IDY by the Indian Embassy in Tokyo at Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple witnessed an overwhelming participation from Japanese leadership, diplomats, Yoga enthusiasts & friends of India in Japan.”

In New Zealand, the Indian High Commission celebrated the day with Indian community members, Kiwi friends, and representatives of various yoga institutes.

The embassy posted, “10th International Day of Yoga 2024 was celebrated at the High Commission with Indian community members, Kiwi friends & representatives of various Yoga Institutes. Yoga has indeed become a global movement with a positive impact on many lives.”

In Thailand, several universities and institutions hosted yoga events in collaboration with the Indian Embassy.

At Siam University, an event saw significant participation from students and faculty and was graced by Thailand President Pornchai Mongkhonvanit.

In Papua New Guinea, the High Commission of India organised a yoga event in Port Moresby, attended by diaspora members, PNGeans, and diplomats.

“Diaspora, PNGeans and Diplomats joined to practice yoga at an event organised by the High Commission of India in Port Moresby. NCD Governor Powes Parkop encouraged the community to make it a mass movement spreading the benefits of yoga to communities,” the embassy shared in a post on X.

In Malaysia, a mega yoga celebration was held at the iconic Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, commemorating the yoga day. This event highlighted the widespread appreciation and adoption of yoga across diverse cultures and regions, further solidifying its role as a global movement for wellness and unity. AGENCIES

 Suffering from the prolonged walkout by junior doctors and the subsequent disruptions to the healthcare system in South Korea, patients will hold a rally on an unprecedented scale next month, officials said on Friday.

In support of the junior doctors’ move, the Seoul National University (SNU) hospitals suspended their operations indefinitely on Monday, except for emergency rooms and services for critical patients, and other senior doctors were to decide whether to join their SNU colleagues.

“It is really hot these days, but we’ve decided to make our voice heard,” Ahn Gi-jong, chief of the association, said.

“We’ve had meetings with high-ranking government officials and lawmakers, but nothing has changed. Nobody has listened to us, and we want to make an appeal directly to the people.” AGENCIES

A Palestinian teenager was killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.The Ministry added on Thursday that 15-year-old Naeem Abdullah Naeem Samha died after being hit by live bullets fired by the Israeli army, Xinhua news agency reported.

Local Palestinian sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city, leading to confrontations with young men.

The Israeli army has not yet commented.

At least 549 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. AGENCIES

The influential sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un on Friday hinted about launching more trash-carrying balloons into South Korea as she condemned “human scum” for sending what she described as “dirty wastepaper and things.”

On Thursday night, a North Korean defectors’ group sent 20 balloons carrying some 300,000 leaflets, US dollars and USB sticks containing a hit K-drama and songs across the border in the border city of Paju — the latest in a series of tit-for-tat leaflet campaigns between the two Koreas, reports Yonhap news agency.

North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, who has been leading an anti-Pyongyang leaflet campaign, has vowed to continue sending propaganda leaflets to the North until North Korean leader Kim Jong-un apologizes for the North’s sending of trash-carrying balloons to the South.

“It is natural that there would be something trouble to happen as they did again what they had been urged not to do,” Kim Yo-jong said in a statement carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency, an indication that the North will launch more trash-carrying balloons to South Korea.

North Korea sent more than 1,000 trash-carrying balloons toward the South in recent weeks in retaliation for South Korean activists’ leaflet campaigns.

In retaliation, South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts on June 9 for the first time in six years. But it did not turn on the loudspeakers the next day in an apparent bid to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.

For years, North Korean defectors in the South and conservative activists have sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets to the North via balloons to help encourage North Koreans to eventually rise up against the Kim family regime.

North Korea has bristled at the propaganda campaign amid concern that an influx of outside information could pose a threat to the North Korean leader. AGENCIES

 Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed Michael Usi as the country’s Vice President, replacing Saulos Chilima who died in a plane crash on June 10.

The President announced on Thursday through Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba, adding that the new Vice President will be sworn in on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Usi was the Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change until he was appointed Vice President.

He is also the Vice President of the United Transformation Movement, a political party that Chilima founded and led as President.

Born in 1968, Usi is known for his significant contributions to the entertainment industry as an actor, playwright, and filmmaker. He is also known for his development work in Malawi.

In addition to his entertainment career, Usi has extensive experience with non-governmental organisations, focusing on community projects in health, education, and economic development.

Throughout his career, Usi has been an advocate for social justice, education, and community empowerment, earning him widespread respect and popularity among Malawians.

His appointment is reportedly seen as a strategic move to harness his charisma and experience to address the nation’s challenges and promote development initiatives. AGENCIES

 The National Committee for the Amendment of the Constitution is reviewing the content of the 2015 Constitution with a view to making revisions to suit Laos’ changing circumstances.

The committee will draft amendments from now until the middle of 2025 and has formed a secretariat and subcommittees to support its work, the local newspaper Pasaxon reported on Friday.

In preparation for the process, a meeting took place here on Thursday, when committee members discussed some amendments to be made, including more specific and accurate definitions of certain terms, Xinhua news agency reported.

The meeting summarised and interpreted the implementation of the 2015 Constitution to identify its strong points, weaknesses, achievements, main problems, and inconsistencies.

Meeting participants considered lessons learned and the various problems arising from the formulation of the 2015 constitution, which will be taken into account when making changes.

Changes to the existing constitution will be made to ensure greater accuracy, completeness and consistency, with the new version being more focused and practical.

Representatives of various bodies contributed opinions and suggested clarifications to the content of the Constitution, while several committee members promised to provide insightful content after holding meetings with other groups. AGENCIES

 Iranian Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has condemned the Canadian government’s “provocative and irresponsible” decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist entity”.

He made the remarks in a post on Thursday on social media platform X while reacting to an announcement on Wednesday by Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc that his country had decided to list the IRGC as a “terrorist group”.

Bagheri Kani said Canada’s act of blacklisting the IRGC, which is an integral part of Iran’s official armed forces, was a “provocation” of the principles and rules of international law and threatened regional peace and stability, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Thursday condemned the Canadian government’s move as “unconventional and unwise,” saying the decision was a “hostile action in contradiction with international law, regarding the sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of states”.

Kanaani called it “an instance of aggression against Iran’s national sovereignty”.

In his remarks on Wednesday, LeBlanc vowed that Canada would use all the tools at its disposal “to combat the terrorist activity” of the IRGC while accusing the Iranian armed force of disregarding human rights both inside and outside of Iran.

Thousands of senior Iranian officials, including top IRGC members, are now banned from entering Canada, and those already inside the country may be investigated and removed, LeBlanc said.

As a consequence of the decision, Canadian financial institutions are required to immediately freeze the property of a blacklisted entity, and it is a criminal offence for anyone in Canada and Canadians abroad to knowingly deal with property owned or controlled by a terrorist group, according to a press statement issued by Public Safety Canada. AGENCIES

A car owned by Japan’s Finance Ministry struck and killed a pedestrian near the Diet building in Tokyo before overturning while attempting to flee the scene, local media reported citing police.

The driver, Nobuhide Nohata, 55, has been arrested near the prime minister’s office, reported national news agency Kyodo.

Employed by a company contracted by the ministry, Nohata was driving the vehicle when it hit a 67-year-old man on a pedestrian crossing around 5:40 p.m. local time on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The car drove several hundred meters before colliding with another vehicle at an intersection, then overturned, partially landing on a sidewalk.

“When I tried to turn right, I was rear-ended,” Kyodo quoted the driver of the other car, describing his shock at seeing the overturned vehicle.  AGENCIES