LAOS
1. TOP LEADERS PAY HOMAGE TO FORMER LAO PRESIDENT -- VIENTIANE TIMES
Laos and Vietnam leaders paid homage to the late former President Khamtay Siphandone on Thursday He passed away on April 2 at the age of 102, and his funeral will be held on April 7 at the That Luang esplanade.
2. LAO-VIETNAM PARTNER TO PROMOTE TECHNOLOGY STUDIES -- VIENTIANE TIMES
Lao and Vietnamese authorities are partnering to develop technology and innovation education. An agreement was signed in Vientiane on Wednesday for two universities from Vietnam to design short and long-term training courses and apply for funding to teach Lao students.
MYANMAR
1. NEPAL EXPRESSES CONDOLENCE TO MYANMAR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing held talks with Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli in Bangkok yesterday. Sharma expressed condolences to Myanmar and shared his nation’s experience of an earthquake that killed 9,000 people in 2015.
2. MORE FOREIGN RESCUE TEAMS ARRIVE IN MYANMAR -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
More international teams are in Myanmar to assist in relief and rescue operations in earthquake-affected areas. Experts from China, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan and Bhutan have arrived with rescue teams and medical supplies to assist since the earthquake on March 28.
THAILAND
1. NO NEED TO WORRY OVER US IMPOSING 36% IMPORT TARIFF ON THAILAND: PM -- THE NATION
PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra assures response measures, including tax adjustments and a negotiation team, aiming for a compromise and preventing any impact on GDP.
2. SUBSTANDARD STEEL SUSPECTED IN TRAGEDY -- BANGKOK POST
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra acknowledged that substandard steel may have been used in the construction of the State Audit Office (SAO) building that collapsed during the earthquake on Friday.
VIETNAM
1. VIETNAM TO RESHAPE FOOTBALL TEAM WITH FOREIGN PLAYERS -- VIETNAMPLUS
Vietnam’s football coach Kim Sang-sik said he will recruit naturalised players and overseas Vietnamese talents to strengthen the team to compete in the 2027 Asian Cup. Kim announced after Vietnam’s promising start in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying round.
2. VIETNAM SAYS US TARIFF MOVES NOT FAIR TO TRADE -- VIETNAM NEWS
Commenting on the United States (US) reciprocal tariff move, Deputy Finance Minister Nguyen Duc Chi said it is not the proper way to achieve a balance of trade. He said Vietnam has reduced tax rates on several imported goods from the US.
-- BERNAMA
