Kim Jong-un hosts Russia, Modi visits and Cambodia recognises International Children's Day

The eyes of the world have been fixed on the seesawing drama taking place between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Will they or won’t they meet in Singapore this month? Not to be overshadowed, the US’ long-time antagonist, Russia, sent their foreign secretary to Pyongyang for talks

On a visit to Pyongyang, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, talks continue between the US and North Korea in an attempt to salvage a summit that was due to take place in Singapore on 12 June – before US President Donald Trump cancelled it earlier this month.

Thailand recognised No Tobacco Day this week with multiple events around the country. According to the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation, there are 50,000 smoking-related deaths every year in the country.

This week Cambodia celebrated International Children’s Day, which aims to raise awareness of child labour and other abuses against the rights of children. According to the website IndexMundi, Cambodia’s population has an average age of 25.3 years.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi set out on a five-day tour of Southeast Asia. He stopped off in Indonesia before flying to Malaysia to have a short chat with new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad before ending his trip in Singapore.
“In Singapore I will be focusing on enhancing India-Singapore partnership in areas of fintech, skill development, urban planning and artificial intelligence,” Modi posted on his Facebook page.

The curtains came down on The Lido Theatre in Bangkok as the cinema showed its last film this week. Opened in 1968, it has been one of Bangkok’s most popular theatres for the last 50 years.