The first court hearing of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi since the Feb 1 coup began earlier than scheduled and without her lawyer present, further signalling the military’s intention to end her political career.

A US Navy destroyer sailed near the China-claimed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on Wednesday in a "freedom of navigation" operation, the 7th Fleet said.

Thailand's economic outlook remained highly uncertain with large downside risks, so limited monetary policy room should be preserved to be used at the most effective time, minutes from the central bank's last policy meeting showed on Wednesday.

Seventy rich foreign tourists travelling in a "bubble" will enter Thailand on Sunday and go into villa quarantine at an upscale resort complex in Phuket, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.

AYUTTHAYA: One more Covid-19 infection has been detected in this central province, bringing the local total to 47, with three cases linked to Pornpat wet market in Pathum Thani province.

BRUSSELS: NATO defence ministers meet Wednesday for their first talks since US President Joe Biden took over from Donald Trump with a vow to soothe tensions between Washington and its closest partners.

Myanmar's military has imposed repeated internet blackouts, blocked some social media sites and drafted a cybersecurity bill as it attempts to grind down resistance to its takeover.

PATHUM THANI: Vendors at two closed wet markets in Thanyaburi district at the centre of a Covid-cluster are unhappy with the authorities' decision to extend the closure, saying the rising number of cases are not all linked to the two market places.

KHON KAEN: An elderly man has tested positive for Covid-19 after breaching 14-day home quarantine and attending Chinese New Year celebrations.

The government on Wednesday reported 175 new Covid-19 cases over the previous 24 hours, 168 local infections and seven imported, raising the total to 24,961.