BANGKOK -- Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been included in a royal pardon to end his jail term earlier than scheduled, his lawyer Winyat Chatmontree said on Saturday.

Winyat made the confirmation following an earlier issued Royal Gazette, which announced that three categories of prisoners will be pardoned on the occasion of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's 72nd birthday anniversary. (Thailand-Thaksin-Pardon)

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PHNOM PENH -- More than 1,000 security personnel were deployed in the capital of Cambodia on Saturday amid an overseas opposition call for anti-government protests, Phnom Penh Municipal Police chief Lieutenant General Chuon Narin said on Saturday.

In a news release posted on the National Police's website, Narin, who is also National Police deputy chief, appealed to people not to worry about public order and safety, as security has been beefed up in the capital city these days. (Cambodia-Police Deployment)

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MANILA -- Filipinos staying in Lebanon have been advised to leave the Middle East country as early as possible as tension escalates due to the threat of an all-out war between the Iran-backed group Hezbollah and Israel.

In a social media advisory Friday night, the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon urged Filipinos to leave when the airport remains operational. (Philippines-Embassy Advisory-Lebanon)

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JAKARTA -- Indonesia celebrated its 79th Independence Day on Saturday with a grand ceremony in the new capital, Nusantara, located on the island of Kalimantan, marking the first time the celebration was held there. Simultaneously, a parallel celebration took place at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

The ceremony in Nusantara was led by President Joko Widodo, accompanied by the president-elect Prabowo Subianto. Meanwhile, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin led the ceremony in Jakarta, with the elected vice president Gibran Rakabuming Raka by his side. (Indonesia-Independence Day Celebration)