Aid and development
UN calls upon Myanmar Government to hold elections in ‘peaceful environment’
The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Jennifer Welsh, called on the Government of Myanmar to take all possible measures to ensure that the upcoming elections of 8 November are held in a ...
UN chief hits out at Myanmar election ‘hate speech’
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hit out on Monday at “extreme elements” in Myanmar who are sowing hate speech and bigotry towards religious minorities, days before the country votes in landmark elections. Myanmar heads to the polls on 8 November in what observers are hoping will ...
UN rights envoy raises election credibility fears
The special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar on 29 October told one of the United Nations highest-level bodies that she is not convinced the coming election will be free and fair. Yanghee Lee criticised the candidate scrutiny process for being non-transparent and for seemingly arbitrarily disqualifying ...
Laos, Thailand move forward with bilateral cooperation
Laos and Thailand have made progress in their cooperation on border demarcation as well as collaboration in economic, health and social development efforts. This was the conclusion of the 20th Lao-Thai Joint Commission meeting held in Chiang Rai, Thailand, earlier this week, co-chaired by Laos’ Deputy ...
Few surprised as Laos fails to win U.N. Rights Council seat
Laos failed attempt to win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council in a secret vote in New York was greeted with relief on 29 October by a leading Lao human rights group, which urged the communist government to adhere to U.N. rights treaties ...
Korea signs US$80.8 million loan for hydropower project with Laos
The Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund from the Republic of Korea has signed a loan agreement for US$80.8 million (about 658 billion kip) with the Lao government. The funds will be used for the development of the Xepian-Xenamnoy hydropower plant in Champassak province. The loan agreement was ...
Chinese-built bridge opens in Phnom Penh
A new Chinese-built bridge in Cambodia’s capital opened for public use on 22 October, having taken about three years to complete at a cost of $27.5 million. Keep reading ...
YCDC searches for more water as households run dry
Only 60 percent of Yangon’s water needs are being met, officials say. The Yangon City Development Committee is hunting for fresh sources, even as work proceeds to fix leaky pipes that lose half the water they are supposed to carry. The search for water security is part ...
IMF visits Myanmar for flood recovery and financing talks
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is visiting Myanmar for two weeks to discuss a flood recovery program, which may include emergency financing, sources with knowledge of the meetings said. The IMF delegation arrived on 16 October and has visited flooded areas in Bago Region. Officials ...
Cambodian Minister, South Korean official meet over aid, university
Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong met with South Korea’s deputy minister for political affairs on 14 October to offer his gratitude for a $35 million university that South Korea has pledged to build in Cambodia, an official said. Keep reading ...
