Experts warn Mekong Delta agriculture, livelihoods face serious threats

Even though the latest El Niño wound down in Vietnam in September, it left in its wake diminished water supplies, risks to people’s health and food security, and a loss of livelihoods. The effects of the severe drought that the El Niño weather phenomenon—exacerbated by climate change—delivered ...
Philippines says China ships still at shoal, but fishermen unhindered

China has scaled down its presence at a disputed South China Sea shoal but has not interfered with Filipino fishermen, the Philippine president’s security adviser said on October 30, after the administration had said China had withdrawn completely. Hermogenes Esperon said Chinese ships were still present ...
Mekong Delta steps up climate change fight

The Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta needs to be more innovative in production and development to grow sustainably in the context of climate change and environmental and integration challenges, a conference heard. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Trần Văn Tùng told the Mekong Connect-CEO ...
Plan to boost children’s healthcare, education, protection
The Union government is drawing up a plan to help children survive and thrive, Ministry of Planning and Finance director general Daw Whar Whar Maung told The Myanmar Times on October 26. Specifics details were not released for the plan, which was discussed at a meeting ...
Locals want a disruptive dam project in Northern Myanmar terminated once and for all

It has now been five years since the Myitsone Dam project in Northern Myanmar was suspended, but a local ethnic Kachin man, Mung Ra, is still not satisfied. He wishes that the project had been entirely terminated. He frequently laments the loss of his farm and ...
Việt Nam, Thailand work to ensure Mekong river water usage

Việt Nam and Thailand will work closely with each other and with international organisations to use and manage Mekong river water resources efficiently to ensure the interests of the river basin nations. That was agreed by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister ...
One in nine has no access to clean water

Every year during the wet season, millions of Cambodians are surrounded by water as the Mekong River floods. Yet the water is unsafe to drink, fouled by sewage and agricultural and industrial pollution. Living in villages on stilts, Cambodians bathe, fish and defecate in the flooded ...
Chàm Island to protect biodiversity

The Centre of Biodiversity Conservation, GreenViet and the Management Board of Chàm Island has inked an Memorandum of Understanding on the protection of flora and fauna in the forest of the island. The Management Board said the MoU will allow surveying of the current terrestrial plants ...
Vanishing Mekong? shifting tropical storms threaten a great river delta

Recent changes in the patterns of tropical storms are threatening the future of the Mekong River delta in Vietnam. This is one of the world’s great deltas. It is home to more than 20m people and the rice that is grown on its fertile land ...
China may give Filipino fishermen access to Scarborough - sources

China will consider giving Filipino fishermen conditional access to disputed waters in the South China Sea after the presidents of the two countries meet in Beijing this week, two Chinese sources with ties to the leadership said. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plans to raise the plight ...