News
Election takes a back seat as flood-hit Magwe’s farmers struggle to rebuild
For the tens of thousands of farmers in Magwe Region still reeling from last month’s floods, the November election may not register as high-priority. With upwards of 100,000 displaced and having lost their livelihoods, the immediate need to rebuild means the election is the last ...
Myanmar fishermen compensated for years of unpaid work on Thai vessels
After a long fight, a handful of Myanmar fishermen yesterday received compensation for their work on fishing trawlers plying remote Indonesian waters. Out of the 105 fishermen repatriated to Myanmar on 6 September, 65 were sent reimbursements on 22 September, according to the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta. “We are ...
IFC to lead sustainable hydro in Myanmar
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has signed to advise the government on environmental and social risk management for hydropower projects nationwide. This is the first time anything like this will be done in Myanmar. Commentators say they hope it will serve as the basis for transparent ...
Government puts mining licences on hold
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on 22 September told villagers protesting against a planned expansion of gold-mining areas that no new mining permits will be issued during ongoing legal disputes and an assessment period. He was responding to a rally by protesters from 12 provinces who oppose the planned ...
Thai deputy PM takes over reform pick duties
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has assigned his deputy Prawit Wongsuwon to oversee the selection of members for the National Reform Steering Assembly and new constitution drafting committee while he attends the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking after a cabinet meeting on 22 September, Gen Prayut said he ...
Vietnam draft decree on sea freight transparency worries foreign shipping lines
Several foreign logistics companies have expressed concern about a proposed government decree requiring shipping companies to publicize their freight tariffs to protect exporters and importers, the media reported 21 September. Switzerland-based MSC, French-owned CMA-GM, and Singaporean-owned APL-NOL voiced their opinion through London-headquartered law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus ...
Electricity of Vietnam to sell all shares in ABBank: report
State-owned Electricity of Vietnam has announced that it will sell all of its 16.2 percent stake in An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank next month, news website VnEconomy reported on 22 September. Nearly 81.6 million shares will be put up for auction on 14 October, with ...
7 more bears saved from Vietnamese farms
Animal rights activists on 22 September rescued seven bears from farms in northern Vietnam in their efforts to save the animal from the local bear bile extraction industry. Members of a Hong Kong-based animal welfare group brought the bears to Vietnam’s biggest bear sanctuary at Tam Dao National ...
Heavy rains likely to lower yields in Vietnam's Mekong Delta
The paddy yields in the Mekong River Delta area of Vietnam are likely to decline by about 10-20% due to heavy rains that hit the region last week, according to local sources. Keep reading ...
Vientiane to install more CCTV cameras
Vientiane Traffic Police Department confirmed on 22 September that more Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are set to be installed throughout the city, aiming to help officers investigate crimes in the capital. The department’s Deputy Director Lieutenant Colonel Bounmark Soundalay told Vientiane Times there are now over 200 ...
