News
China manufacturing index hits two-year low: survey
A key gauge of Chinese manufacturing activity plunged to a two-year low in July, an independent survey has showed, the latest data suggesting the world’s second-largest economy faces challenges in the third quarter. The final reading of Caixin’s Purchasing Managers’ Index came in at 47.8 for ...
Foreigners flee Thai stocks
Foreign investors are selling Thai stocks at the fastest pace this year as the nation’s military government struggles to deliver on pledges to revive economic growth. Overseas funds unloaded a net $774 million of Thai shares in July as the benchmark Stock Exchange of Thailand Index ...
Jungle Vegas: How China's gamblers are pouring into a casino in Laos' notorious Golden Triangle
Kings Romans, a Chinese-owned casino complex in Ton Pheung district, Bokeo, is the centrepiece of a 10,000-square metre “Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone” set up by communist-ruled Laos with investment from its giant neighbour. The other Golden Triangle nations, Thailand and Myanmar sit just across river, ...
Vietnamese workforce optimistic about ASEAN common market, survey shows
Up to 92 percent of Vietnamese professionals see the establishment of the regional ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as a good opportunity to develop their career, according to a recent survey conducted by recruitment firm VietnamWorks. As many as 52 percent of the respondents believe they will ...
Tusk thieves threaten Vietnam’s fast dwindling domesticated elephants
Several mahouts have been taking turns to look after a 20-year-old male elephant around the clock since it had a tusk almost cut off by some thieves on 14 July. “We used to be worried about elephants accidentally getting caught in traps set by poachers in ...
Over US$180 million invested at That Luang Marsh project, Laos
Over US$180 million has been spent so far on building infrastructure facilities and condos at That Luang Marsh Specific Economic Zone (SEZ) in Vientiane, officials in charge of the project have said. Construction began in December 2012, with the US$1.6 billion project being developed as a ...
Myanmar officials use social media to fight flood rumours
Local government officials are turning to social media in an effort to share information on the flooding situation in upper Myanmar – and head off rumours of impending dam overflows and other catastrophes. The government has traditionally used state media, both print and broadcast, to share ...
8 fishing 'slaves' pulled from Thai boat in PNG
Authorities in Papua New Guinea have rescued eight fishermen held on board a Thai-owned refrigerated cargo ship, and dozens of other boats are still being sought in response to an Associated Press report that included satellite photos and locations of slave vessels at sea. Two Myanmar ...
Sagaing village’s electric ambitions drown in flooding
Sagaing Region’s flooding has quenched villagers’ dreams of electric power. The heavy rains and rising rivers have drowned at least 10 people, broken down bridges and dams, stranded road and rail passengers, driven hundreds from their homes and swept away entire villages. In addition, they have ...
Myanmar activists press Chinese mining firm for answers
Local activists have again failed in their bid to get a major Chinese mining company to answer questions about its involvement in mining activities in Sagaing Region. Ko Tint Aung Soe, a representative of the Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability in Sagaing Region, told The ...