News
Southern Thailand hit by weak rubber prices
At a time when little is going right for Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, Thailand is being hit hard by weak global demand for its major agricultural exports. Among the people most affected are the country’s rubber producers, suffering depressed prices since January 2014. After surging to more ...
Lao farmers devastated by severe drought
A lack of rainfall and scorching heat is destroying the livelihoods of Lao farmers, who say their crops are dying amid an ongoing drought in the Southeast Asian region linked to the El Niño phenomenon. The drought since May has left those in Laos who rely on ...
Rain stops but tens of thousands homeless
Tens of thousands of residents in the Sagaing Region, Myanmar, remain displaced as a result of recent flooding, which has still not subsided despite a halt to the rain. Local officials in the worst-hit regions of Kawlin and Wuntho townships said the water level had dropped ...
Myanmar journalists fined for defaming President Thein Sein
A Myanmar court has fined two journalists 1 million kyat ($800; £514) each, after finding them guilty of defaming the president. Nine other staff from the Myanmar Herald were acquitted in the case, which was filed by the information ministry last November. Keep reading ...
Freedom Park 11 jailed
Eleven opposition activists, including a US citizen, were handed lengthy prison sentences yesterday for their roles in a protest at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park last year that turned violent and left dozens injured. In a decision that came as a surprise to many, judge Lim Makaron ...
Cambodian Gov’t promises border action
A Cambodian government delegation yesterday told Tbong Khmum provincial and local officials it would resolve a border dispute with Vietnam in Memot district “very soon”, as villagers blocked from their farms in the contested area by Vietnamese authorities say they fear looming food shortages. The comments ...
Cambodia wage-increase impact up for debate
Recent data from the International Labour Organisation say that despite implementing a $128 minimum wage in January, the Kingdom’s garment and footwear sector has grown by over 10 per cent in the first quarter this year, although experts suggest a wait-and-see approach to determine its ...
Myanmar soon to be visa-free for Thais
The cabinet has approved the signing of a new reciprocal agreement with Myanmar to allow visa-free visits by citizens of both countries with ordinary passports for up to 14 days. Keep reading ...
Protecting biodiversity: Transparency a major concern in maintaining Inlay Lake
Inlay Lake is one of Myanmar’s natural beauties and a tourist draw. But the ecological situation of the lake is deteriorating at a dramatic rate due to the run-off from the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides, deforestation and climate change. The lake is an important ...
World Bank ups Vietnam GDP forecast
Vietnam’s economic growth could reach 6-6.2 percent this year underpinned by further recovery in domestic demand, in turn reflecting robust private consumption and investment growth, according to a World Bank report. The medium-term outlook for Vietnam is positive on balance in the context that growth in developing ...
