News
Man unearths 227kg bomb in Ratanakkiri
An excavator operator was lucky to escape with his life on Monday evening after striking a 1970s-era Mk-82 bomb while digging in Ratanakkiri province’s Lumphat district. Chum Touch, police chief of Lbaing I commune, where the unexploded ordnance was found, said the excavator had unearthed ...
Villagers wary of M’kiri mine project
An environmental impact assessment released on Friday for a $245 million mining project slated to begin operations in Mondolkiri province next year has raised concerns about its potential effects on the environment and local communities. The project, proposed by the Chinese-owned Alex Corporation, would see ...
Thailand’s move to further censor internet draws wave of hacks
Thailand is bracing for a wave of hacker attacks on December 20 to protest the ruling junta’s recent moves to more closely police the internet. The defense ministry’s website was briefly knocked out of action Monday afternoon before going back online in the afternoon, though it ...
Patrolling The Mekong ep.2: border control police balance work and life in isolated area
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Joint Patrol and Law Enforcement initiative on the Mekong River. In December 2011, security authorities in China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand launched the initiative after around 8 gunmen stormed two Chinese vessels and killed thirteen sailors. In today’s ...
Shut gold mine shows investors risks of Thai junta rule
When Thailand’s junta leader-turned-prime minister used his absolute power to suspend gold mining, causing an Australian miner’s shares to plummet 19% in a single day, he complicated efforts to attract foreign investors already spooked by military rule. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced the order last ...
1,000 elderly care centres to be set up
The Health Service Support Department plans to set up more than 1,000 elderly care centres as part of preparations for the nation’s ageing society. Department spokesman Pattarapon Jungsomjatepaisal said on December 18 the agency is working on the project to establish the centres across the country. ...
Malaysia calls for ASEAN to coordinate aid for Myanmar's Rohingya
Malaysia said on December 19 the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar was a regional concern and called for the Association of South East Asian Nations to coordinate humanitarian aid and investigate alleged atrocities committed against them. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman was speaking at a ...
Vietnamese read one book a year: insider
Even though Vietnam’s publishing industry continues to grow, outperforming its digital counterpart, the national reading rate remains low, education insiders said at a seminar. In its last meeting of the year on December 18, The Sofa, a monthly book-themed discussion group held on Ho Chi ...
Stronger forestry laws needed: officials
Ineffective forest management has exposed shortcomings in the 2004 Law on Forest Protection and Development that need to be addressed through amendments, officials said at a conference on December 15. Participants at the national conference in the capital city said the law defined the forest ...
PM urges urgent flood victim aid
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has instructed ministries and agencies to mobilise all forces and resources to ensure safety and food for residents in flood-hit areas and minimise losses of human lives and property. “Food and supplies must be brought at any cost to residential ...