News
PM urges Royal Group to launch satellite
Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the influential tycoon at the head of the country’s biggest conglomerate to move forward on a long-stalled plan to launch Cambodia’s first satellite, adding that it would be a profitable venture given the high demand from the booming telecommunications industry. ...
Facing the challenges of ensuring digital rights
Digital rights are human rights, participants in a nationwide forum were told this week. The Myanmar Digital Rights Forum discussed the issues raised by the increasing access, in recent years, of large numbers of Myanmar citizens to the internet, social media and mobile phones. The question ...
Illegal Thai fishing hauls a possible threat to Woolworths sushi partner's supply
Thailand’s ‘ghost’ fishing fleet may have supplied contaminated seafood to Sushi Izu. Seafood caught by Thailand’s notorious ghost fishing fleet may have contaminated the supply chains of a sushi company operating in more than 165 Woolworths supermarkets. Guardian Australia can reveal that Woolworths and its fresh ...
When selling is more lucrative than protecting: Myanma timber enterprise and the deforestation crisis
For years, Myanmar’s state-owned timber giant has been subject to accusations of corruption and shadowy closed-door dealings. Environmental advocacy groups have long blamed Myanmar Timber Enterprise for operating its industry monopoly without transparency. On November 15, their allegations appeared to gain newfound teeth, substantiated by ...
Commission probing Rakhine says ‘rule of law’ being observed
Myanmar’s military clearance operations in northern Rakhine State are being carried out “lawfully”, the investigation commission led by Vice President Myint Swe concluded after wrapping up a three-day field visit to Maundgaw. The announcement comes as Human Rights Watch released a report accusing the military ...
CSOs call for greater transparency in Tanintharyi developments
A Coalition of local residents has criticised two Myanmar companies and a Chinese firm for announcing plans for a number of development projects in Tanintharyi Region. In a statement issued on December 14, the residents also attacked the local ethnic armed group, the Karen National ...
Dire threat to famed Côn Đảo flora, fauna
The famous Côn Đảo Island’s ecosystem and its biodiversity is seriously threatened by overexploitation and low environmental awareness of visitors and locals. Concerned officials as well as residents are calling for strong protective measures that can prevent the slide into irrecoverable loss. “The commercial hunting ...
TPP still of value to Vietnam
It is too soon to evaluate the impact on Vietnam if the TPP is not ratified but the country has other valuable options available, a conference in Hanoi on December 14 heard. Trade with other members may be possible, conference hears, and there are other trade ...
Mekong River Delta wastes 140,000 tons of fertilizer a year
The Agricultural Environment Institute estimates that the volume of fertilizer unnecessarily used in agricultural production in Mekong Delta is around 140,000 tons a year. Mai Van Trinh, head of the institute, said that the abuse of plant protection chemicals in cultivation is becoming more common ...
Education, skills key to graduation from LDC status
Moving out of Least Developed Countries status requires raising people’s education and skill level as well as improving their health. The matter was stated by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Kikeo Chanthaboury during the conference on launching related issues, held in Vientiane on ...