News
WHO extends support for health sector reform
The World Health Organisation has provided US$6 million to the Lao government to improve the sustainable development of the health sector. Associate Prof. Dr Bounkong said this was an opportunity to reaffirm the continuing collaborative relationship between the ministry of health and the WHO in supporting ...
Royal railways considering airport train
Royal Railways is conducting a feasibility study on a rail line that would whisk passengers from the center of Phnom Penh to the airport in less than 15 minutes, the company’s CEO said on 11 May. Mr. Guiry said, “no eviction” would be necessary to ...
Asean labour officials discuss draft of Vientiane Declaration
The draft of the Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN was the key topic of discussion at the 12th ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting held on 11 May in Vientiane. The meeting was hosted by the ...
Govt approves development of Champa Nakhone SEZ
The government has granted approval for the development of the Champa Nakhone Specific Economic Zone in Pakxe district within the Special Economic Zone of Champassak province. The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone, Company President Mr Laty Sisouphannavong and other provincial ...
PM pledges answers on Vietnamese border ELCs
Prime Minister Hun Sen will assign a team to respond to questions about the Vietnamese army’s alleged control of 40,000 hectares of land in Ratanakkiri province submitted by opposition lawmaker Um Sam An, imprisoned in April for his criticism of the government’s border policy. The letter, ...
Battle over mangrove sees SEZ trump NGO
A special economic zone developer will be allowed to continue bulldozing a mangrove forest in Preah Sihanouk province’s Teuk Thla commune, the provincial governor said on 10 May. Civil society groups had persuaded the provincial Fisheries Administration to ask the governor to protect the ecosystem, which ...
Digging deeper wells costs more
Amid a devastating drought, the need to dig more, and deeper, wells is threatening to overwhelm the government’s relief budget. The cost of wells rises exponentially with depth. And as groundwater continues to drop, itself exacerbated by the digging of more and more wells, deeper is ...
Gold miners face business shutdown
Thailand’s gold mining industry is set to go out of business as the cabinet has decided to stop renewing and issuing licences for gold ore exploration and gold mining following a public outcry over health and environmental issues. Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang said the cabinet had ...
Ho Chi Minh City, China’s Yunnan extend links
Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Van Khoa hosted a reception for Deputy Governor of Yunnan province of China Li Jiang on May 10. Khoa said Ho Chi Minh City has so far established partnership with seven Chinese cities and provinces, and ...
Across Thailand, a cruel drought takes terrible toll
In Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district, the Lam Luk Ka-Thanya Buri Road in Moo 8 of Tambon Lat Sawai has been damaged by subsidence, causing a 1.5-metre-deep and 100-metre-long section to collapse yesterday, prompting authorities to close the road as a safety precaution. In Chon ...