News
Vietnam needs greater efficiency of energy sources: WB
Greater energy efficiency, expansion in renewables and increased power trading in Asia could help Vietnam meet an expected 7-10 percent rise a year in power demand through 2030, the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam said. Keep reading ...
Suu Kyi looks set to win Myanmar election, but problems loom
When Aung San Suu Kyi’s candidate emerges at a campaign rally in southern Myanmar, the crowd bursts into cheers and showers him with flowers, confident that the opposition will prevail this weekend after decades of struggle against military rulers. The scene in the town of Myaungmya, ...
Spurred by Myanmar radicals, Thai Buddhists push for state religion status
A campaign to enshrine Buddhism as Thailand’s state religion has been galvanized by a radical Buddhist movement in neighboring Myanmar that is accused of stoking religious tension, the leader of the Thai bid said. Experts say the campaign could appeal to Thailand’s military junta, which is ...
China ratifies Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank agreement
China’s top legislature today ratified the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) agreement, that will set out legal framework for the USD 100 billion-bank in which India and 56 other countries are founder members. Lawmakers voted on the agreement at the closing meeting of the bimonthly session ...
EU must secure Lao pledge to improve rights record during dialogue: Rights groups
The European Union must pressure the Lao government to make “firm commitments” during bilateral human rights talks set for later this week in Vientiane, according to Paris-based rights group International Federation for Human Rights. The EU should demand assurances from Laos that it will improve its ...
Plans firm up for Lao education development
Senior education officials and development partners gathered in Vientiane for a meeting of the Education Sector Working Group to endorse the sub-sector plan of the education sector development plan for 2016-20 before submission to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Another key objective of the meeting ...
Government strengthens agricultural promotion for integration
The Lao government is taking steps to promote and develop various agricultural products in the face of regional competition and international integration. Officials from the various concerned sectors implementing the “Sustainable food security and agricultural product promotion for commercial basis” project met in Vientiane to discuss ...
Agriculture experts review northern uplands development
Agricultural experts met in Vientiane to review the Northern Uplands Development Programme for 2014-15 and discuss the plans for 2015-16. Participants reported on progress and noted the content of future plans comprising the systematic registration of land, legal awareness creation, local governance and planning, and facilitating ...
Laos ignores dam flak
The Lao government is forging ahead with the construction of the massive Don Sahong dam, close to the tri-border area with Thailand and Cambodia, within the next few weeks. The dam is yet another large-scale project being undertaken by Vientiane to make Laos “the battery of ...
EU and Myanmar strengthen cooperation on climate change
The European Union and Myanmar has committed to strengthening cooperation on climate change ahead of the adoption of a new global climate deal in Paris this December according to an EU press release on 2 November. Keep reading ...