News
Thailand and Myanmar Agree to Push Ahead With Dawei Special Economic Zone
Myanmar and Thailand have published their nine-point agreement to push through the implementation of the long-delayed US$8-billion (12.23-trillion-kyat) Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in southern Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region, which is set to be Southeast Asia’s largest industrial complex. After a bilateral ministerial meeting in Naypyitaw, a ...
Nan Lwin
Thai marine biologist pleads for dugong conservation plan
A top marine biologist has urged Thailand’s government to speed up conservation plans for the dugong, an imperiled sea mammal, after their death toll for the year in Thai waters has already climbed to a record 21. Thon Thamrongnawasawat said on his Facebook page that the ...
Busaba Sivasomboon
New bridge boosts Thai-Myanmar ties
Bilateral border trade between Thailand and Myanmar is expected to flourish after the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge becomes fully operational, starting from Oct 30. Niyom Wairatpanich, vice-chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the bridge is vital to boost border trade between the two countries, ...
Phusadee Arunmas
No land, no fish: Mekong community in northeast Thailand struggles against a double-threat
This edited article by Panumas Sanguanwong is from The Isaan Record, an independent news site in Thailand, and is republished on Global Voices as part of a content-sharing agreement. Ubon Ratchathani locals in northeast Thailand are wondering why they are being prosecuted for farming on land passed on ...
Thailand to open anti-fake news centre by Nov 1 to address rumours on social media platforms
Thailand will open its first fake news centre by Nov 1 to combat unverified news circulating on social media platforms, said Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta on Wednesday (Sept 25). “These days anyone can be a reporter. Anything can be posted and shared. ...
Hathai Techakitteranun
Thailand puts 24 provinces on alert in swine fever watch
Thailand has designated 24 provinces as “surveillance areas” for African swine fever and ordered strict animal controls in hopes of preventing an outbreak of the deadly disease that has hit its neighbours, an agriculture official said on Friday. Thailand has been on high alert since the ...
Is your Thai holiday resort built on indigenous land?
Thailand’s indigenous people risk losing more of their land to hotels and national parks amid an unchecked tourism boom that has marginalised them, human rights groups warned on Friday. Bangkok was the world’s most visited city for a fourth year in 2018, drawing nearly 23 million ...
Rina Chandran
ADB seeks co-financing of Thai projects
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is looking to co-financing deals of mass transit, double-track rail and renewal energy projects with the Thai companies, said Hideaki Iwasaki, the bank’s country director in the Kingdom. He said Thai government is in a strong fiscal position and has not borrowed much ...
The Dramatic Growth of Methamphetamine Production in the Mekong Region
In recent years, countries in the Mekong region have faced over-supply of methamphetamine from the Golden Triangle. Especially Crystal meth and “Yaba” a methamphetamine pill. Methamphetamine has become more accessible and available, despite efforts to disrupt supply and precursor chemicals. New strategies are needed to stop ...
Grassroots solutions to deadly problems
Local empowerment has become the best prevention measure against diseases and accidents in two Chiang Mai communities, who have learned firsthand how collective grassroots action can keep them safe. Dengue fever has terrorised the communities in tambon Ban Luang in Chom Thong district for years. Locals ...
Onnucha Hutasingh