News
Unions balk at floated figure
Garment worker unions on 30 September decried a preliminary, government-suggested increase to the minimum wage as being far too close to what they perceive as a lowball offer from employers. As tripartite wage talks continue, unions said officials from the government’s Labour Advisory Committee had on 29 ...
Positive early results for Cambodia ‘back to school’ push
Some 14,000 school drop-outs have returned to class under a $19 million scheme launched last year by a coalition of education groups, the organisations said on 30 September. Out-of-school kids include children from poor and remote communities, ethnic minorities, kids over-age for their grade level, street ...
Lao central bank to stop direct lending
The Bank of Laos has proposed the postponement of direct lending to new state investment projects as part of measures to safeguard the banking and financial system of the country, according to the central bank governor. Mr Somphao Phaysith made the proposal at a meeting between ...
ASEAN countries adopt KL declaration in combating transnational crime
The 10 ASEAN member countries on 1 October reiterated their commitments to cooperate closely with one another, to combat new and traditional areas of transnational crimes. Keep reading ...
Lao court jails Polish activist following online criticism of Government
A court in Laos has sentenced a Polish activist to nearly five years in prison after he posted criticism of the Lao government online, according to state media, drawing criticism from a diplomatic official who said the defendant was never given access to an attorney. Keep reading ...
Thai govt websites crash in symbolic act by critics: officials
Several Thai government websites temporarily crashed due to a “symbolic act” by people against plans to introduce a single Internet gateway, officials said on 1 October, a measure critics say will make it easier for the ruling junta to censor the web. Keep reading ...
Lao officials balk at China’s loan terms for railway project
Lao government officials have expressed concern about the interest rate on a U.S. $500 million loan from China to build a multibillion-dollar, high-speed railway through the Southeast Asian nation, and have asked political leaders to negotiate a lower rate, a high-ranking Lao official said. Keep reading ...
Nationwide ceasefire accord collapses
Talks in Chiang Mai among leaders of 18 armed factions saw 10 groups, including the powerful Kachin Independence Army, declaring they would not sign the agreement because of the government’s refusal to extend the accord to include three allied factions fighting in the Kokang border ...
ANZ Bank receives Myanmar licence just ahead of deadline
The Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group has become the last of nine foreign banks to receive a branch licence to operate in Myanmar. The Central Bank of Myanmar’s licencing committee announced it had awarded a licence to ANZ on 29 September, just days ahead ...
Vietnam GDP grows 6.8% in 3Q
Vietnam’s economy grew 6.8% in the third quarter, up from 6.1% and 6.5% in the first and second quarters, respectively, the government said on 29 September. Keep reading ...
