News
Government internet gateway plan sparks fury
Activists campaigning for internet freedom have slammed the government’s recent move to develop a single internet gateway to expand state control over online media. Last week, citizens learned of the government’s intention to build a single gateway, after it ordered the Ministry of Information and Communication ...
State Railway of Thailand gets green light for Airport Rail Link train purchase
The Transport Ministry has given permission for the State Railway of Thailand to continue with its controversial plan to procure seven new trains for the Airport Rail Link. Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on 28 September the purchase was a matter of urgency. Keep reading ...
State support for 70,000 SMEs
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has set a target of supporting 70,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) next year. The goal includes helping to create 10,000 start-ups. Among the 70,000, 50,000 are healthy but need some help from the government to expand, while 10,000 are in ...
Ethnic armed groups still deadlocked over ceasefire signing
No breakthrough was reported on 28 September as leaders of 18 of Myanmar’s armed ethnic groups failed to resolve differences over how many would sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement with the government next month. Pu Zing Cung, general secretary of the Chin National Front and a member ...
Mandalay golf resort project faces land-grabbing claims
Defiant farmers in Mandalay Region are cultivating fields they say they own as negotiations with the local authorities broke down. The 200 farmers began harrowing the fields, which are slated for a golf resort, on 25 September in preparation for planting. The farmers say more than 600 ...
Youth leaders debate new development goals
Forty young people from throughout the country gathered in Yangon on 26 September to exchange ideas about adopting sustainable development objectives in Myanmar. The youths, who represented a range of ethnicities and social groups, were participating in the Social Good Summit at Chatrium Hotel in Yangon. Keep ...
Vietnam's industrial production rises 10% in first nine months
The national index of industrial production rose 10 per cent in the first nine months of this year against the same period last year. Further, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the industrial production sector continued its growth, especially in the processing and manufacturing ...
Vietnam scraps ceiling rate on corporate dollar deposits
Vietnam’s central bank said late on 27 September it was abolishing the interest rate ceiling on dollar deposits offered by banks to organisations and companies, in an attempt to avoid dollar hoarding. Keep reading ...
ADB to double climate financing to US$6b for Asia-Pacific
The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao announced on 25 September that the ADB will double its annual climate financing to US$6 billion by 2020, up from the current US$3 billion. ADB’s spending on tackling climate change will rise to around 30 percent of its overall ...
Laos-China rail expected to begin construction in November
The groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction of the Laos-China rail project to link Laos with China and other ASEAN member counties is expected to begin in November if things go as planned, a minister said on 25 September. Minister of Public Works and Transport Dr Bounchanh Sinthavong ...
