News
Myanmar keeps ‘cordial’ relations with North Korea
A foreign ministry delegation is visiting North Korea this week to further diplomatic relations, although a senior official noted that arms deals were excluded under UN sanctions. U Kyaw Zeya, deputy director general of the foreign ministry, told The Myanmar Times that a delegation led by ...
Striking bus drivers back behind the wheel – for now
Most striking bus drivers returned to work on 16 September following two days of wildcat strikes that saw hundreds walk off the job in response to an increase in traffic fines. The drivers were cajoled back onto their buses by owners, but many said they would launch ...
Pattaya reels as Vamco leaves a path of destruction
Vamco, one of the most disastrous storms in the last five years, has battered the city, brought traffic to a standstill and flooded countless homes and businesses. Tropical Storm Vamco formed in the South China Sea on 13 September 2015 and went ashore to Vietnam, before ...
Ohanaeze Mekong Thailand moves to unite Ndigbo in Asia
Ohanaeze Ndigbo (one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria) living in the Mekong River area of South East Asia, comprising Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and China recently converged on Bangkok, Thailand where they deliberated on issues of common interest and how they would ...
Lao, Thai to improve border anti-drug efforts
Officials from Laos and Thailand have agreed to step up cooperative efforts investigating and controlling drugs along their shared border. The officials met on 16 September in Vientiane to also discuss their previous joint work on the anti-drug problems of both nations. Chairman of the Lao National Commission ...
Mega First shares jump 9.22% on news of Laos power plant
Shares in Mega First Corp Bhd soared 19 sen or 9.22% to as high as RM2.25 on 17 September on news that it has secured a power plant project in Laos worth RM2.15 billion. At 2.53pm, Mega First narrowed its gains to trade at RM2.22, still up 16 ...
Chinese vice premier meets ASEAN leaders
Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on 17 September met with leaders from Thailand, Myanmar and Laos ahead of an annual expo and business summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in southwest China. They will attend the 12th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment ...
Pact assessing loans to flood-hit farmers
The repayment of more than US$10 million in loans issued by Myanmar’s largest microfinance institution is in doubt as a result of devastating floods in upper Myanmar last month. Pact Global Microfinance Fund’s general manager for upper Myanmar, U Maung Maung, said the organisation is reviewing ...
Mekong river ecosystem at risk over dam construction in Laos
The construction of a dam in Laos is endangering the ecosystem of the Mekong river, one of the world’s largest rivers running a length of 5,000 km (3,107 miles) and a source of life and livelihood for millions living along its banks. The dam threatens the ...
Lao garment factories still troubled by labour shortages
Lao ministries and various related sectors have been unable to resolve the chronic shortage of labour for garment factories amid growing concern within the local industry. An official from the Association of the Lao Garment Industry, who asked not to be named, told Vientiane Times on ...