News
Vietnamese firms ignore rural potential: media
Despite being seen as the decisive factor in achieving sustainable rural development, Vietnam’s business sector still remained largely an untapped power, local newspaper Vietnam News on 26 August quoted officials and experts as saying. Keep reading ...
Suu Kyi: Myanmar's rebels shouldn’t sign peace deal in haste
Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has warned armed ethnic minority groups not to rush into signing a nationwide ceasefire, a top party colleague said 26 August, a position that pits her against President Thein Sein, who has made reaching a deal before November ...
New minister of agriculture and forestry appointed
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Phet Phomphiphak has been appointed Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, replacing Mr Vilayvanh Phomkhe, as approved by the government. A ceremony to hand over the position took place at the ministry on 24 August, attended by Deputy Prime Minister ...
China oil rig to keep drilling in waters disputed with Vietnam
A Chinese oil rig at the center of last year’s standoff between China and Vietnam will continue drilling not far from Vietnam’s coast, China’s maritime safety authorities said on 25 August. The deployment of the $1 billion deepwater rig last year about 120 nautical miles off ...
New strategy for Japan, Mekong cooperation
Japan and four Southeast Asian nations along the Mekong River Basin – Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand – have approved a plan to speed up industrial development in the region. Keep reading ...
Central Bank fires warning shot on USD pricing
As the kyat continues its eight-month slide against foreign currencies, the Central Bank of Myanmar will soon set down punishments against businesses charging in US dollars, according to official sources. In May, the Central Bank halved US dollar withdrawal limits and warned local businesses to cease ...
Laos 'ghost project' audits point to higher-ups in government, source says
Investigations into a scheme in Laos in which private companies cashed government bonds issued in promise of payment for work they never performed have revealed the involvement of senior government officials who will never be brought to trial, a state auditor says. The auditing of the ...
Bloggers forced to tread lightly
Cambodia’s young internet users are thinking twice before discussing politics online, say prominent bloggers, after the third case of government punitive action sparked by Facebook comments within a month. On 22 August, student Kong Raiya, 25, was charged over a Facebook post linked to him for ...
Rector says sudent was warned against activism
After a Khemerak University student was jailed in Phnom Penh on 22 August over a social media post calling for a “color revolution” in Cambodia, the school’s director on 24 August claimed that politics had “poisoned” students at his institution. Police arrested Kong Raya, 25, at the university ...
City says bus system loses $100K a month
The public bus service run by City Hall has been hemorrhaging about $100,000 a month, according to the local authorities. Long Dimanche, spokesman for the Phnom Penh municipality, confirmed the figure on 24 August, after it was first revealed by local media following a meeting last ...
