News
Controversial Cambodia dam goes ahead despite concerns
Implementation of the Lower Sesan 2 hydropower project in northeast Cambodia is underway despite civil society organisations and local residents expressing concerns over possible serious impacts on the environment and natural resources. Ouch Vibol, project officer of the Culture and Environment Preservation Association, told journalists at the ...
Pollution from copper mining in Northern Laos destroying local livelihoods
A company operating a copper mine in northern Laos’ Oudomxay province is polluting the local environment and destroying the livelihoods of residents, according to villagers, who have called for officials to investigate the firm. A resident of Sawang village, in Oudomxay’s Namo district, told RFA’s Lao ...
Final peace deal eludes Myanmar Government and armed ethnic groups
The latest round of peace talks between Myanmar’s government and armed ethnic groups ended 24 July without finalizing a nationwide peace accord, due to disagreement over the exclusion of six rebel groups and ethnic-proposed amendments, negotiators said. The Union Peace Working Committee, the government’s negotiating team, failed ...
Central bank monitoring weaker baht
The rapid weakening of the baht could cause problems for the real economic sector, says a senior official at the Bank of Thailand. The central bank is closely watching the baht’s movement, though no irregularity been detected so far, said Chantavarn Sucharitakul, the assistant governor overseeing financial ...
Banks offer discounts for overdue loan payments
In a bid to rein in non-performing loans, several commercial banks are offering a cut of 15-20% for payment of overdue loans to encourage customers to clear their credit card and personal debt, according to a debt collection firm. Pracha Chaisuwan, managing director of Chet Collection ...
Thai PM says Vietnam a friend, not competitor
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has brushed aside concern that Vietnam is eclipsing Thailand as a regional manufacturing base, saying Vietnam is a friend not a competitor. The comments came during a visit to Bangkok by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and at a time ...
Vietnam sponsors educational, cultural centres in Laos
Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s financial gifts were handed over to authorities in the Lao provinces of Luang Prabang and Houaphanh to build cultural and educational facilities. Keep reading ...
Verification program begins but most migrants frozen out
Immigration teams from Myanmar have arrived in Thailand to conduct a long-awaited nationality verification process meant to regularise the status of over half a million workers caught in immigration limbo. The current plan involves sending out newly arrived representatives from the labour ministry, immigration department and ...
Civil sector workers in Laos lose out to corruption and rising cost of living
Salaries for civil servants in Laos remain stagnant and will not be increased during the next fiscal year largely because of corruption, despite the rising cost of living in the one-party communist nation, sources inside the country said. Sila Viengkeo, vice minister of finance, told a ...
Vietnam to resume importing Australian oranges, tangerines and grapes from August
Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has said resumed permission for importing three Australian fruits including oranges, tangerines and grapes is expected to be given on 1 August. Keep reading ...
