News
Low marks for Cambodia’s efforts to combat illicit trade
Cambodia ranked third-worst for illicit trade out of 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific region in a recently released index by the Economist Intelligence Unit that analysed governments’ abilities to combat illegal trade operations. The report, commissioned by the European Chamber of Commerce of Singapore, reviewed countries ...
FDI sluggish as investor mood dims
Foreign direct investment for the whole of 2016 is expected to grow by just 2.7%, indicating that confidence in the Thai economy remains fragile, says Vallop Vitanakorn, vice-chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries. He said the likely FDI growth of 2.7% is low when ...
NA to hold first ordinary session next week
The national socio-economic development plan, state budget, monetary policy, audit results, the work of prosecutors and judges and legislation approval will all be on the agenda of the upcoming first ordinary session of the National Assembly’s ‘s Eighth Legislature. Head of the NA Secretariat Ms Suansavanh ...
More powercuts forecast for Yangon
Get ready for the blackouts. A regional minister has acknowledged that decayed powerlines and a surging demand for electricity will once again leave the commercial capital in the dark. Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation had hoped a handful of patchwork measures would help boost the supply but ...
China may give Filipino fishermen access to Scarborough - sources
China will consider giving Filipino fishermen conditional access to disputed waters in the South China Sea after the presidents of the two countries meet in Beijing this week, two Chinese sources with ties to the leadership said. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plans to raise the plight ...
Myanmar’s disappointing new investment law
A new investment law has been rushed through Burma’s Parliament, with the Upper House giving its approval on October 6. According to the Myanmar Investment Commission, the law is expected to take effect soon. Earth Rights International and other civil society groups are concerned that the ...
Four reasons why Asia is a prime target for cybercriminals
From attacks on Ukrainian power grids to central bank heists in Bangladesh and the leak of stolen information from the Democratic National Committee in the U.S., cybersecurity threats have escalated massively in recent years. Governments, companies and individuals are equally susceptible all over the world, but ...
Amendments to agricultural land ownership approved
The cabinet on October 18 approved amendments to the Agricultural Land Reform Act, which has been in force for 40 years, in a move to narrow land ownership disparity and maintain existing land for agriculture. Key amendments include permitting heirs who do not want to ...
Thai Lion Air's Ho Chi Minh City service gets green light
Thai Lion Air has received the green light from Vietnamese authorities to start a Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City service that was earlier placed in doubt. Monday’s notification allows the Thai-registered low-cost carrier to maintain its planned flight timetable with the maiden service set to launch ...
ADB supports sustainable biodiversity management
The Asian Development Bank has approved US$12.8 million in additional financing for the ongoing Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project in Laos. The grant assistance is sourced from ADB’s Strategic Climate Fund, Forest Investment Programme. The grant agreement was signed in Vientiane on October 18, inked by Deputy Minister ...
