News
Lam Dong residents concerned after water pipeline ruptures
The authorities of Lam Dong Central Highlands Province have confirmed that the environment was not affected after a water pipeline ruptured, though local residents remain concerned about long term consequences. The pipeline that broke on 13 February is part of the Tan Rai Aluminium Plant, in Loc ...
Narong eases ThaiHealth budget freeze
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Narong Pipatanasai has approved budget disbursements for some projects under the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) after about 1.64 billion baht was earlier frozen due to suspected misspending. Adm Narong signed off on the budget allocation for some of the foundation’s projects ...
Vietnam's credit institutions asked to up lending to boost business
State Bank of Vietnam Governor Nguyen Van Binh on 17 February asked credit institutions to boost lending right after Tet (Lunar New Year) in a move to support businesses. Under Directive No819/NHNN-VP, the Governor asked the institutions to effectively enhance their capital mobilisation to be able to ...
Ministry calls a halt to passport extensions
The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consulate Department has announced that it will halt the extension of expired passports and require officials and all citizens to apply for new passports. The move comes after sub-standard barcodes in passports issued between 2008 and 2012 caused problems when ...
Road resurfacing under way in Vientiane
The resurfacing of three main roads in Vientiane will start early next month while many other roads will also be resurfaced in the coming months, scheduled for completion by the end of this year. Deputy Director of the Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department, Mr Nuanta Hompathoum, ...
Lao language soon to be used on internet
The Lao language can be used in domain name systems and on the internet after the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) approves its use in the middle of the year. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the ICANN discussed the issue at ...
Luang Prabang Airport: Laos resort to grow rapidly in 2016 as AirAsia, HK Express, SilkAir enter
Luang Prabang in Laos is emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing tourist destinations, driving rapid passenger growth with services by at least four new airlines in 2016. Thai AirAsia will become the first LCC to serve Luang Prabang Airport in March 2016 as it ...
Mammoth year in Cambodia's microfinance sector
Cambodia’s microfinance sector experienced another year of explosive growth, with both lending and deposits surging over 40 per cent in 2015, according to new data by an industry association. An annual performance sheet released on 18 February by the Cambodian Microfinance Association showed its membership – comprising ...
Sihanoukville beach businesses take fears to assembly
More than 100 businesses from three Sihanoukville beaches hand-delivered a petition to Cambodia’s National Assembly on 18 February, calling for the prime minister to intervene in a government directive to have them evicted. Keep reading ...
Controversial study says violence works
Indigenous peoples fighting economic land concessions (ELCs) in Cambodia are more likely to get results with violent protest than lodging their complaints through legitimate channels, a controversial study published this month argues. The paper, published by Young Sokphea in the Asian Journal of Social Science, concludes ...
