News
Thailand believed to have deported 2 Chinese activists
The UN refugee agency criticised Thailand on 17 November for deporting two refugees who were about to be resettled in a third country. Rights groups identified the two as Chinese pro-democracy activists, although the Bangkok office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees did not give their ...
Cambodia's budget transparency at all-time low: report
The Cambodian government’s budget transparency score has fallen to its lowest measure on record, according to a recent survey, but officials remain optimistic that the score will improve in the future. Cambodia’s score of eight out of 100 in 2015’s Open Budget Survey put it near ...
Cambodia at low risk of debt distress: IMF
Cambodia’s external public debt is well within acceptable limits, but remains vulnerable to financial shocks such as export slowdowns or exchange rate fluctuations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its latest assessment of the Kingdom’s economy. “Cambodia’s debt distress rating remains low with all debt ...
Thailand, China agree on railways
The Thai cabinet approved a draft cooperation framework on 17 November for the Thai-Chinese railway development project. Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the draft framework covered the construction of 1.435-metre standard-gauge railways along two routes. They are Nong Khai-Nakhon Ratchasima-Kaeng Khoi and Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut. Keep reading ...
Thailand's 'train-the-trainer' English course kicks off in March
Thailand’s Education Ministry plans to kick off its six-week “train-the-trainer” programme for the first group of 500 Thai teachers to teach English in state-run schools in March next year. Deputy Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, who oversees the programme, said on 17 November the teachers will be trained ...
UN criticises Cambodia, China rights violations
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on 17 November that an arrest warrant issued against Cambodia’s opposition leader Sam Rainsy was a worrisome development and called for dialogue. Meanwhile, in Geneva, a UN watchdog questioned Chinese officials over alleged widespread use of torture in the country’s prisons, deaths ...
Vietnam, New Zealand sign four agreements
Vietnamese and New Zealand businesses signed four agreements on 15 November during the official visit by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to Vietnam. The four business-to-business arrangements – between Global Trust Alliance, AsureQuality and Vinamilk, Airways International and the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, Airways International ...
Complaints filed against Thai workers in Dawei, Myanmar
Local residents of Myanmar’s Dawei Township, Taninthayi Region, complained to the Immigration Officer on 16 November about Thai citizens who have been working at the Banchaung coal mining project without legal work permits since 8 November. May Flower Mining Enterprises was granted permission to implement the Banchaung ...
Thailand, Japan to sign emissions-offset agreement
Japan plans to sign an agreement with Thailand as part of a programme to offset its emissions in exchange for clean-energy and energy-saving technologies. Keep reading ...
Myanmar's outgoing MPs ease back in to work
As parliamentarians arrived at the vast entrance hall to the Pyithu Hluttaw on 16 November morning, they were doing their best to keep their expressions neutral – none more so than the last to arrive. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is known for maintaining a steely expression ...
