The Straits Times
Thailand to allow use of 'economically valuable trees' as collateral for financial loans
Owners of 58 types of ‘economically valuable trees’ will be able to use them as collateral when applying for loans at financial institutions under a new policy, Government spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat said on her Facebook page. “This policy was proposed by the Ministry of Commerce as ...
THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam alarmed by Laos project
Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam have urged Laos to better assess transboundary impacts, and strengthen proposed measures to reduce any negative effect as it moves ahead with the construction of a dam. At a special joint committee session of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) earlier this week, ...
Shankar Ganesh
Coronavirus: Thailand extends state of emergency until May 31
Thailand is extending the state of emergency for a month until May 31, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Tuesday (April 28), even as new coronavirus cases in the country have been on a decline for the past few weeks. “The extension is necessary. Many orders especially in ...
Hathai Techakitteranun
Coronavirus: With 'zero' infections, Laos and Myanmar gird for battle
As coronavirus infections spike across South-east Asia, Myanmar and Laos have conspicuously logged zero patients – despite the fact that both share a sizeable border with China, where the outbreak originated. Both countries say all the people suspected of being infected with the coronavirus have tested negative so far. ...
Tan Hui Yee
Mekong River Commission issues warning about blue-green water
With parts of the Mekong River turning an unusual blue-green, an inter-governmental commission has warned of possibly serious consequences if water levels stay low in the increasing dammed river. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) said on Monday (Dec 9) the aquamarine hue currently seen in a ...
Tan Hui Yee
Cambodian PM says no China naval base being built
Cambodia will not allow foreign military bases on its soil, strongman premier Hun Sen said on Monday (Nov 19), swatting away United States concerns about a possible Chinese naval site near hotly contested seas. China has lavished billions of dollars in soft loans, infrastructure and ...
Mekong Delta fights high-tide flooding
The local authorities in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta are taking steps to mitigate the impact of flooding caused by high tides during the annual flood season. The delta’s provinces and Can Tho City have been severely affected by high tides over the past few days. Keep reading ...
Rohingya exodus: 132 Asean MPs seek probe
More than 130 Members of Parliament from Asean nations, including two from Singapore, have demanded that Myanmar be investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the most united condemnation from the region since the violence began against the Rohingya a year ago. In a joint statement ...
CIMB becomes first bank from Asean to join United Nations' initiative for responsible banking
CIMB Group Holdings has become a member of the United Nations’ (UN) Environment Programme Finance Initiative Principles for Responsible Banking (UNEP-FI), making it the only banking group in Asean to be a founding member of the sustainable initiative. Keep reading ...
Call for Asean to work together for low-carbon future
The urgent need for Asean to deal with climate change was highlighted yesterday by two Singapore ministers, who called on the regional bloc to work together for a low-carbon future. Keep reading ...