News

Southeast Asia’s hydropower boom grinds to a halt as COVID-19 stalls projects

Incomplete and prospective hydropower dam projects in Southeast Asia, particularly along the Mekong River and its tributaries, are at risk of major delays and shutdowns as the COVID-19 pandemic impacts major industries, energy markets and worker safety. The government of Laos has already ordered a temporary ...

Jack Board

Laos Remains Vulnerable Despite Mostly Avoiding COVID-19 Carnage, Officials Say

Health officials in Laos say the government has implemented effective measures to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, but that authorities must ensure they continue to be upheld because the impoverished nation with limited medical resources remains at risk. The small landlocked country of 7 ...

Deserted Thai beaches lure rare turtles to build most nests in 20 years

Thailand has found the largest number of nests of rare leatherback sea turtles in two decades on beaches bereft of tourists because of the coronavirus pandemic, environmentalists say. From wild boars patrolling the Israeli city of Haifa to deer venturing into London suburbs, virus closures are ...

Jiraporn Kuhakan

Anti-drug campaign aided by pandemic checking

More than 5,800 suspects have been arrested and 233 million methamphetamine or “speed” pills seized during a regional anti-drug campaign that has benefited from the Covid-19 pandemic. Niyom Termrisuk, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), said the mushrooming number of checkpoints due ...

KING-OUA LAOHONG

COVID-19: Vietnam Winning New War Against Invisible Enemy

Vietnam, just south of coastal China, is the 15th most populous country in the world with 97 million people. According to its Ministry of Health (MoH), as of April 13, there were 262 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 144 recovering or discharged from hospitals, and no ...

Anis Chowdhury in Sydney and Jomo Kwame Sundaram in Kuala Lumpur

Children killed as clashes between Myanmar army, fighters rage

The Myanmar army is carrying out “almost daily air strikes and shelling” in the restive Rakhine and Chin states amid a surge in clashes with fighters, with reports of at least 32 civilians killed in recent weeks, according to the United Nations human rights office. The ...

AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

A miracle as turtles return to Thailand's empty beaches, closed due to virus outbreak

Popular beaches in southern Thailand, empty of tourists due to closures and restrictions related to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, are seeing the return of rare wildlife, officials said on Sunday (April 19). “As we fight the Covid-19 outbreak, nature is also rejuvenating and creating balance,” Warawut ...

Vietnam 9th safest place in Asia-Pacific amid Covid-19 pandemic, study finds

Vietnam is the ninth safest place in the Asia-Pacific to get through Covid-19, a study released by Hong Kong’s Deep Knowledge Group says. It scored 594.91 to become one of only three Southeast Asian nations to make the top 10 along with Singapore and Thailand, the ...

Minh Nga

Thailand’s marine life is rebounding during Covid-19 crisis

The Marine National Park in the southern province of Trang spotted 4 dugongs, 4 dolphins and 8 sea turtles offshore near Hat Chao Mai National Park. The MNP and Hat Chao Mai National Park conducted the observation by sea and air covering the areas abundant ...

Sean Kelly

Technology and e-commerce companies respond to the crisis

Services that deliver food, groceries, medical supplies and packages are among the few businesses thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic after local authorities ordered the closure of bars, dine-in restaurants, and entertainment facilities throughout much of Myanmar. More and more Myanmar people are practising social distancing ...

Andrew King

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