News
PNG frees Myanmar and Cambodia ‘slaves’ from fishing boat
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday pledged his nation’s support in tackling human trafficking as he confirmed the seizure of a boat carrying alleged slaves from Myanmar and Cambodia. Mr O’Neill said the eight people were rescued from the fishing boat Blissful Reefer. Keep reading ...
UN warns Myanmar flood toll likely to increase
The toll from flooding and landslides after days of torrential rain is likely to rise, the United Nations has warned, as monsoon downpours brought misery to thousands across the region. At least 21 people have been killed and more than 150,000 affected by flooding across 12 ...
Jungle Vegas: How China's gamblers are pouring into a casino in Laos' notorious Golden Triangle
Kings Romans, a Chinese-owned casino complex in Ton Pheung district, Bokeo, is the centrepiece of a 10,000-square metre “Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone” set up by communist-ruled Laos with investment from its giant neighbour. The other Golden Triangle nations, Thailand and Myanmar sit just across river, ...
Myanmar officials use social media to fight flood rumours
Local government officials are turning to social media in an effort to share information on the flooding situation in upper Myanmar – and head off rumours of impending dam overflows and other catastrophes. The government has traditionally used state media, both print and broadcast, to share ...
8 fishing 'slaves' pulled from Thai boat in PNG
Authorities in Papua New Guinea have rescued eight fishermen held on board a Thai-owned refrigerated cargo ship, and dozens of other boats are still being sought in response to an Associated Press report that included satellite photos and locations of slave vessels at sea. Two Myanmar ...
Sagaing village’s electric ambitions drown in flooding
Sagaing Region’s flooding has quenched villagers’ dreams of electric power. The heavy rains and rising rivers have drowned at least 10 people, broken down bridges and dams, stranded road and rail passengers, driven hundreds from their homes and swept away entire villages. In addition, they have ...
Myanmar activists press Chinese mining firm for answers
Local activists have again failed in their bid to get a major Chinese mining company to answer questions about its involvement in mining activities in Sagaing Region. Ko Tint Aung Soe, a representative of the Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability in Sagaing Region, told The ...
Bridges washed out in upper Myanmar
Heavy rains have broken 21 bridges over rivers and creeks in upper Myanmar, the Ministry of Construction told a press conference yesterday. Keep reading ...
Aid group forced to stop helping flood victims on Ma Ba Tha orders
Hardline monks have flexed their muscles amid the desolation of Sagaing Region’s floods, ordering a prominent aid group to leave the area and describing National League for Democracy and other volunteers as “troublemaking groups”. Flooding has devastated large areas of northern Sagaing Region, with Kawlin the ...
Thousands displaced in Mrauk-Oo, Myanmar
More than 1000 people have been displaced by flooding in Mrauk-Oo township in Rakhine State as a result of heavy rain, a civil society leader in the town reported. Rain was continuing and there were concerns the situation would worsen. Keep reading ...
