COVID-19

For the past three decades, Vietnam has known only good — or great — economic news. The nation’s consistent growth as an exporter, propelled by Communist leaders who began embracing market-oriented policies in the late 1980s, pushed many into the middle class. The coronavirus pandemic changed ...

Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, together with cabinet members, namely, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Minister of Interior Gen. Anupong Paojinda, Minister of ...

The cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of one billion baht to support the development and manufacture of Covid-19 vaccines. The money will be used by the National Vaccine Institute and other related agencies to domestically produce vaccines that can tackle the virus as well as ...

China stepped up its vaccine diplomacy on Monday with Premier Li Keqiang promising five Southeast Asian partners priority access to a  coronavirus  vaccine while also pledging to share water control information for flood-hit nations along the Mekong River. Li made the remarks at a videoconference of the Lancang-Mekong ...

An elevated fiscal deficit will result in growing public debt, which will ramp up pressure on Laos’ debt servicing capacity amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Vientiane Times reported on August 21. The Lao Government has estimated that the budget deficit will rise from 6.69 trillion kip (700 million USD) , ...

When Kosum Kao-Uthai’s family noticed mysterious imprints in the sand outside the hotel resort they own in Koh Samui, she knew exactly which animal had paid a visit. She remembered spotting the same marks, left by a nesting sea turtle, when, as a teenager, she ...

Immigration officials in Chang Saen, Chiang Rai have arrested 18 Chinese nationals for illegal entry after crossed the Mekong from Laos. Immigration police said the Chinese Nationals were found taking refuge at a local restaurant. Chiang Rai Immigration police said they were tipped off about the ...

On Aug 14, a youth-led celebration, coordinated by the Lao Youth Union, for this year’s International Youth Day (IYD) in the midst of a global pandemic highlighted education and empowerment for young people and by youth themselves, emphasising how young people are taking action to ...

After six months in lockdown, Thailand is encouraging citizens to return to its islands and beaches. The nation has had no local transmissions in the last two months. Businesses have opened back up and the government is now contemplating allowing 100,000 foreign workers to return to ...

Many factors could trigger a fresh surge of infections nationwide, according to Prof Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, director of the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre. “First and foremost, Thais have become convinced that the country is completely free from COVID-19 cases and are ...