People and government
Fishery groups step up bid to avoid EU action

Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber was gravely concerned about the IUU issue and had tried its best to promote cooperation with private counterparts in the fishing industry to create a traceability system for products. Mr Poj insisted that, whatever ...
Abandoned Rohingya migrants reveal new smuggling route

Police apprehended 13 illegal Rohingya migrants left on a roadside in Chumphon province on 27 April, learning that the Malaysia-bound Muslims were being smuggled on a previously unknown route. Keep reading ...
Vietnam seeks aid as drought threatens millions

Officials from the country’s agriculture ministry and the United Nations said more than 60,000 women and children in 18 hardest-hit provinces in southern and central Vietnam are facing malnutrition while around 1.75 million people from farming families have had their livelihoods badly hit. Keep reading ...
Asean debates food safety issues
The three-day meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Health and attended by representatives of the Asean Secretariat and officials concerned with food safety matters from the 10 Asean member states. The importance of food safety has increased significantly in recent years following a series of ...
Laos parliament approves development plans

The inaugural session of the National Assembly’s 8th Legislature ended on 22 April with the approval of the 8th five-year National Social Economic Development Plan for 2016-2020, the 10-year Strategy for 2016-2025, and the 15-year Vision for 2016-2030. The three-day session elected Mr Bounnhang Vorachit as President ...
State of press freedom remains dire across much of region

An annual assessment of press freedom in 180 countries released by campaign group Reporters Without Borders reveals a mixed bag of progress and decline in the region. According to the Reporters Without Borders report, bloggers and citizen journalists in Vietnam are “the permanent targets of extremely ...
PM casts fisheries chief adrift

The regime has decided to remove Thailand Fisheries Department chief Wimol Jantrarotai for making slow progress in addressing illegal fishing amid concerns Thailand is still at risk of being slapped with a red card by the European Union. Keep reading ...
Laos enjoys political stability, strong economic growth, parliament told
Mr. Thongsing was summarising the government’s performance under his leadership over the past five years from 2011-2015 at the inaugural session of the NA’s 8th Legislature, which opened on 20 April. He told the session that the government had placed great importance on the development of ...
Laos waits for new dengue vaccine
While Laos is waiting for WHO approval of the quality of the dengue vaccine, Dr. Kongxay, deputy manager of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation of the Ministry of Health has advised members of the public to follow five principles on controlling dengue mosquito populations. Those include ...
Myanmar's new FM to clarify foreign policy
According to deputy director-general of the Political Department of the Foreign Ministry U Ko Ko Shein, Myanmar government’s foreign policy is oriented to the protection of national interests, security, economic development, justice, stability and environmental sustainability. Keep reading ...