News
Friendship bridges that are not friendly
Four ‘Friendship Bridges’ span the wide majestic Mekong River as it creates a meandering borderline between Thailand and Laos but just how friendly are these border bridges? When the first bridge opened back in 1994, spanning the river between Nong Khai in Thailand and Vientiane province ...
Don Ross
Thailand's internet censorship rates 6/10
Thailand has received a score of 6 out of 10 in internet censorship, on a par with various regional peers, according to UK-based tech research firm Comparitech. A score of 6 was given to 17 countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam, out of 150 ...
Suchit Leesa-Nguansuk
Laos to export 20,000 MW of electricity by 2030
Laos’ electricity exports to neighbouring countries and Asean states are expected to increase to about 20,000 MW between 2020 and 2030. Electricity is considered a huge revenue earner for Laos, especially through exports to neighbouring countries and Asean states such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar ...
Vientiane Times
WB’s Vietnam Development Report 2019 launched
The Vietnam Development Report 2019 “Connecting Vietnam for Growth and Shared Prosperity” was co-launched by the World Bank (WB) and the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Hanoi on Wednesday. It presents a comprehensive overview of connectivity issues in Vietnam, using a set of new analytical ...
Courts charge Stung Treng men for transporting illegal timber
Stung Treng provincial police on Sunday sent one of seven men detained over the transportation of illegal timber to court. Provincial police chief Mao Dara said the Vietnamese man was sent to the provincial court after being accused of transporting nearly 200 pieces of beng timber ...
Soth Koemsoeun
What Xi wants in Myanmar may not be what he gets
If there were any doubts around China’s thinking about where to direct its money and influence in Southeast Asia, they were dispelled by the recent announcement that Xi Jinping would visit Myanmar on 17 and 18 January, the first state visit by a Chinese leader ...
Michael Sainsbury
Mandalay disaster response team to work with other groups in the north
The Mandalay Disaster Response Team has joined forces with other charitable groups in northern Myanmar to strengthen its ability to respond to emergencies in the region and neighbouring areas. The organisation was formed in 2016 with members of more than 20 charitable groups to assist people displaced ...
Khin Su Wai
China's Mekong River dams are generating renewable energy, but are costing locals their livelihoods
Early in January, locals in the northern Thai village of Chiang Khong woke to find the Mekong River had dropped a metre overnight. The water level fell so rapidly that damp mud was still visible days later when the ABC visited the area and some boats ...
Amy Bainbridge and Supattra Vimonsuk
$4M solar farm investment launched in Cambodia
Pestech International, a Malaysian company that specialises in solar power technology and infrastructure, has expanded its presence in the Kingdom. The Edge Markets reported yesterday that Pestech has acquired a 94 percent stake in Green Sustainable Ventures (Cambodia). The investment is worth $4 million, according to ...
Jose Rodriguez T. Senase
Myanmar authorities stop 17 illegal gold mines along Ayeyarwady River
U Kyaw Myint Than, director of the Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River System said the illegal gold mines were discovered in Thabeikkyin township during an inspection on the area on Monday. The general administration department, police force and the officials from the Ministry ...
Kyaw Ko Ko