News
Mekong Delta region warned about serious flooding
Localities in the Mekong Delta and some ministries have been urged to stay active to respond to and mitigate impact of flooding as the Mekong River is now in full spate and the water level still keeps rising. Keep reading ...
Laos urged to abandon ‘Battery of Asia’ plan
Hydropower projects ruining Mekong, culture and causing deaths, meeting told LAOS HAS to wake up from its dream to be the major power supplier of the region, say critics. Keep reading ...
Northern double-track railway to Mekong to open 2023
Construction of the 323km double-track railway from Den Chai in Phrae to Chiang Khong on the Mekong River border will be accelerated so it can enter service two years earlier, the transport minister announced on Thursday. Keep reading ...
Moratorium on new Mekong dams in Laos provides window of opportunity
As Laos hits the pause button on its huge hydropower dam building spree, this is an opportunity to push for other forms of renewable energy – solar and wind – that Laos is well-placed to use, argues Brian Eyler. Keep reading ...
Thailand scraps new economic zones and plans regional linkups
The Thai government is revamping its special economic zone strategy and pushing for links with those in neighboring countries, hoping to improve access within the region and secure tariff-free entrance for its goods into the European Union. Keep reading ...
Activists call on Laos dam operator to own up
Activists and regional development experts on Thursday demanded Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company (PNPC) to take responsibility for all damages caused by the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam, which collapsed on July 25. Keep reading ...
Rethink plans to dam Mekong after Laos disaster
The collapse of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam after heavy rains last month that killed more than 30 in Laos and left thousands of Lao and Cambodian people homeless is reigniting an urgent debate about preventing similar tragedies in future. Keep reading ...
Southeast Asia is betting on hydropower, but there are risks of economic damage
Across the world, countries are building dams to create electricity and boost their economies, but the risks could outweigh the benefits. Dams often inflicts environmental damage to aquatic eco-systems that creates socio-economic risks to communities dependent on rivers and lakes for their livelihoods. The problem ...
Is ASEAN defence diplomacy key to resolving the humanitarian situation in Myanmar?
ASEAN has been criticised for its response to the Rohingya refugee crisis. The grouping’s institutional design and existing conventions restrict opportunities for robust action. Myanmar’s military (known as the ‘Tatmadaw’) is the key element to finding a durable solution to the crisis, yet most Western ...
A caravan of friendship
The Myanmar-Thailand cross-border car rally promotes overland tourism on the Yangon-Dawei-Kanchanaburi-Tak route. Travelling in a four-wheel-drive on a 2,700km route from Myanmar’s old capital of Yangon through Thailand via the Dawei-Kanchanaburi border sounds tough for many. Keep reading ...
