Environment and land
Two director generals fired after jade probe
A three-month investigation into dodgy dealings in the murky jade industry has netted dozens of government officials, with two director generals dismissed from their posts earlier this week. The President’s Office on 3 March confirmed that the director generals from two Union government ministries, as well as ...
Environmental campaigner convicted of forestry crime
A prominent anti-dam activist in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province who has been jailed since October was convicted on 3 March of illegal logging and given a suspended prison sentence, allowing him to walk free but leaving the shadow of a criminal conviction hanging over him. The decision ...
Ho Chi Minh City rolls out first buses that run on green fuel
Ho Chi Minh City on 1 March took the first step to make its public transport system more environmentally friendly by introducing 23 brand new buses that use compressed natural gas (CNG). Nguyen Van Trieu, chairman of the May 19 Bus Transport Cooperative, said the new buses ...
Brazil challenges Thai sugar 'subsidies'
Brazil will challenge Thailand at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over “subsidies” for sugar producers that it says have dragged down global prices, the Trade Ministry said. Brazil said the Thai government had given support to cane growers and sugar mills that was inconsistent with international trade ...
Thai Government adjusts water plan to battle drought
Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has adjusted its water distribution plan after the water in 10 main dams across the country receded to critical levels. Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said on 2 March the water discharge plan of each dam has been tweaked to cope with ...
Millers, exporters take on rice federation
A newly formed coalition of rice millers and exporters has raised alarm bells, forecasting the imminent “collapse” of Cambodia’s rice sector within two years and blaming in part “governance failure” by the industry’s apex body. The 18-member group, whose initiative is called the Rice Industry Strategic ...
Shan rights groups call for mine clearance
Shan State locals are demanding the government clear landmines from conflict areas surrounding villages in the north of the state. The Kachin Ethnic Network of Shan State made the request in Yangon on 1 March during a press conference. They also demanded armed groups stop detaining civilians. Keep reading ...
Int'l hydro conference highlights need for sustainability
The Lao government is hosting the sixth International Conference and Exhibition on Water Resources and Hydropower Development in Asia, aiming to promote the balance of the role of hydropower in the world and highlight challenges. The three-day event runs from March 1-3 in Vientiane. It gathers ...
Mission to Seafarers expands with new center in Myanmar
The city of Yangon in Myanmar is home to the Mission to Seafarers’ newest port facility. The Anglican mission agency’s newest mission centre was dedicated on 28 February during a service at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon). The new facility is located ...
Crop insurance takes root
A pilot project that offers micro-insurance to help rice farmers cope with the risks of flooding and drought is looking to build on the success of its first season by scaling up beyond three existing provinces. The Cambodia Micro Agriculture Insurance Scheme (CAMAIS), launched in the ...
