People and government

The locust invasion in the north has reached plague proportions and despite a chemical spraying campaign their numbers are continuing to grow in Huaphan, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Phongsaly and Xieng Khuang provinces. In an attempt to stop the pests destroying all crops in their path, ...

The National Election Committee on May 4 defended its decision to print 1.5 million extra ballots for the upcoming commune elections, saying the chances of misuse were minimal given better identification systems – though the opposition and civil society remained unconvinced. Following the NEC’s announcement that ...

Nearly 100 residents living along a stretch of land running from a railway in Boeung Kak to National Road 5 have gathered again outside City Hall to demand information about the development of a new road threatening to destroy their homes. Their protest came as ...

The Union Minister for Information, Dr Pe Myint, has called for greater improvement in Myanmar’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index at a celebration to mark the World Press Freedom Day 2017. This year’s celebration was jointly sponsored by UNESCO Myanmar and the Ministry of ...

Education experts from 20 countries in Southeast Asia and around the world have gathered in Bangkok for the International Congress on Education for the 21st Century. The two-day event started on May 3 at the Berkeley Hotel Pratunam. Hosted by Thailand’s Education Ministry and the Southeast Asian ...

The Kiên Giang Province People’s Committee has approved making Phú Quốc a smart city by 2020. The project will be based on the Việt Nam Post and Telecommunications Corporation’s information communications technology infrastructure and the province’s e-governance. It seeks to develop Phú Quốc island into ...

In a bid to lower maternal and child morbidity and mortality, Laos will aim to reduce the unmet need for contraception to 13 percent and increase the contraceptive prevalence rate using at least one method from 42 to 65 percent by 2020. The nation’s unmet ...

Cambodia’s first lady has called on all midwives to prioritise professional development and improve their skills, ahead of the International Day of the Midwife tomorrow. Prime Minister Hun Sen’s wife Bun Rany, who is also president of the Cambodian Red Cross, sent a letter calling ...

Phnom Penh is to get five new bus routes when China donates 100 buses within two months, according to City Hall. Phnom Penh Governor Pa Socheatvong said the new routes would help reduce traffic congestion in the capital and should be operational in June or ...

City Hall officials are holding meetings with other departments to find ways to let water flow from flood-prone areas of Chbar Ampov district. City Hall spokesman Met Meas Pheakdey said the district was the lowest-lying area and routinely suffered floods after heavy rain. He said the ...