People and government
Ten Vientiane industrial plants discharging unclean water
The Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment of Laos has confirmed that 10 industrial plants in Vientiane are discharging unclean and untreated water, some of which contains potentially harmful chemicals. Director General of the ministry’s Department of Pollution Control, Mr Khamphanh Nanthavong, addressed the issue on ...
Government rolls out ambitious plan to eliminate hunger
Backed by the U.N., Cambodia on 4 May launched a national action plan to completely eliminate hunger in the country by 2025, the first step in an ambitious initiative that the government signed on to last year. Newly appointed Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon said during the plan’s ...
Myanmar’s media landscape through the years

Recent years have seen dramatic changes to Myanmar’s media landscape, with the previous quasi-civilian government taking steps to unshackle a press corps long muzzled by successive military regimes dating back to 1962. In the wake of World Press Freedom Day, which was celebrated on 3 May, ...
Media workers lament decline in freedom of expression in Thailand

“We are the worst, even when compared to Laos or Vietnam,” said Kulachada Chaipipat, campaign manager at the Southeast Asia Press Alliance. “Those two countries have seen stagnant, bad situations, but Thailand is going down.” Speaking on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on ...
Laos needs to consolidate to be successful Asean member: PM
Laos is looking for uncovered potential and opportunities to effectively integrate with the Asean Economic Community in ways that benefit the country. Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said, “Asean has been approved as a community, but Laos is still seeking uncovered possibilities, potential and opportunities that will benefit ...
Drought exacerbates hoof and mouth outbreak among cattle

A vaccine campaign has been launched in response to an outbreak of hoof and mouth disease exacerbated by drought conditions in Kampong Thom province, officials said yesterday, as drought-relief efforts continued in Banteay Meanchey.Chan Panhavoan, director of the veterinary office of the Kampong Thom provincial ...
ICT forum eyed as FDI springboard
The government is hopeful an upcoming global forum for the information and communication technology industry will provide an avenue for foreign direct investment from global tech companies. The ITU Telecom World Forum 2016, to be held in Bangkok from Nov 14-17, will also allow the Thai ...
Energy and electricity merger complete

A merger between the ministries of electric power and energy, ordered by the new government in March, is now complete and the new structure will be submitted to the cabinet for approval, officials said. U Pe Zin Tun will head up the new ministry. The ...
World Bank helps Vietnam improve transport, flood control

The World Bank on 29 April approved more than US$500 million in support for improvements to road and bridge connections as well as flood control and sanitation conditions in Vietnam. The project aims to protect more than 255,000 residents and about 5,720 hectares out of 8,390 frequently ...
Scenes from a drought

Across the country of Cambodia, water scarcity is threatening health and livelihoods. In what may be the worst regional drought in more than 50 years, brought on by an El Niño cycle exacerbated by climate change, water shortages have been declared in 18 of the ...