News
Thailand’s ASEAN Chair Challenge in 2019
On November 15 at the recent ASEAN Summit in Singapore, the symbolic gavel of the rotating ASEAN chairmanship was handed from Singapore to Thailand ahead of the official start as ASEAN chair in 2019. While Bangkok is no stranger to chairing ASEAN as one of ...
Trade Department pushes 12 priorities for Asean chair
Twelve economic issues, including the conclusion of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, have been proposed for consideration as Thailand readies itself to assume Asean’s chairmanship. Keep reading ...
ASEAN defence ministers meeting begins in Lucknow
The ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine being co-chaired by India and Myanmar began Sunday at the Central Command in Lucknow, a Defence official said. “The aim of the conference is to establish better co-operation in medical operations amongst ...
China's Belt & Road needs to listen more
In the aftermath of a tense Asean-led summit season, it is clear now that the United States and China are engaged in a great-power competition not seen since the Cold War. The US-China trade war, irrespective of negotiated talks in Buenos Aires between President Donald ...
Hi-tech mapping threatens land rights across the 'digital divide': experts
Countries are increasingly embracing drones and satellites to map land and minimize conflict rising from ownership disputes, but unequal access to these technologies can further endanger the rights of vulnerable people, analysts say. Keep reading ...
Myanmar parliament approves Thai loan for Mekong corridor towns development
Myanmar’s Union Parliament has approved borrowing a loan from the Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) of Thailand for the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) East-West Economic Corridor towns development project, parliament sources said Friday. Keep reading ...
Thai activist sued for defamation as poultry firm vows more cases
A defamation case by a Thai poultry farm against an activist who tweeted allegations of labour abuse should be dropped, a rights group urged Wednesday (Nov 28), as the complainant vowed further action against “so-called human rights defenders”. Thailand exports billions of dollars of farm ...
Germany, EU roll out funding to accelerate lower Mekong projects
Germany and the EU continue to grant new funding, worth €8.92 million ($10.15 million), to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to enhance the Mekong cross-border water cooperation among the lower Mekong countries – Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, said an MRC press release The Post ...
Forum to protect Eld’s deer
Around 50 officers and wildlife conservationists from China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia gathered in Phnom Penh for a workshop intended as a forum to share information to help provide better protection for the Eld’s deer. The species is now a rare and ...
25th meeting of Mekong Council reviews work on river
The 25th meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council was convened in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh, on November 28. It brought together 120 delegates from the council’s four member countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The commission’s dialogue ...