Government
New regulations ‘to ensure’ free emergency treatment
The Public Health Ministry has again pledged to ensure that people will receive free emergency medical services whenever they need them. But nobody is sure this promise will really apply to all cases across the country. The public, after all, has heard too often over the ...
No surrogacy law likely until after 2018 election: official
A much-needed new surrogacy law might take more than a year to be adopted, an official at the General Secretariat of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking said on March 2 on the sidelines of a stakeholder conference. A senior official, who spoke on condition of ...
Australia to reshape foreign policy, trade
Australia will call home all of its overseas ambassadors for a meeting, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on March 2, as it reshapes its foreign policy to balance ties with long-time ally the United States and China, its largest trading partner. It is the first ...
Companies keen to develop Vientiane-Pakxe expressway project
Nineteen domestic and foreign companies have expressed their interest in developing the planned Vientiane-Pakxe expressway, a senior government official has said. The Ministry of Planning and Investment recently called for local and foreign investors to apply for participation in the mega project by submitting an ...
Vietnam rejects China’s new fishing regulations
Vietnam resolutely opposes and rejects China’s new regulations on a fishing break at sea, Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh has said. He made the statement on February 28 in response to reporters’ queries about the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture’s official announcement on the application of ...
NEC refuses to delay registration
The National Election Committee on February 28 dismissed complaints raised by political parties about the complexity and confusion surrounding the registration process ahead of the June commune elections. The NEC also refused to delay the deadline for political parties to register to be eligible to stand for ...
ASEAN’s 50th year agenda: beyond the South China Sea?
This week’s smooth, relatively uneventful retreat by ASEAN’s foreign ministers appears to have put the grouping’s agenda on track for its 50th year, choosing to focus beyond the South China Sea disputes and set the stage for an April leaders’ summit that will put the ...
Tax exemption on interest income questioned
The Ministry of Planning and Finance has issued a statement on February 19 that income tax will not be levied on interest from bank savings and deposits. The statement means that tax on interest from bank deposits will be exempted in the coming 2017-18 fiscal ...
Phuan festival bolsters Lao-Thai friendship
The annual Phuan ethnic community festival in Thailand has significantly contributed to maintaining and strengthening the friendship between Laos and Thailand along with conserving the traditions of the ethnic group. Lao Ambassador to Thailand Mr Li Bounkham made the remarks as he joined Nan province ...
Officials told to submit airport plan
Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has urged the ministries of Transport and Defence to finalise a plan to expand Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in HCM City and report to the Government next week. The Airport Design and Construction Consultancy One Member Ltd Company ...