News
Thailand's famed 'Rose of the North' is wilting
This 700-year-old city nestled in a green valley of northern Thailand has long enjoyed a story-book reputation for its myriad Buddhist monasteries and charming wooden homes, the delicate manners of its citizens and a tranquillity hardly ruffled by its temple bells. More than 10 million tourists ...
Denis D. Gray
China winning new Cold War on the Mekong
When the state tabloid China Daily ran a paid advertisement in the New York Times extolling the virtues of Beijing’s proliferating dams in Laos, the piece sparked a new cold war controversy. Entitled “Employment on hydroelectric project in Laos delivers better lives”, the piece stated that ...
Where does your plastic go? Global investigation reveals America's dirty secret
What happens to your plastic after you drop it in a recycling bin? According to promotional materials from America’s plastics industry, it is whisked off to a factory where it is seamlessly transformed into something new. This is not the experience of Nguyễn Thị Hồng Thắm, a ...
Erin McCormick, Bennett Murray, Carmela Fonbuena, Leonie Kijewski, Gökçe Saraçoğlu, Jamie Fullerton, Alastair Gee, Charlotte Simmonds
World Bank Puts Myanmar’s Power Investment Needs at $2B a Year
To sustain economic growth, Myanmar needs to invest up to US$2 billion (3.06 trillion kyats) annually in its electricity sector, according to a World Bank report released on Tuesday. In the report, “Myanmar Economic Monitor: Building Reform Momentum”, the World Bank said Myanmar’s economic growth is ...
$1.9bn proposed to help Vietnam’s Mekong Delta cope with climate change
Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment is expected to propose pouring an additional investment worth VND45 trillion (US$1.9 billion) into ongoing efforts to boost development in the Mekong Delta and to help the region cope with climate change. The financial assistance will be spent over the ...
Kokko Chinatown project sparks concerns in Tak
Border towns are often labelled as remote villages without modern infrastructure or amenities. However, recent economic policies such as the development of special economic zones and foreign investment have led to the urbanisation of these rural areas. A clear example of this can be seen in Mae ...
Assawin Pinitwong
Leaders grapple with ASEAN’s thorniest issues at the 34th ASEAN Summit
The 34th ASEAN Summit, which ended on June 23, brought ASEAN leaders together to discuss regional economic, environmental and diplomatic challenges. This time around, the biannual summit centred on sustainability. The bloc is home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world, and sustainable development is a ...
Zachary Frye
Asean embarks on collaborative effort to combat the menace of wildlife trafficking
The region needs a clear action plan to tackle wildlife trafficking, experts stressed this past weekend as the leaders of Asean nations meeting in Bangkok endorsed the “Chiang Mai Statement of Asean Ministers Responsible for CITES and Wildlife Enforcement”. The document’s goal is to address wildlife ...
Pratch Rujivanarom
Vietnam's Cham Islands successfully protect biodiversity
CHÀM ISLANDS, Vietnam – Local fisherman Huynh Tan Loc now earns his living mostly from home-stay and food services or night-fishing on a boat rather than regular fishing. Loc, 56, and his wife can earn VND350,000 (US$15) per night from renting out a room, excluding food, ...
What does world leading consultant suggest Vietnam to unlock offshore wind potential?
First and foremost, Vietnam needs to declare its official ambitions and targets for offshore wind, according to DNV GL. Vietnam needs to have a full assessment of offshore wind power to tap huge potential formed by its geographic advantages, according to DNV GL – the world’s ...
