Author: Thura Bo Thu

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Vietnam has the world’s second-largest reserves of rare earths after China, with an estimated 22 million tonnes accounting for around 19 per cent of the world’s known reserves. However, despite numerous attempts to develop the rare earth industry, including collaborations with Japanese investors in the early 2010s, little progress has been made and Vietnam has yet to successfully launch its rare earth industry. But things appear to be changing quickly. In July, the Vietnamese government released a master plan for the mineral sector which aims to exploit and process more than 2 million tonnes of rare earth ores…

Months of political deadlock and stock market volatility have finally come to a close in Thailand. The appointment of new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is expected to boost investor confidence in the short term but experts say the long-term economic recovery will prove challenging. While the Move Forward party won May’s general election, it was unable to obtain approval from the conservative Senate. A volatile summer ensued as election runner-up Pheu Thai abandoned MFP to form a new coalition government with two military parties — the Palang Pracharat Party and United Thai Nation Party — as well as the moderate…

Brussels (27/10 – 50) Just in September this year, ten “distinguished” people in Tajikistan have been awarded general ranks. The decree on conferring general ranks was signed by the country’s president, Emomali Rahmon, on September 7th. According to this decree, there are now three more generals in the Agency for State Financial Control and Anti-Corruption. The rank of Major General of Justice was awarded to the head of the Finance and Economic Department, Fazliddin Khodjazoda, the head of the Special Operations Department, Abdurakhmon Davlatzoda, and the head of the Agency for GBAO, Zoir Gafurzoda. The rank of Major General of…

The meeting will continue to consider the implementation of measures related to maritime transportation in accordance with the Kuala Lumpur 2016-2025 strategic plan, initiatives in maritime transportation recovery and sustainable development post Covid-19 pandemic as well as progress of the 2022-2023 action plan on goods circulation and ship waste management. Besides, participating delegates will discuss future cooperation with the International Maritime Organisation and hold talks with dialogue partners. Measures related to smart technology applications in the field of maritime transportation for upcoming action plans are expected to be introduced at the three-day event. According to MOT, as chairman of MTWG…

Hangzhou: Thai golfers completed a golden double by landing the women’s individual and team events top honours at the Asian Games on Sunday. LPGA Tour rookie Arphichaya Yubol was crowned the individual gold medallist, finishing two shots ahead of Aditi Ashok of India at the West Lake International Golf Course. The Thai star shot a four-under-par 68 in the final round to finish on 19-under 269 total while overnight leader Ashok had a shocking five-over 77 to finish on 17-under 271. “When I hit the second shot on 18 I felt it was straight, but when I saw it land…

The Thai owner of Sheffield Wednesday says he has had enough of the “insults” directed at him and his family and will not put any more money into the struggling English football club. In a statement posted on the club’s website, Dejphon Chansiri said that while he took responsibility for all club issues, he is unhappy with the treatment he and his family have received from some fans. “From now, I will not put additional money into the club,” he said. The Owls are currently at the bottom of the Championship, the second tier of English football, after a 3-0 loss…

Myanmar’s junta announced Sunday it had begun a pilot census in 20 townships across the divided country, a move critics say will be used to increase surveillance of opponents. The military has justified its 2021 coup with unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in 2020 elections won resoundingly by civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). Junta officials have said a national census must be completed before fresh elections, which the government has hinted may come in 2025. “We will conduct [a census] from October 1 to 15, 2023, in 20 townships selected in Naypyidaw and other…

A Saudi Arabian athlete appropriately made the opening lift when the 2023 IWF World Championships began in Riyadh, where a number of other “firsts” and records will be made over the next two weeks. This is the first time Saudi Arabia has hosted a weightlifting World Championships, at 14 days it is the longest to date, and it the first one at which all athletes hoping to compete at the next Olympic Games must take part, under the Paris 2024 qualifying rules. It features the most athletes and the most International Technical Officials ever at 719 and 65 respectively, and…

The Black Lions 1st ID Vietnam Living History Group* is a Living History group in the Western New York area that educates the public on the Vietnam War. Over Labor Day weekend, members of The Black Lions organization will be stationed at Buffalo Naval & Military Park’s red Hangar Building. While there, they will be presenting a Vietnam living history event called “Vietnam Welcome Home” – on Saturday, September 2 from 10 AM until 5 PM and Sunday, September 3 from 10 AM until 4 PM. If you’ve ever had any questions about the Vietnam War, or wanted to meet…

Brussels (21/08 – 62.50) The theatrical performance, 40 Days of Miracles was shown in the main concert hall of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea by the Republican State Academic Korean Theater of Musical Comedy of Kazakhstan, which is on tour in South Korea. In total, more than 500 spectators attended the event, including the Chairman of the Korea-Kazakhstan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Woo Won Shik, deputies, politicians, the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, cultural and art figures, businessmen, as well as representatives of the…