Showing 1 - 7 of 7
Thailand's China-built high-speed rail on track but delayed
AFP, Published on 12/04/2023
» NAKHON RATCHASIMA: One of Thailand's oldest railway stations is facing demolition as the kingdom presses ahead with a long-delayed Chinese-backed high-speed line that has caused unease about lost heritage and closer ties to Beijing.
The 97km that frustrate China's mastery of the Mekong
AFP, Published on 10/01/2020
» CHIANG KHONG: Ninety-seven kilometres of rocks in Thai waters stand between Beijing and dominance over the Mekong, a mighty river that feeds millions as it threads south from the Tibetan plateau through five countries before emptying into the South China Sea.
Drones, boats and megabaht: Laos route spews meth into Thailand
AFP, Published on 11/06/2019
» NAKHON PHANOM: As dusk falls along the Mekong River, a nightly dance begins between Thai border security and Laos drug gangs now using drones, scouts and a pool of poor fishermen to shift record amounts of meth into Thailand.
Rainbow snake, tiny frog among new Mekong species
AFP, Published on 19/12/2016
» BANGKOK - A rainbow-headed snake, a tiny frog and a lizard with dragon-like horns are among more than 150 new species confirmed by scientists last year in the ecologically diverse but threatened Mekong region, researchers said on Monday.
Grain drain, Laos' sand mining damaging the Mekong
AFP, Published on 27/07/2016
» VIENTIANE - Grain by grain, truckload by truckload, Laos' section of the Mekong river is being dredged of sand to make cement -- a commodity being devoured by a Chinese-led building boom in the capital.
El Nino dries up Asia as its stormy sister La Nina looms
AFP, Published on 29/04/2016
» Withering drought and sizzling temperatures from El Nino have caused food and water shortages and ravaged farming across Asia, and experts warn of a double-whammy of possible flooding from its sibling, La Nina.
'Golden Triangle' blamed for most drugs in China
AFP, Published on 24/06/2015
» BEIJING — Southeast Asia's lawless “Golden Triangle” region remains the overwhelming source of the heroin and methamphetamine sold in China, the country's cabinet said in a report issued Wednesday.