BANGKOK (AP) — A Thai court on Monday sentenced a lawmaker from a progressive opposition party to two years in prison after finding her guilty of defaming the monarchy in a speech she made during a protest rally three years ago.
Thai Court Sentences Opposition Lawmaker to Two Years in Prison for Defaming Monarchy

World Food Programme Reflects on 2023 Achievements at Vientiane Press Breakfast
The World Food Programme (WFP) held a press breakfast on the morning of 24 May at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Vientiane Capital to reflect on their mission and achievements in 2023.
Laos Festival Kicks Off in Tokyo, Promoting Lao Culture, Food
The 11th annual Laos Festival 2024 commenced in Tokyo, Japan on 25 May, aiming to showcase Lao culture, bolster the “Visit Laos Year 2024” campaign, and commemorate the 69th anniversary of Laos-Japan Diplomatic Relations.
LOCA Secures Funding from ADB Frontier to Expand Electric Vehicles Fleet, Charging Network
LOCA, Laos’s leading mobility service provider, has received significant funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through ADB Frontier, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This investment will enable LOCA to expand its electric vehicle (EV) fleet and EV charging network across the country.
Road Safety Campaign in Laos Targets Helmet Use Among Young Students
The European Union delegation to Laos has launched a new campaign aimed at raising awareness and encouraging young Lao students to wear helmets while riding motorcycles. This initiative is in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Laos, local car companies, and the Lao government.
Fire in Apartment Building in Hanoi, Vietnam, Kills 14 People, Injures 6

Updated at 2:10 PM, 24 May, 2024
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — An overnight fire in an apartment building on a narrow alley in Vietnam’s capital killed 14 people and injured six others, state media said Friday.
The apartment building in central Hanoi could only be accessed through an alley just 2 meters wide, preventing firetrucks from reaching it, and firefighters eventually contained the fire by using hoses, state media said.
The fire started around 12:30 am and was accompanied by several explosions, the Vietnam News Agency said. It took an hour to extinguish.
Neighbor Nguyen Thanh Trung said he was asleep when he heard the explosions and rushed out to see what was happening. “I could feel the shock at my house,” he said, adding that he along with others got a ladder to break the window to help people escape.
State media reported the building had 24 residents at the time, seven in the owner’s family and 17 tenants. The injured are stable and being treated at Hanoi Transport Hospital.
The fire started in the small courtyard in front of the building that was used as a garage for the sale and repair of electric bikes, state media reported.
Trung said the family would often charge the bikes’ batteries at night.
The alley was later cordoned off by police. The charred remains of burnt motorbikes and plants and scattered belongings remained at the apartment.
Authorities said that they would give USD 1,962 to the families of those who died and USD 1,177 to those injured as compensation.
This fire was reminiscent of a September blaze in Hanoi last year where more than 50 people died in similar circumstances. Rescue operations then were also hindered by the city’s narrow lanes.
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BY HAU DINH, The Associated Press. AP journalist Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi contributed to this report.
Laos Faces ‘Water Scarcity Crisis’ Amidst Climate Change Challenges

Climate change, a pervasive global challenge, has not spared Laos, exacerbating economic difficulties in the country, as highlighted by Sengphasouk Xayavong, Deputy Director of the Policy Division at the Water Resource Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Regional Partners Cooperate to Enhance Disaster Monitoring, Response in ASEAN
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) have agreed to deepen their engagement, which will bridge the gap between disaster monitoring and response across Southeast Asia.
During a working visit to Jakarta on 17 May, a delegation of officials from the MRC Member Countries and Secretariat headed by the Chief Executive Officer, Anoulak Kittikhoun, signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) with the AHA Centre, represented by Executive Director Lee Yam Ming.
The MOI aims to formalize the partnership between these two inter-governmental agencies in disaster monitoring, forecasting, and response; joint training and capacity building; mutual exchange of expertise and experience; and other technical cooperation, including scientific research. It is under the umbrella of the ASEAN-MRC Cooperation Framework.
“This MOI represents a major step in uniting our expertise and resources,” Kittikhoun said. “It bridges the critical gap between disaster monitoring and disaster response, ensuring our region is better prepared for emergencies and our vulnerable communities are better protected.”
Sharing Kittikhoun’s perspective, the AHA Centre’s Executive Director expressed similar sentiments.
“The MOI marks a significant milestone in the history of AHA Centre-MRC relations,” Lee said. “We want to make a positive impact on the people of ASEAN, through better exchange of data and information on disaster monitoring that will make a difference in our disaster preparedness and response endeavors.”
In 2022, Asia experienced 137 out of the 388 global disasters, impacting more than 64 million people and causing almost USD 50 million in damages, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Floods were particularly common, accounting for about 40 percent of all natural disasters worldwide and nearly 70 percent of disasters in ASEAN from 2012 to 2022.
The AHA Centre, with its partners, facilitates cooperation and coordination among ASEAN Member States for disaster management and emergency response in the region. The MRC
acts as a regional platform for water diplomacy and a knowledge hub, promoting dialogue and cooperation in the Lower Mekong River Basin, and providing vital services such as monitoring water levels and forecasting floods and droughts in the Mekong.
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By Chandaly Mao, Communication Officer for Press at the Mekong River Commission Secretariat