Three-year memorandum of understanding expired last month, leaving the railway network's future in doubt.
Ahead of this week’s meeting of the Mekong River Commission, 39 international environmental groups called on the government to halt construction on the Xayaburi dam before February 2015.
President Thein Sein vowed to release all remaining political prisoners by the end of the year, but rights groups say many still remain unjustly behind bars.
US secretary of state's trip aims to further Washington's diplomatic, economic and military rebalancing toward Asia.
