Lao morning news for November 22

US bombs continue to kill in Laos 50 years after Vietnam War
This year’s Thanksgiving celebration marks 50 years since the American military embarked on the biggest bombing campaign in history, decimating the small Southeast Asian country of Laos by dropping more than two million tonnes of bombs on it at the height of the Vietnam War.
— Aljazeera

Laos to cut civil servant employment to ease budgetary intension
The Lao government will cut the annual quota of new civil servants from 3,000 people this year to 1,500 people next year to ease its budgetary burden, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the parliament on Tuesday.
— Brinkwire (media release)

Lax Investment Law Enforcement in Laos Brings Flood of Small Chinese Businesses
The Lao government’s failure to strictly enforce foreign investment laws is allowing a growing number of Chinese entrepreneurs to dodge investment rules and avoid paying taxes while operating shops and restaurants in the Southeast Asian country, an official from the Ministry of Planning and Investment told RFA’s Lao Service.
— Radio Free Asia

Time-honoured wax castle procession pays homage to That Luang stupa
Thousands of Buddhists decorated their colourful pasaatpheung (wax castles) with candles, flowers, money and incense as they joined the annual procession yesterday to pay homage to the That Luang stupa.
— Vientiane Times

Chinese company keen to invest in solar power in Laos
Hangzhou Safefound Technology Co., Ltd., a China-based company, is keen to develop solar energy in Laos because the country has the perfect geographical location for almost year-round sunlight.
— Vientiane Times

China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand Start Mekong River Patrol
Naval commandos from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have completed on Wednesday a joint police patrol on the Mekong River, in order to strengthen security measures and fight terrorism and cross-border crimes in that river.
— Prensa Latina

Laos, Myanmar join forces to battle corruption
The agencies responsible for tackling corruption in Laos and Myanmar yesterday met in Vientiane to share their experiences in the field during a visit by members of Myanmar’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
— Vientiane Times

Lao assume tank suggests to maximise Laos-China railway
The Lao government’s top economic research agency has suggested that investment focus in areas that would make use of and maximize the benefits of the Laos-China railway.
— Infosurhoy

Gov’t Expects Shortfall In Agriculture, Industry, Service Growth
The government has expected that the growth in the agricultural, industry and service sectors will below set targets, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Somdy Douangdy.
— Lao News Agency

Government, Development Partners Prepare To Address Disaster Recovery At This Year’s Round Table Meeting
The Lao PDR’s main development cooperation and policy dialogue forum, the annual Round Table Meeting will be held in Vientiane on 4-5 December.
— Lao News Agency

Laos Jails ‘Pyramid Scheme’ Company Owners For 15 Years
A court in the Lao capital Vientiane today handed 15-year prison terms to the owners of a company accused last year of defrauding investors of thousands of U.S. dollars in personal savings, a Lao source says.
— Radio Free Asia

Feature: Victims of Lao dam disaster see brighter future as Chinese firms provide infrastructural support
The victims of a dam collapsing in southern Laos are now expecting better lives with the support and help from the government and other sources.
— Xinhua

Lao film archivist wins coveted regional award
A senior film archivist, Mr Bounchao Phichit, has won a South East Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Archive Association (SEAPAVAA) Fellowship – the first time anyone from Laos has won the award.
— Vientiane Times

Sushma Swaraj to visit Laos from Nov 22
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a two-day visit to Laos from November 22 where she will co-chair the 9th Meeting of India-Laos Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation with her counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith, a statement said.
— Business Standard

Fading stripes in Southeast Asia: First insight into the ecology of a threatened rabbit
The Annamite mountains of Vietnam and Lao PDR (Laos) harbour exceptional species richness and endemism, but its wildlife is under threat from widespread and intensive poaching.
— EurekAlert

Laotian Defense Minister Thanks Russian Sappers For Helping Defuse Old US Bombs
Laotian Defense Minister Chansamone Chanyalath thanked the Russian military for helping the country clear out remaining unexploded US bombs left over from the Vietnam War.
— UrduPoint News

Bazaar-B Cash & Carry, Largest Wholesale Centre Opens
Bazaar-B Cash and Carry, the largest wholesale centre in Vientiane was opened on Nov 16 in the presence of Governor of Bank of the Lao PDR Sonexay Sitphaxay, business people, and Vientiane residents.
— Lao News Agency

Feature photo Plan International

This week’s Lao morning news feature photo acknowledges World Toilet Day November 19

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Lao morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Lao PDR news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Lao morning news for November 22 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on November 22, 2018
View all posts by Stella-maris Ewudolu →

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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.