Lao morning news for January 24

Laos eliminates tariffs on most Asean goods
Lao authorities have reduced import tariffs on 8,536 items to zero as part of national efforts in establishing the Asean Free Trade Area, according to a government report.
— Vientiane Times

Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Flash Floods Emergency Appeal n° MDRLA005
The collapse of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam on 23 July 2018 as a result of Tropical Storm Son Tinh that had made land fall days earlier, has caused massive flash floods that affected 13,100 people and displaced 6,000 people, leaving 39 dead and around 97 missing (according to UN Situation Report no. 9)
— Relief Web

Laos: Investigate Disappearance of 3 Thai Dissidents
The Lao government should urgently investigate the disappearance of three Thai political activists who were last seen in the capital, Vientiane, in December 2018, Human Rights Watch said today.
— Human Right Watch

Govt examines Vientiane’s unapproved projects
The Vientiane Administration has asked the government to consider and endorse formerly unapproved infrastructure development projects that the city has carried out in the years since 2005.
— Vientiane Times

Japan Provides A US$ 17.3-M Grant To Improve Two Hospitals In Laos
Jan 23 witnessed a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Setthathirath Hospital, Vientiane, for the Japan-funded Improvement of the Setthathirath Hospital and the Champassak Provincial Hospital Project, which is worth more than US$ 17.3 million.
— KPL

Visit Laos-China Year to begin tomorrow
Laos and China will launch a major campaign this week to boost tourism cooperation between the two countries throughout 2019.
— Vientiane Times

Thousands of ASEAN product in Laos freed of tariffs
Lao authorities have reduced import tariffs on 8,536 items to zero as part of efforts in establishing the ASEAN Free Trade Area.
— Mena Fn

Bodies of exiled Thai activists ‘stuffed with concrete’
The Thai army said on Wednesday it had no knowledge of two exiled critics of the military and royal family whose bodies police say were found “stuffed with concrete” along the Mekong River border with Laos.
— Reuters

Laos, Luxembourg highlight cooperation in statistics development
The governments of both nations have highlighted ongoing implementation of the Lao PDR-Luxembourg Cooperation Project in Statistics (LLPS) in support of efforts by Laos to produce and disseminate high quality official statistics compliant with international standards.
— Vientiane Times

Fundraising film night for northern Laos women
Former journalists Trish Clark and her partner Iain Finley have been visiting northern Laos since 2010. The Tweed Valley couple didn’t set out to help the community there – it just happened, said Clark.
— Blue Mountain Gazette

Alarm raised over fate of Thai activist in Laos
Former communist insurgent Surachai Danwattananusorn and his “aides” Phoochana and Kasalong (surnames not known) were apparently living in self-imposed exile in Laos when they went missing in December.
— The Nation (very annoying popup)

Lao Food Festival 2019 Launched
Many local residents and foreigners turned out at Chao Anouvong Park on Jan 23 for the 14th Lao Food Festival which has drawn more than 180 booths of local and foreign cuisines, agricultural products and handicrafts.
— KPL

Feature photo Asian Development Bank

This week’s Lao morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day of Education, January 24.

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 January 24 added by Piseth Pov on January 24, 2019
View all posts by Piseth Pov →

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Piseth Pov

Piseth Pov graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics Science from the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh in 2017, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Communications from Western University, Phnom Penh, the same year.