NGOs push for postponement of Don Sahong dam on Mekong
The lower three Mekong Countries, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam as well as environmental groups, have expressed concern about the Don Sahong dam’s impact on the environment, movement of fish and water quality and flow. The project has yet to be approved by the Mekong River Commission, ...
Trains to arrive next month for trial run of Laos-China railway
The Laos-China railway project will bring in locomotives, electric multiple unit (EMU) trains and other equipment to conduct the first trial run of the railway in October. The plan was presented at the 10th Laos-China Railway Project Steering Committee Meeting held in Vientiane on Wednesday, attended ...
Phomphong Laoin
Laos reports local transmission of Zika virus: WHO
Laos is the latest country to report a local transmission of Zika virus, according to the World Health Organization, as fears mount over the mosquito-borne illness that has been linked to birth defects. Asia has seen only a sprinkling of cases of the virus, but a ...
Damning Link between a Bangkok Mall and Injustice in Laos
Six years ago, Central Embassy, Bangkok’s newest shopping mall, celebrated its opening with aplomb, attracting several thousand local celebrities to a glitzy affair. This luxurious and futuristic-looking mall was described by Travel & Leisure as a “monster of a shopping complex”. During the same month, the World ...
Marks, D., & Zhang, J.
(English) Laos prepares for ASEAN chairmanship in 2016
Sorry, this entry is only available in ອັງກິດ (ອາເມລິກັນ). ...
More Lao Fishermen Arrested in Thailand After Entering Illegally on Way Home
More Lao fishermen have been arrested in southern Thailand for illegally entering the country as they tried to return home from Malaysia, where they had been working in the fishing industry for years, the fishermen and local officials said. Like an earlier group arrested on Dec. ...
BenarNews
Việt Nam, Laos hold sixth ministerial consultation
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith co-chaired the sixth ministerial consultation in the northern province of Quảng Ninh on Wednesday. Both sides expressed their delight at the considerable development of bilateral ties in various areas, with ...
Heavy rain brings floodwaters to Borikhamxay
Heavy rainfall over several hours caused flood waters to inundate farmlands and cut off key road routes in Khamkeuth district, Borikhamxay province, an official has confirmed.Officials in at-risk areas are monitoring river levels including Phao and Kata Rivers through to the Nam Thern River, which ...
Government experts discuss occupational health and safety
Experts from several ministries and international organisations met in Vientiane yesterday to discuss and share experiences as part of framing a draft regulation for occupational health and safety. The creation of the Management of Occupational Safety and Health Decree is in line with the Ministry ...
New oil pipeline in northern Thailand may worsen flooding
A pipeline stretching from central to north-east Thailand promises to “promote Thailand as an energy hub in the region” and “increase energy security”, according to the Ministry of Energy. Construction began in mid-2019, despite local communities objecting that the largely Chinese-financed project could worsen flooding ...
Hydropower experts mull industry's future
The Sixth International Conference and Exhibition on Water Resources and Hydropower Development in Asia, held in Vientiane last week, gathered experts in the field to discuss how hydropower could be developed in the most beneficial ways. The conference, which ran from 1-3 March, discussed the experiences ...
Storm causes disruption in the south
Storm Noul hit southern Laos on Friday after passing through Vietnam, bringing heavy rain and flooding to many areas. In Xekong province, the main road in Ta-oy district was flooded on Friday, causing problems for traffic. A local official said “Livestock was moved to higher ground ...
Times Reporters
Resettled For Chinese Dam Work, Lao Villagers Fear New Homes Will Be Washed Away
Lao villagers displaced by two Chinese-backed dam projects and now living in resettlement communities in uphill areas of two provinces say they fear their new homes will fall off nearby cliffs due to landslides caused by annual monsoonal rains. Some of the more than 100 families ...
Companies keen to develop Vientiane-Pakxe expressway project
Nineteen domestic and foreign companies have expressed their interest in developing the planned Vientiane-Pakxe expressway, a senior government official has said. The Ministry of Planning and Investment recently called for local and foreign investors to apply for participation in the mega project by submitting an ...
How Lao PDR Can Connect Health, Environment, and Economic Recovery
To mark the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, the World Bank is publishing a Country Environmental Analysis for the Lao PDR, analyzing how the country can use its commitment to greener growth to stimulate economic recovery from the current slowdown, and to improve ...
Newsroom
Unraveling the Mystery of Laos U-Turn from Renewables to Coal to Power the Battery of Southeast Asia
After years of hydropower supercharging Laos’ successful ambition to become the key power exporter in the region, Laos’ energy export market has taken a surprising turn towards coal. According to most international analysis from Carbon Tracker to Bloomberg, carbon is dying. Yet in Laos, energy carbon production went ...
Kannikar Petchkaew
Jokowi conveys words of wisdom to new ASEAN chair Laos
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has congratulated Laos on its selection for the ASEAN chairmanship in 2016, saying that this year is an important milestone for ASEAN, as the ASEAN Economic Community was coming into effect.At a courtesy call with President Choumaly Sayasone of Laos in ...
Last Group of Families Displaced by Laos’ Nam Theun 1 Dam Accept Compensation
More than a hundred families in central Laos’ Bolikhamxay province who were displaced by the Nam Theun 1 dam have decided to accept compensation, putting an end to a standoff that lasted 17 months, sources in Laos told RFA. Disputes over compensation by displaced villagers have ...
RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Polling stations set up for Lao expatriates
Preparations are in place to enable Lao nationals in foreign countries to cast their vote for new members of parliament, with the National Assembly election scheduled to take place this weekend. Lao citizens can vote on Saturday 19 March at Lao embassies and consulates in China, ...
Laos PM vows stronger action to improve business environment
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has pledged to amend legislation to improve the business environment amid fierce international competition by governments to improve their ease of doing business. he government will “amend the Investment Promotion Law and relevant legislation to smooth business operations ...
Vientiane Times/ANN