News
The Threat of a Dam Disaster in Luang Prabang
Building a huge dam just upstream from a legendary UNESCO World Heritage site in an earthquake prone region poses serious risk to the local population and the town of Luang Prabang, warns a leading Thai earthquake specialist. Dr. Punya Churasiri, formerly the earthquake expert at Chulalungkorn University’s geology ...
Tom Fawthrop
Vientiane releases millions of fish to ensure food security
Vientiane plans to release an additional two million fish back into the river to meet the government’s goal of releasing 58 million fish this year to ensure food security. This was informed by the Director of Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department, Dr Lasay Nouanthasing, on July ...
Times Reporters
Asean, US deepen cooperation to battle Covid-19
The United States and Asean leaders have agreed to strengthen their cooperation to counter the Covid-19 pandemic and recover their economies post-pandemic. Leaders from the 10-nation bloc and the US held a virtual special foreign ministerial meeting on Wednesday, co-chaired by Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs ...
Times Reporters
COVID-19 Drives New Surge in Trafficking of Women From Laos to China
Economic hardship in Lao villages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is driving a new surge in the trafficking to China of Lao women and girls desperate to find jobs, police and other sources in the Southeast Asian country say. “Right now, our police department is working ...
Reported by RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Lao Authorities and Women’s Union Assist Trafficking Victims
Lao authorities in cooperation with the Lao Women’s Union have successfully assisted two young women who became victims of human trafficking. The young women, aged between 14 and 16 years, were to be trafficked to China following a deal brokered between their parents and a trafficking ...
Phayboune Thanabouasy
Luang Prabang Dam a threat to World Heritage?
The Lao government is intent on building a dam on the Mekong just upstream of the country’s old royal capital. Despite the project having undergone design work, environmental impact assessment and a prior consultation process managed by the Mekong River Commission (MRC), no impact assessment ...
PHILIP HIRSCH
Lao Deputy PM: Laos treasures ties with Vietnam
General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and State President Thongloun Sisoulith’s selection of Vietnam for his first overseas trip after taking office demonstrates the importance that Laos attaches to the great friendship, special solidary and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The ...
VNA
Fishermen call for river pollution to be addressed
Members of a large fishing community in Naxab village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane, are appealing to authorities to address the problem of farms dumping animal waste in the Khon River, which they say is creating a threat to fishing. The polluted river affects some 1,648 people who ...
Times Reporters
Laos extends lockdown measures for another 15 days
Laos has extended its lockdown COVID-19 prevention measures across the country for a further 15 days as the community spread of COVID-19 in the capital continues. Given the situation in neighboring countries and community spread in Lao capital Vientiane, the lockdown order would be extended until ...
Xinhua
Laos to sell Vietnam its wind power with help from Mitsubishi
The facility will have power generation capacity of 600 megawatts, making it one of the largest onshore wind farms in Southeast Asia, reported Nikkei Asia. It is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. A Mitsubishi subsidiary will take a 20% stake in a joint ...