Lao morning news for December 31, 2018

Almost 250 Private Clinics Ordered To Close
The Ministry of Health has ordered the closure of 248 clinics including 120 clinics in Vientiane Capital, 40 in Savannakhet and 16 in Oudomxay.
— KPL

Experts mull Laos’ risk from money laundering
The National Committee for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) is continuing to assess Laos’ risks from money laundering and terrorist financing.
— Vientiane Times

BY 2018, MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE WERE KILLED
In 2018, there were 1,223 casualties in Vientiane Capital, with 238 deaths compared to last year, down 324 cases. Among the 13 most affected people, Xaythany, which cost 8,69 billion kip.
— Vientiane Mai

Laos To Buy Fighter Jets, Tanks From Russia
Laos ordered an unknown number of fighter jets and up to 30 army tanks from Russia, with sources in Laos saying the purchase will be made with concessions to run mining and other projects in the country.
— Investvine

The NSC approves the issuance of shares and other important tasks
The meeting was held on December 26, 2018 under the chairmanship of Mr. Somdy Douangdey, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Chairman of the NRA and the appointment of Mr. Chaisakphai Chaiyak, Governor of the Lao PDR to be the Vice President of the NRA and a new nominee.
— Pasaxon

Devastating Laos dam collapse leads to deforestation of protected forests
In July, a hydroelectric dam collapse in Laos released five billion cubic meters of water into surrounding countryside – the equivalent of two million Olympic swimming pools.
— Mongabay

Nation prepares fun aplenty to ring in 2019
Authorities across the country are preparing countdown activities to celebrate the New Year while also promoting tourism and the start of Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
— Vientiane Times

Seminar calls for OV investment in north central region
The event attracted representatives from the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, the central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, scientists, intellectuals and businesspeople from countries worldwide.
— Baoxay Dung

Dams threaten traditional way of life in Mekong Basin
Sak Siam, 69, chief of Chnok Tru, a village in central Cambodia, is worried. The floating village of about 1,700 households is located on a tributary of the Mekong River.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Facing the future in Laos and Cambodia
A crowd had gathered on a dock in the village of Nong Khiaw, where I had come with my friend Jeff and our guide, Oun, for a countryside excursion from the splendid city of Luang Prabang in Laos.
— Star Advertiser

MANY SECTIONS VISIT THE SPECIAL DISADVANTAGES OF 790 AND 489
To encourage the brotherhood of the Lao People’s Army to express their gratitude, a spirit of devotion, especially to the brothers.
— Vientiane Mai

The Lao PDR summarizes the activities carried out annually
(SSPP), a legal seminar on the armed forces of the three northern provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Prabang and Xayaboury, officially opened on December 26, under the presidency of Mr. Phuch.
— Pasaxon

LAOS – JAPAN CONTINUES TO SOLIDIFY SOLIDARITY
Vice President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Republic of Korea (CPPCC), HE Mr. Thongsing Thammavong, President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Speaker of the House of Representatives Committee of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Korea (Lower House) on December 27, 2018 at the Presidential Palace Visited and working in Lao PDR from 26-28 December.
— Vientiane Mai

Farewell M Point Mart? Sabaidee Mini Big C! Lao Capital’s Leading Convenience Store Chain Rebranding Begins
Laos’ capital’s convenience store chain M Point Mart is set for an overhaul as Vientiane’s Phontan store staff confirm joint venture set see the city’s ubiquitous late night shopping outlets rebranded as Mini Big C with 24 hour shopping hours expected.
— Laotian Times

Delegates complete the exchange of religious works
The Vietnamese delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Nguyen Xuan Thang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, Vu Huyen Tung, Head of the Government Commission for Religious Affairs of Viet Nam, has attended the workshop on exchange of religious activities during the 20th to 23rd November in Ho Chi Minh City.
— Pasaxon

Feature photo J&C Service

This week’s morning news photo focuses on the death, pain, and loss that typically occurs at this time of year on Asean roads due to drunk driving, speeding, and a failure to wear protective helmets when travelling on motorbikes.

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.