Lao morning news for March 5

Japan grants 1.4 billion kip to set up school libraries in Vientiane province
The Japanese government has provided grant assistance of more than 1.4 billion kip (US$170,429) to build school libraries and foster pupils’ reading skills in Vientiane province.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Laos Stops Chinese-backed Tourism Development After Villagers Complain
A Chinese development project in Laos has been suspended indefinitely after pushback from local villagers and merchants.
— RadiO Free Asia

Thailand Visa Applicants Beware: Fortnight Wait As Consulate Appointment Bookings Bank Up in VTE
Foreign nationals seeking visas to ever-popular Thailand for residence or travel can expect waits of up to two weeks for appointments for visa application or renewal via the country’s consulate in Vientiane, Laos.
— The LaotianTimes

Are recovery efforts for the Lao dam collapse failing local communities?
Last July, a dam at the Xe Pian Xe Nam Noy hydropower project in southern Laos collapsed, destroying 13 villages and displacing at least 7,000 people.
— Asean Today

Thailand trains Laotian physicians
Thailand is offering training courses for doctors and physicians from the Lao PDR, in the hope of enhancing the country’s healthcare sector.
— NBT World (video)

OPINION: Laos needs to improve regional road links
Border roads linking Laos to Vietnam have steadily improved over the years but they are still not wide enough to accommodate the many large trucks that enter the country via our eastern neighbour.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

Storm wreaks havoc in Xayaboury
Almost 50 houses in four villages of Xayaboury district, Xayaboury province, were damaged by strong winds and heavy rain when a storm swept through the provincial capital last week.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

Research centre targets forest ecology in climate change adaptation
The Forest Research Centre under the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute is continuing its studies into the ecological improvement of forests as part of climate change adaptation.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Walkers stride out in support of an end to teenage pregnancy
More than 4,000 people ran or walked through the streets of Vientiane on Sunday to raise awareness of the issues surrounding teenage pregnancy.
— Vientiane Times

Modern new unit opens at Mittaphab Hospital
A new wing has opened at Mittaphab Hospital (Friendship Hospital) in Vientiane as part of efforts to improve the standard of healthcare and raise the country’s health services to international standards.
— Vientiane Times

Govt works towards a better business environment
Lao authorities have adopted measures that will allow easier access to credit and give added protection to minority investors in moves set to improve the country’s overall business environment.
— Vientiane Times

Ministry ploughs ahead with agriculture agenda
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reviewed its work over 2018 and outlined the agenda for the year ahead during an annual summary meeting for the sector held in Vientiane on Monday.
— Vientiane Times

SME service centre opens in Luang Prabang
The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) has opened a branch of its Small and Medium Enterprises Service Centre in Luang Prabang province to strengthen the capacity of SMEs in the eight northern provinces of Laos.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

Westfield Junior Matildas earn victory in Vientiane
The Westfield Junior Matildas’ 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Round 2 Qualification campaign in Vientiane, Laos got off to a positive start on Sunday with Rae Dower’s charges securing a 3-0 win over IR Iran.
— Westfield Matildas

2 Lao drug traffickers arrested in Vietnam
Police of Vietnam’s northern Son La province detained two Lao citizens on Monday when they were transporting 12,000 pills of crystal methamphetamine from Laos to the Vietnamese locality.
— Xinhua

Feature photo ILO in Asia and the Pacific

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 March 5 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on March 5, 2019
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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.