Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Laos News of the Week

Some fun stories from Laos this week:

From the Omaha World Herald: If you get a chance to stop by the Common Grounds Cafe in Laos, you can meet a chef from Nebraska, and they make the only English muffins in the country in Vientiane Laos. They also have Mexican food. They're open Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 5 PM on Rue Chao Anou. info.commongrounds@gmail.com

Laos is apparently stepping up its game in producing counterfeit high-tech knock-offs, the Nextweb editor Jon Russell discovered as he found an iPad 5 4G, iPhone clamshell and other Apple rip-offs for sale in Laos. I'm sure the folks in Cuppertino just love that.

Amy Senser 'will be cleared' her attorney insists as she entered her plea in court and faces a new charge over her fatal hit-and-run of Anousone Phanthavong last year.

A memorandum of understanding was signed recently by the Viet Nam Records Book Centre (Vietkings) and the Laos State Publishing and Book Distribution House to establish Lao's Records Book Centre (Laokings). Laokings, based in Vientiane, will find and recognise national records in different fields including culture, science, society and economy.

Free Malaysia Today has an article on the ongoing challenge of fighting bear farms in Southeast Asia, especially Laos.

Benno Tuchschmid, a Swiss intern at the Vientiane Times, recently wrote about his sense of the Lao Alps, and travel in Xieng Khouang. It seems every season, someone discovers the beauty of the region anew.

The Jakarta Post reports another giant catfish has been caught in Laos, but it won't be long before they're completely extinct.

Dawn Starin wrote an article for the Epoch Post about a unique library that offers young Laotians the chance to read, learn, and grow.

The Business Times reports that Laos has raised the maximum foreign investors can own of a company in Laos. Effective January 16th, foreign investors can own up to 20% of a company now. Because increased foreign ownership always benefits a company and its host country, you know.

Major, a dog specialized in finding UXO died after a distinguished career of over 15 years.
When his handler was reassigned to Laos, "Major joined many other retired westerners where he met a young “local girl” and settled down to start a family. His greatest love was always water, despite its short supply in Somaliland. But in Laos, he enjoyed cooling off during long swims in the Mekong River with his oldest son and companion, Obelix."

According the Malaysian news agency Bernama, a Japanese-made UXO clearance vehicle worth 8 billion kip has arrived in Vientiane to begin service to assist UXO clearance in Xieng Khouang, thanks to the Japan Mine Action Service. A Komatsu demining machine, these vehicles have also seen service in Cambodia.

What are some news items from Laos that have caught your attention recently?

No comments: