In a move to alleviate a severe teacher shortage in rural areas, the government of Laos is to provide equal pay for volunteer teachers and civil servants.
MRC to Host Public Forum to Foster Openness, Participation and Cooperation

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has opened registration for another milestone public forum, which will be highlighted by eagerly anticipated updates on topics such as the “Joint Study” between the MRC and northern neighbors, China and Myanmar, the “State of the Basin Report 2023,” and various hydropower projects.
Myanmar Central Bank Will Issue Highest Denomination Banknote as Economy Suffers

BANGKOK (AP) — The Central Bank of army-ruled Myanmar will issue a new banknote worth twice as much as the current highest denomination, state-run media reported Sunday, in a possible reaction to the economy becoming more unstable since the generals seized power in 2021.
Trumptech Successfully Organizes the FIRST® LEGO® League 2022-23
The Largest Post-Pandemic STEAM Competition in Hong Kong
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 24 July 2023 – Trumptech, the leading edtech company and the Official LEGO® Education Partner in Hong Kong, has successfully held the FIRST® LEGO® League 2022-23, attracting a record-breaking 85 schools and nearly 150 teams from around the city. With its transformative approach to STEAM education, this competition represents the largest of its kind in the region following the global pandemic.

The FIRST® LEGO® League offers annual international STEAM competitions, drawing participation from over 100 countries worldwide. Students, using LEGO® Education kits to achieve their goals, explore STEAM topics and boost their 21st-century skills. The event also aligns with Hong Kong’s chief executive’s 2022 policy address, aiming to promote STEAM education “for all”, “for fun”, and “for diversity” in primary and secondary schools. This initiative intends to include more I&T learning elements in the curriculum, designate coordinators in all publicly-funded schools to plan STEAM education holistically, and arrange professional training for teachers in at least 75% of publicly-funded schools.
“The FIRST® LEGO® League competition embodies our commitment to inspire and cultivate the future leaders of STEAM,” said Ming Kwok, CEO of Trumptech. “By providing students with an immersive, hands-on learning experience, we are empowering them to develop creative problem-solving abilities and technological literacy that will prove essential in the world of tomorrow.”
This year’s competition offered a range of categories for kindergarteners, primary, and secondary school students, ensuring a holistic development and application of STEAM skills throughout their academic journey.
Students prepared for four critical aspects of the competition: The Robot Game, Innovation project, Robot Design, and Core Values. Through these segments, they had the chance to design and program robots, propose creative solutions to global issues, and present their projects to professional judges.
Participating teams consisted of 2-6 students, guided by 1-2 coaches. They were equipped with LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime core and expansion kits, FLL Challenge annual field set (mission maps and field models), teacher and student guides, and the Robot Performance Competition Guide.
The competition rewarded students across multiple areas, such as Robot Design, Innovation project, and Team Collaboration, with the opportunity for winners to attend the international competition in China, US, Europe and Australia.
Beyond the competition, Trumptech offers comprehensive STEAM learning services and support, including FLL competition workshops, FLL competition training courses, SPIKE Prime student interest classes, and SPIKE Prime fun days for entire grades. These opportunities allow preparation for the competition and easy integration into the curriculum.
“We are proud of the achievements of all the teams this year and excited about the potential of these young learners,” added Mr. Kwok. “The future of STEAM is in their hands, and we at Trumptech are committed to helping them explore, innovate, and lead.”
In addition to Trumptech, the FIRST® LEGO® League 2022-23 was supported by multiple parties, including Strategic Partner the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Co-organisers the Hong Kong Association for Computer Education (HKACE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and venue sponsor THEi and Vocational Training Council of Hong Kong.
The policy address and Trumptech’s efforts are converging to form a robust foundation for promoting I&T development in Hong Kong. The success of the FIRST® LEGO® League competition is a testament to this commitment.
Award winners of the Primary School Division
Awards | School/ Team | Team |
Overall Champion | Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Primary School | HP Lego Team |
Overall 1st runner up | Chun Tok School | P5 |
Overall 2nd runner up | Chun Tok School | P6 |
Robot Performance Award Champion | Chun Tok School | P5 |
Robot Performance Award Champion 1st runner up | Wong Tai Sin Catholic Primary School | MERCURY |
Robot Performance Award Champion 2nd runner up | Chun Tok School | P4 |
Judges Award | Tai Po Government Primary School | Team 1 |
Best Presentation Award | Alliance Primary School, Kowloon Tong | Team 7 |
Team Building Award | Kowloon Tong Government Primary School | |
Innovation Project Award | Tai Po Government Primary School | Team 3 |
Robot Design Award | Pigeon City | PCEW「DUCK」 |
Award winners of Secondary School Division
Awards | School/ Team | Team |
Overall Champion | SKH Bishop Baker Secondary School | Concentric |
Overall 1st runner up | Diocesan Girls’ School | DGS Robotics |
Overall 2nd runner up | Buddhist Tai Hung College | T-Rex |
Robot Performance Award Champion | Carmel Secondary School | Carmel Secondary School |
Robot Performance Award Champion 1st runner up | Queen’s College | Team Diamond |
Robot Performance Award Champion 2nd runner up | SKH Bishop Baker Secondary School | symbio |
Judges Award | Pui Ching Middle School | Team 2 |
Best Presentation Award | Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School | JAKIOS |
Team Building Award | Dr. X Academy | Hyper Beast |
Innovation Project Award | Sing Yin Secondary School | Sing Ying boyS Step on lego |
Robot Design Award | St. Margaret’s Co-educational English Secondary and Primary School | STEMpire |
Hashtag: #FirstLegoLeague #Trumptech #尊科教育
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trumptech-edu/
https://www.facebook.com/Trumptechhk/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIb3AIHUQHv65dYdTi9Gyxg?view_as=subscriber
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
India Extends E-Visa for Citizens of Laos
Laos was recently added to a list of 169 countries that qualify for getting an electronic visa to visit India.
Hun Sen’s Ruling Party Claims Landslide Win in Cambodian Election After Opposition Was Suppressed

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The ruling party of Cambodia’s longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed a landslide victory in Sunday’s general election, an outcome that was virtually assured after the suppression and intimidation of the opposition in a vote called a farce of democracy.
Protesters in Bangkok Call on Senators to Approve Vote Winners’ Choice for Prime Minister

BANGKOK (AP) — Hundreds of people gathered Sunday in the Thai capital of Bangkok to demand that conservative senators stop blocking the naming of a prime minister belonging to a winning coalition formed from May’s general election, a stance that risks a potentially destabilizing political deadlock.
Golden Triangle Zone Imposes Nighttime Entry Ban to Combat ‘Social Ills’
In a bid to combat rising concerns over criminal activities, the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo Province will be implementing strict entry and exit restrictions during nighttime hours for a duration of 15 days, according to an official notice issued on Wednesday.