In its bid to become the top regional cinema chain operator, Thailand’s Major Cineplex has reached an agreement with TK Group, the parent company of LSX-listed Lao World Public Company, to operate in the latter’s ITECC Shopping Mall.
Thatnakhone Thammavong, President of TK Group and Lao World Public Company has signed a deal with Major Cineplex Group President Vicha Poolvaraluck allowing the latter to move into the 8th floor of ITECC Shopping Mall to upgrade the existing cinema there under the Major brand.
President of TK Group Thatnakhone Thammavong (left) shakes hands with Major Cineplex Group President Vicha Poolvaraluck (right)
The existing ITECC 8th floor cinema that covers over 2500 square meters of space is now closed for renovation. When finished, the new cinemas will be fully furnished with four state-of-the-art digital screens and 900 seats. It is expected to open in October of this year.
Major Cineplex views the Lao market as optimistic since its two cinema branches opened within the last three years in Laos – the first in Vientiane Center and the other in Friendship Mall Pakse. http://tkgroup.la/
Major Cineplex currently has six international branches with 33 screens – four branches in Cambodia (24 screens) and two in Laos (9 screens).
After passing over Hainan, Tropical Storm Son-tinh has its sights set on China and northern parts of Vietnam and Laos in the coming days.
As this storm tracks westward, the greatest risk for flooding and local damaging winds will increase from northern Vietnam and Laos late Wednesday into Thursday.
Mudslides may further endanger lives and property in the mountains.
Flooding rainfall will be the most widespread threat as rainfall of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) will be widespread from Hainan into northern Vietnam and Laos. This includes the Vietnam capital of Hanoi and the Lao capital of Vientiane. Hardest-hit areas can expect rainfall amounts up to 250 mm (10 inches).
According to the Lao Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, the most affected areas in Laos include Khammouane, Bolikhamxay, Xaysomboun, Vientiane, Xiengkhouang, Sayaboury and Luang Prabang.
The extent of the risk for damaging winds will hinge on how strong the storm becomes. Interaction with Hainan will likely hinder overall strengthening and limit damaging winds to areas near and along the path of the storm.
Areas at risk for damaging winds include areas in Vietnam between Vinh and Thanh Hoa late Wednesday into Thursday.
Son-tinh will weaken as it moves farther inland, ending the threat for any damaging winds before the storm reaches northern Laos.
Rough seas will also be stirred and create dangers for boaters as the storm churns across the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin.
The storm was named Henry in the Philippines where it produced heavy rainfall across parts of Luzon earlier this week.
All residents at risk for impacts from this budding storm are urged to closely monitor its progress. Be sure to follow the advice of local government and heed any evacuation orders in the coming days. Keep gas tanks filled and mobile phones fully charged.
The Meteorology and Hydrology Department has issued a warning to all citizens to prepare for the storm
13 July – RDK Group, a Vientiane-based translation and marketing consulting firm, together with Lao Airlines, has recently hosted a one-year anniversary event celebrating a successful year-long print run of the latest iteration of Champa Meuanglao, the latter’s official inflight magazine at Kualao Restaurant.
Present at the ceremony was Vice President of Lao Airlines Salerm Tayalath, RDK Group partners, as well as government officials, embassy representatives, and leaders from the local business community.
Vice President of Lao Airlines Salerm Tayalath presents congratulatory flowers to Champa Meuanglao Managing Editor Jason Rolan
“Among our other inflight services, Champa Meuanglao remains a favorite among not only tourists traveling through Laos, but also businesspeople traversing the country and the region,” said Cameron Darke, Managing Partner of RDK Group.
“While the global outlook for print media is changing, inflight magazines seem to be holding their own. Champa Meuanglao explores magnificent places in Laos and the region, sampling their distinct cuisines and uncovering their cultures and histories,” he continued.
RDK Group Managing Partner Cameron Darke speaks about the My Favorite Place Photo Competition
“With breathtaking photography and superb writing, we are delighted the magazine is an integral part of Lao Airlines’ mission of bringing both tourists and locals around the cities of Laos and those outside its borders,” said Managing Editor Jason Rolan.
Champa Meuanglao editorial team
On display at the event were the astounding winning photographs of the “My Favorite Place” Photo Competition in which amateur and professional photographers were given the chance to send in their favorite location in Laos. The winners received air tickets to Hanoi, Chiang Mai, and Luang Prabang.
Winners of the My Favorite Place Photo Competition received complimentary air tickets to Luang Prabang, Chiang Mai and Hanoi
“We would like to thank our wonderful sponsors for the tremendous support shown to us over the past year and we will strive to deliver the same winning combination of good writing and beautiful pictures that our readers have come to expect of our magazine,” added Jason.
Managing Editor of Champa Meuanglao Jason Rolan addresses the audience
The evening was a fun-filled night featuring music from a guest DJ, photo-ops, splendid cuisine from the Kualao culinary team, lovely wines from Phonesavanh Wines and fantastic beers from Beerlao‘s new product line and numerous coveted prizes from a lucky draw.
One year celebration atmosphere at Kualao Restaurant
Guests listen attentively at the ceremony marking the one-year anniversary of Champa Meuanglao
RDK Group Senior Partner Aditta Kittikhoun interviews celebrity film director Mattie Do as she wins a lucky draw prize
Beerlao, a major advertiser of the magazine, sponsored the night with its new craft line: Amber, White and Hoppy.
About Champa Meuanglao
Champa Meuanglao is a bimonthly publication designated as the exclusive inflight magazine of Lao Airlines, the country’s national carrier. It features a variety of articles on popular travel destinations, lifestyle, and culture, with the aim of promoting tourism within Laos and countries in the region.
Lao Airlines currently has domestic flights to Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Savannakhet, Xieng Khouang, Oudomxay, and Luang Namtha; and international flight routes to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and South Korea.
About RDK Group
RDK Group is a multifaceted consulting firm that specializes in statistical and analytical Research, technological cross-platform Development of information centers and dissemination of Knowledge pertaining to Lao economics, business, culture, language and history. RDK provides both public, private, local and foreign organizations with solutions to overcome their cultural and linguistic barriers whether it be through comprehensive training, investment and market research or standard document translation/interpretation.
The unmet need for modern contraceptives among married women aged 15-49 has declined from 19.2% to 14.3%, and 75% of unmarried women aged 15-19 still do not have access to family planning.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 International Conference on Human Rights held in Tehran, where family planning was, for the first time, globally affirmed to be a human right.
UNFPA has been supporting Family Planning in Laos since 1995 following the International Conference on Population and Development and good progress has been made in providing Family Planning information and services for many people, according to UNFPA Representative to Laos Frederika Meijer.
“Unfortunately, as we can see from the LSIS indicators, not EVERYONE is reached yet. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, we should not leave anyone behind hence we need to strengthen our efforts,” said Meijer.
“Globally UNFPA has adopted a new Strategic Plan that aims to bring down unmet need and maternal death to zero, these transformative results steer our work everywhere including here in Lao PDR where we would like to see availability of Family Planning for everyone,” said Meijer.
“Together with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), this year in the Lao PDR we celebrate World Population Day with the theme Family Planning for Everyone, because we want to simplify the understanding of family planning that it is not only for parents or couples, but for all people regardless of their sex, gender, backgrounds, social or economic status,” said Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury at the World Population Day celebration in Vientiane.
“All couples and individuals have the basic right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information, education and means to do so,” said Dr Kikeo, echoing the tenets of the Tehran Proclamation.
The Traffic Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security and Vientiane police authorities intend to impose 10-fold fines on speeding motorists and drunk drivers in the capital city.
It is expected that implementing these heavy penalties will help to reduce alcohol-related accidents, injuries and fatalities.
“This year, the Lao police intend to enforce the law and firmly penalize irresponsible road users more strictly,” Vientiane Traffic Police Department Deputy Director Major Sangkhom Phommalath said.
“Currently, we are making a draft plan for implementation of 10-fold increased fines and will submit to Vientiane People’s Council this month. If the council approves, they will issue a notice to start the implementation of 10-fold fines in the capital,” he said.
The 10-fold fines are to be implemented under Prime Minister’s Decree No. 188 issued in 2007 that outlines the measures to be taken against rule-breakers.
“Those caught driving under the influence will be fined 10,000 Lao kip (1.2 U.S. dollars) to 1 million kip depending on the type of vehicle they are driving,” Major Sangkhom said.
Meanwhile, speeding drivers of other private vehicles such as cars, pick-up trucks, jeeps and vans which would typically be fined 50,000 kip will have to pay 500,000 kip.
In the first four months of this year, 2,341 road accidents around the country resulted in 429 deaths, 3,816 people injured and 4,067 vehicles damaged, the report quoted the Lao Minister of Public Security, Major General Somkeo Silavong as saying.
The Government of Laos has issued a response to the recent visa restrictions placed upon a number of citizens of Laos, which has caused confusion among Lao communities.
In reply to the U.S. Embassy Verbal Note No. 18-720/CONS, dated 9 July 2018, on the above-captioned sanctions the Lao PDR Government expresses its profound disappointment and regret over the visa sanctions unilaterally imposed by the US Government against Laos for the so-called “lack of adequate cooperation from the Lao side in documenting and facilitating the return home of those claimed to be Lao nationals who have exhausted their legal remedies and have no right to remain in the United States”. This unfounded and unfair act by the US Government is not only unacceptable and counterproductive, but may bring about negative impact on the positive and growing Laos-US cooperative relationship as well.
The undeniable truth is that despite myriad difficulties and constraints facing it, the Lao Government has attached importance to and extended its fullest possible cooperation in responding to the US Government’s request by ways and means mutually agreed upon and on the basis of the relevant national laws and regulations of the Lao PDR as well as in accordance with its specific conditions and capacity. In doing so, the Lao Government has established an Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Deputy Minister of Public Security to be directly responsible for cooperation with the US side in addressing the repatriation issue. To date, a series of bilateral consultations at different levels have been conducted to discuss the matter related to repatriation. Ten video-conference interviews with persons subject to deportation were made by the Lao authority concerned. As a result of this joint effort, three cases have been accepted by Laos of which two have already been repatriated to Laos, and there are now 9 cases under consideration and subject to interview which is scheduled to be held on 27 July 2018.
In view of the above, the unreasonable sanctions imposed by the US Government would not be helpful for making Laos-US cooperative relationship advance toward a new step or a higher plane in the future. Conversely, it could possibly undermine the existing good bilateral cooperation between the Lao PDR and the United States in other fields. For this reason, the US Government is urged to consider removing this measure against Laos as soon as possible for the common benefits of the two countries and the peoples.
The Lao PDR Government, which consistently adheres to its policy of consolidating and promoting the friendly relations and fruitful cooperation with the US, stands ready to continue to work with the US Government toward the shared goals, including this issue of the latter’s concern. At the same time, the Lao Government hopes that a positive and constructive gesture would be shown by the US Government as regards its unilateral action on this matter.
Russian Helicopters, part of the Rostec State Corporation, has completed its first service contract to the Lao Ministry of Defence, transferring four repaired Mi-17 helicopters at an official handover ceremony on Wednesday.
The ceremony was held at the Vientiane air base and was presided over by Lao Deputy Minister of Defence, Phouvong Vongphom, who inspected the helicopters.
A crew from the Lao Air Force made a demonstration flight in the repaired helicopter during the event.
“We prepared an offer to repair another batch of Mi-17 type helicopters at the request of the Lao party. I hope the decision will be made shortly,” said CEO of Russian Helicopters, Andrei Boginsky.
The two sides held talks on supplies of new aircraft and continuation of cooperation in service and maintenance of earlier deliveries.
The Lao aircraft fleet includes over 20 civil and military helicopters. Laos operates Ka-32T helicopters in addition to the Mi-8/17 type.
Students wishing to register for entrance examinations at the National University of Laos (NUoL) for the 2018-19 academic year must register online.
The registration website, http://entrance.nuol.edu.la was created by the university’s IT department, and is navigable by either smartphone or web browser.
Online registrations will officially open on 16 July.
University entrance examinations will take place at exam centers from August 25.
“The online university entrance exam registration system is the first ever at NUoL, and is aimed at facilitating quick and convenient registration for thousands of students across the country.”
In the 2017-18 academic year, the university accepted 5,757 students from all over Laos. Exams were held in subjects including physics, mathematics, chemistry,
