The Mekong River Commission (MRC) is still reeling from the blowback over its handling of the consultation process around the Don Sahong and Xayaburi dams in Laos, both of which are expected to have severe environmental consequences on those living downstream.
On the morning of 20 August, 1973, American-trained officers of the Royal Lao Air Force returned from exile to launch a coup attempt, taking control of Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport, in a last ditch effort to exclude communists from the country’s new coalition government. By noon their leader had been shot down over the airfield, and the coup had failed. Two years later, Laos’ communist party would take full control of the country, which it has never relinquished.
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The United States is attempting to highlight the historical nature of an upcoming visit to the Southeast Asian state of Laos by US President Barack Obama. By doing so, the US hopes perhaps the rhetorical narrative of the visit can compensate for a lack of real political substance.
LUANG PRABANG – President Barack Obama will visit Laos next week to attend a regional summit, making him the first U.S. president to visit the once-isolated Southeast Asian country.
Next week, Barack Obama will be the first sitting U.S. president to visit Laos, a poor, landlocked country whose large-scale efforts to dam the Mekong River threaten to destabilize the region. This concerns the United States because Southeast Asia is one of the country’s largest trading partners and a key security ally that can counterbalance China’s growing regional influence. Obama should seize this opportunity to help Laos make energy choices that, over the long term, can unify the region and preserve the Mekong.
Hong Kong-listed casino operator Macau Legend Development Limited has announced that it has now assumed complete management and operational responsibilities for the Savan Vegas Hotel And Entertainment Complex in Laos.
Ms Phonethida Yodsombath winner of Miss Swensen’s Idol 2016 has been invited to model for Lao Fashion Week 2016; featured on the cover on Mahason magazine this month, she will join the list of national and international models on the runway this year.
© Laotiantimes.com
