March 2016 VT Issue 98

Vientiane Times
The First National English Language Newspaper
saturday April 30, 2016
ISSUE 98
www.vientianetimes.la
President gives instructions

to new government
PM announces
measures to
address budget
loopholes
Somsack Pongkhao
President Bounnhang Vorachit (seated, centre), Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (seated, second right) and members of the new
government pose together during the inauguration session yesterday.
--Photo Khamphanh
Somxay Sengdara
President Bounnhang Vorachit

has instructed the new
government to crack down on
violations of financial discipline
and other undesirable forms
of conduct, and improve the
management of crop harvests
and the use of natural resources.
Mr Bounnhang, who is
also Secretary General of the

Lao Peoples Revolutionary
Party, highlighted these points
yesterday when addressing
the governments inaugural
meeting at the Prime Ministers
Office.
The new government, led
by Prime Minister Thongloun
Sisoulith, was approved by
the National Assembly at its
inaugural session on April

20, which also approved the
eighth five-year National SocioEconomic Development Plan.
The government needs to
urgently implement the national
socio-economic development
plan, which should ensure
the prevention of and address
undesirable conduct at central
and local levels of government.
In particular, attention must be

paid to financial discipline at the
deepest levels, the lack of which
has caused the growing risk of a
crisis, Mr Bounnhang said.
He also stressed that the
government should take serious
steps to regulate all businesses
by enforcing the rules on
account holders, modernising
CONTINUED PAGE 2
Storms batter all parts of Laos

Times Reporters
Localised storms will continue

to lash many parts of Laos from
now until the middle of May
and the public should be on the
alert at all times.
Head of the Weather
Forecast and Aeronautical
Meteorology Division of the
Meteorology and Hydrology
Department in Vientiane, Mr
Bounterm Sisouphanthavong,
issued the warning yesterday.
He said households around
the country have lost roofs,
while some billboards blew
down during storms and squalls
that whipped through parts of
Laos on Thursday.
Electricity poles were
also brought down in the
strong winds, according to the
department.
Mr Bounterm said storms
Billboards and electricity poles collapsed after a storm passed through Vientiane on Thursday.
have battered several provinces

in Laos since mid-April.
Several houses have been left
without roofs and some trees
have been toppled by heavy

winds, and there may be more
unreported damage in remote
areas.
The worst incident occurred

in Luang Prabang, where three
people were killed when storms
CONTINUED PAGE 2
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The Prime Minister says the

government will exert every
effort to improve state budgets
and address loopholes that
have arisen during the socioeconomic development process.
Prime Minister Thongloun
Sisoulith described the problems
that have occurred in state
budget planning and how to
tackle them while addressing
the National Assembly session
recently.
He said Laos development
requirements were higher than
the countrys financial capacity,
leadig to larger budget deficits
in recent years. Mr Thongloun
suggested solutions to these
problems so that the national
budget was spent effectively.
Firstly, we have to improve
state plans for revenue collection
and expenditure given that in the
past our budget plans have not
been realistic because they were
based on assumptions (forecast
figures), he said.
The
prime
minister
explained that in past years
budgets had been linked to
fluctuations in the import-export
sector.
Budgets were mainly
formulated with the goal of
collecting more revenue and
allowing for more expenditure
without defining clear sources of
income.
We have to give up the
idea of spending as much of the
state budget as possible without
thinking of how to source
funding to address the deficit,
he said.
Mr Thongloun said all
of the provinces claimed that
they required large amounts
of funding for infrastructure
projects.
When the government
could not provide the funding
as requested, provinces accepted
proposals from the private sector
to carry out these projects.
In this case, the private
companies paid upfront and
would later be reimbursed
by the government following
completion of the projects.
However, some companies
asked the government to repay
CONTINUED PAGE 2
4500 kip
Inside
National exam winners

named
[Page 2]
Chinese president
meets Russian foreign
minister
[Page 4]
World Malaria Day

2016End Malaria for
Good
[Page 8]
New dish a rising star,

but no substitute for
papaya salad
[Page 12]
Notice
International Labour Day
is on Sunday, May 1. The
Prime Ministers Office
has announced that May 2
will be an additional public
holiday, meaning there will
be no issue of the Vientiane
Times on Monday May 2.
The next issue will appear
on Tuesday May 3.
2 Home News
Vientiane Times
Saturday April 30, 2016
New PM urges officials to

create success out of challenges
Times Reporters

Sisoulith has called on the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
leaders, officials and civil
servants to work together
to overcome challenges and
especially to make a success
of the countrys chairmanship
of Asean.
Mr Thongloun made
the call when meeting with
the
ministrys
leaders,
officials and civil servants on
Thursday to bid farewell after
leaving his post as Minister of
Foreign Affairs to become the
head of government.
He worked as Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs for a period
of 10 years or two terms.

Sisoulith addresses Ministry of
Foreign Affairs officials.
He thanked the ministrys

officials and civil servants for
their support in helping him
to fulfill his duties and called

on them to provide the same
assistance to his replacement.
said that in taking on a higher
post he would be faced with
challenges, but said these
would provide him with new
opportunities.
He called on officials
and civil servants to support
each other in making Laos
chairmanship of Asean this
year a success.
He talked about the
challenges in the field of
foreign affairs, saying that his
time at the ministry did not
make him a hero but he had
learnt a great deal.
Taking up a new post is
a challenge, and requires even
greater effort, he said.
President to visit China

Times Reporters
President Bounnhang Vorachit will lead a high ranking delegation on a visit to China from May
3 to 5 at the invitation of the Secretary General of the Communist Party of China and President
of the Peoples Republic of China.
The visit by Mr Bounnhang, who is also Secretary General of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary
Party, will be his second to a foreign country after being elected Secretary General of the Party
and head of state. He visited Vietnam earlier this week to enhance the friendly ties and special
solidarity between the two countries.
The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi, made an official visit to Vientiane
from April 22 to 24, when he met with his Lao counterpart Mr Saleumxay Kommasith to prepare
for Mr Bounnhangs visit.
The two ministers shared views on future cooperation and discussed plans to open Lao
general consulates in Chinas Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, this years celebration of the 55th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and China, and the progress of the Laos-China
railway project. They also touched on issues relating to the South China Sea.
National exam winners named
President gives instructions to... from page 1

revenue collection and curbing
expenditure.
This is the key task that
the government has to address
urgently. By doing so, we can
strengthen national finances and
the budget and restrict the abuse
of power and corruption, which
damage the role and influence of
the Party, President Bounnhang
said.
Referring to undesirable
conduct, he cited drug dealing
and abuse, crime, road accidents,
human trafficking, and the
migration of Lao workers to
other countries. He called on the
government to investigate these
issues, draw up plans, and use
effective measures to curb them.
Regarding the use of natural
resources, Mr Bounnhang
reminded government members
that people were seriously
concerned about fluctuating

crop yields and the sale of
their produce. He said the
government needed to ensure
that the nations resources were
efficiently utilised.
The government needs to
have a clear plan concerning
the use of resources, ensuring
that value is added to produce
so that people and the nation
benefit from harvests, he said.
In the coming years,
we absolutely have to stop
exporting timber, he added.
He also stressed the need
to create policies to facilitate
investment by the private
sector in remote and rural
areas.
Referring to the current
situation, the President said
Laos was going through a
transition period with a change
in the content and style of

leadership by the Party Central
Committee in overseeing the
work of government agencies.
He asked the government
to consider all issues carefully
when making improvements
to the government structure at
the central and local levels.
Mr Bounnhang called on
all government members, of
whom most are members of
the Party Central Committee,
in their capacity as managers
to be good models for change.
He advised them to
continuously
improve
themselves, make breakthroughs
in their area of work, be
aware
of
organisational
discipline and political and
work responsibilities, and
to be stricter in addressing
undesirable conduct.
Storms batter all parts of... from page 1

hit several parts of the province last weekend.
Thailands Thairath daily newspaper also reported that many provinces were hit by storms and
hail, damaging over 200 houses in the north of Thailand.
The aftermath was particularly severe in Udon Thani province, where hailstones damaged
over 20 houses on Thursday.
Minimum temperatures are forecast at 25-28C with maximums ranging from 37-40C.
Southeasterly winds will have speeds of 10-30 km/hr.
From April 29-30, a high pressure system over China will dominate northeastern, eastern and
central areas of Thailand, where hot spells will prevail, according to the Thai Meteorological
Department.
Summer thunderstorms can be expected in these areas during this period, with rain, gusting
winds and hail. People should be aware of the severe weather conditions and keep away from
insecure buildings.
Lao Press in Foreign Languages
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The four students on the left are named as the winners of Grade 7 first place awards while those on
the right are the Grade 4 winners.
Times Reporters
The top eight winners of the

2015-16 National Best Student
Exams at the secondary school
level were announced on
Thursday.
Four outstanding students in
Grades 4 and 7 from Vientiane
won first place awards in the
national examinations after
gaining the highest scores in
physics and chemistry.
Meanwhile, two outstanding
students in Grades 4 and 7 from
Luang Prabang province also
won first place awards with the
highest scores in maths.
A Grade 4 student from
Huaphan province and a Grade
7 student from Vientiane won
first place awards in literature
after gaining the highest scores.
According to the results of
the examinations on Thursday,
the final 22 outstanding students
from other provinces passed the
exams at the secondary school
level with scores of seven and
up. They were also named as
winners and received various
awards including scholarships,
certificates and medals.
The top eight students who
won first place awards each
received scholarships worth
10 million kip, certificates and
gold medals. Meanwhile, other

students who won second place
awards received 8 million kip,
certificates and silver medals
and third place award winners
got 6 million kip, certificates
and bronze medals.
Minister of Education
and Sports Ms Sengdeuane
Lachanthaboun presented the
awards to the winners of the
2015-16 National Best Student
Exams at a ceremony on
Thursday.
The names list of first
place award winners in Grade
7 (upper secondary school
level) includes a student from
the school for gifted and ethnic
students in Xaythany district,
Vientiane, Ms Phoudthida
Soukaloun, who won the
literature prize with a score of
7.75 as her highest and a lowest
score of 4.10.
The winner in maths with a
highest score of 8 and a lowest
score of 1 was a student from
Santipharb Secondary School
in Luang Prabang district,
Luang Prabang province, Mr
Atong Xaytua.
A student from the school
for gifted and ethnic students
in Xaythany district, Vientiane,
Mr Muakong Thaoxayly, won
the physics prize with a highest
score of 8.25 and a lowest score

of 2.10.
A student from the LaosVietnam Friendship School in
Xaysettha district, Vientiane,
Mr Kethviboun Souvimon
won the chemistry prize with
a highest score of 9.50 and a
lowest score of 1.
The first place award
winners in Grade 4 (lower
secondary
school
level)
included a student from the
ethnic school in Viengxay
district, Huaphan province, Mr
Lattanasin Singthavong, who
won the literature prize with
lowest score of 3.20.
A student from Namthuam
Secondary School in Nambak
district,
Luang
Prabang
province, Mr Teng Hangxong,
won the maths prize with a high
score of 7 and a low score of 1.
The winner in physics with
a high score of 8 and a low
score of 1.25 was a student from
Vientiane Secondary School,
Ms Vongdala Vongnakhone.
Lastly, a student from
Padthana Lower Secondary
School in Xaysettha district,
Vientiane, Ms Chinda Thavivan,
won the chemistry prize with
lowest score of 2.35.
PM announces measures to... from page 1

some of the project costs when they had made
some progress. In fact, the government should pay
them only when the projects are complete.
The PM described the problems that occurred
in these prior private investment projects which
often ended up with higher-than-expected costs
and poor quality workmanship.
For instance, the cost of a particular project
might have realistically been 100 billion kip but
the company operating the project charged 200
billion kip or double what it should have cost.
The high cost of many projects was linked
to the fact that those who designed them and
calculated the cost were the same person (or
company). There was also a lack of inspection of
such projects.
We should not allow such cases to happen
again, Mr Thongloun said, stressing that from
now on the government would have to give
thorough consideration to the approval of prior
private investment and asked both the National
Assembly and Provincial Assemblies to help stop
inappropriate projects.
Concerning taxes, the PM said tax rates should
not change often as this would confuse people.
In addition, tax exemptions should be considered
carefully as to which products should be exempt
and which should not. Some people also imported
more than was allowed by the government under
exemption measures.
Vientiane Times
Home News 3
Photo essays
Media from Southeast Asean nations including from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and
Indonesia pose with representatives of SCG at the annual architect fair taking place from April
26 to May 1 at the Challenger Hall, Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani in Thailand. SCG invited
the media to see the companys innovations in building materials and living technology under
the concept discover your next SCG experience.
--Photo Sisay
Lao diplomats and students living in Beijing, China, put on a display at the city's international
culture festival to promote Laos' culture and tourist attractions. Photo shows three Lao students
performing a traditional dance at the Beijing University of Technology.
A roof falls on a car after a squall passed through Xaysettha district in Vientiane on Thursday
night, causing damage to unstable structures.
--Photo Phaysithong
Weather forecast
Media personnel from Asean member countries and visitors to Bali, Indonesia, watch a colourful
Kecak and Fire Dance show on a trip to the island recently.
--Photo Tom
News in Brief
Police arrest three drug dealers
Vientiane police have arrested three drug dealers with more than 350 amphetamine pills in their
possession, the Khuamsangob newspaper reported. They were named as Mr Chettana, 31, of
Phonkheng village, Xaysettha district, Ms Nalin, 23, of Savang village, Sikhottabong district,
and Ms Thongsay, of Thadluang-tai village.
Polio vaccinations planned in four provinces
Khammuan provincial Health Department recently met to discuss polio immunisation in

Khammuan, Savannakhet, Borikhamxay and Xieng Khuang provinces, the Vientiane Mai
newspaper reported. Polio has almost been eradicated worldwide and Lao officials intend to
ensure that everyone in the country is immunised against this crippling disease.
Vientiane court imprisons Vietnamese nationals for selling illegal

drinking water
The Vientiane Peoples Court sentenced a Vietnamese man and woman to prison after they
were determined to have produced and sold unprocessed drinking water, the Khuamsangob
newspaper reported yesterday. The man was sentenced to nine months in jail and fined 2 million
kip. He will also have to pay 3 billion kip to the Lao Brewery Company in damages. The woman
was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 500,000 kip.
Police said the man had been selling the illegally bottled water since July 2015 to residents of
Nonwai village, Xaysettha district.
China is top investor in Laos with 760 projects
China has invested in more than 760 projects in Laos, worth more than US$6 billion, making
it the largest investor in Laos. Most of the investments are in the energy and mines sector,
agriculture, and services, according to the Laophatthana newspaper.
Trade and investment between Laos and China have expanded as the two countries have
improved regulations and eased barriers, as well making import-export procedures simpler.
Laos and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning plant health with
regard to the inspection of agricultural products such as rice, cassava, bananas and watermelons,
for easier export to China.
Vientiane Times
Region
Indonesian security
personnel prepare for May Day
INDONESIA (The Jakarta
Post, ANN)
-- About
17,000
security
officers
will be deployed to secure
the
commemoration
of
International Labor Day,
or May Day, this coming
Sunday, the same day when
residents of Jakarta and its
neighbouring cities enjoy Car
Free Day (CFD) on certain
streets.
To secure the day, we
will deploy officers from
the military, the police and
the Jakarta Transportation
Agency, said Jakarta Police
deputy chief Brig. Gen.
Nanang Jumantara on Friday
as quoted by kompas.com.
The officers will be placed
at crucial points in the city
including roads near the State
Palace, National Monument
(Monas), Bung Karno Sports
Stadium and the House of
Representatives, he said.
We will escort them [the
labourers] to the places where
they will gather. They are
likely to start rallying around
8am, said Nanang, adding
that the police would also
prepare parking facilities for
laborers who want to take part
in the May Day parades.
The labourers have been
asked to park their vehicles
at the Monas parking facility,
Banteng field, the grounds
of the Istiqlal Mosque and
Senayans eastern parking
facility.
Nanang stressed that

the labourers would not be
allowed to drive their vehicles
along Jl. M.H. Thamrin and
Jl. Sudirman because of CFD,
a day on which thousands
of people enjoy outdoor
activities on the citys main
thoroughfares.
Even police personnel
are not allowed to take their
vehicles. Only Transjakarta
buses are allowed to pass
through, he said, adding that
CFD would take place as per
usual.
Residents do not need to
worry. They can still enjoy
CFD and the labourers can
express their aspirations.
Both of these things can take
place, he added.
Trade union leaders have
announced that some 50,600
laborers will take part in May
Day this year. They will come
from cities in West Java such
as Bandung, Bogor, Cirebon,
Bekasi, Kerawang, Subang,
Purwakarta and Depok, as
well as from cities in Banten
such as Cilegon, Tangerang
and South Tangerang.
Nanang said the police had
met with labor representatives
to discuss May Day.
Citing a gubernatorial
regulation, Nanang told the
trade union leaders to focus
their activities around three
locations, namely Senayans
eastern parking facility, the
House complex and Monas.
Strong earthquake
rattles Vanuatu but no
threat of tsunami
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- A strong magnitude-7
earthquake rattled the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu on
Friday but authorities said there was no tsunami threat and no
immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake hit
near Malekula Island. It was centered about 200 kilometres
northwest of the capital Port Vila at a depth of 35 kilometres,
according to the USGS.
A police spokesman said they hadnt received any reports of
damage or injuries. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said
there was no threat of a destructive, Pacific-wide tsumani.
It was the fourth strong earthquake to strike Vanuatu this
month, although none have caused problems.
Vanuatu sits on the Ring of Fire, the arc of seismic faults
around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes are common. The
nation is also prone to volcanoes and cyclones.
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In brief from Asia

News Network
M4.4 quake rocks
southwest Japan,
upper 5 on seismic
scale logged
Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing,
capital of China.
--Photo Xinhua
Chinese president meets

Russian foreign minister
BEIJING (Xinhua) -- Chinese
President Xi Jinping on
Thursday met with Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov,
who is here to attend the fifth
foreign ministers meeting of
the Conference on Interaction
and
Confidence
Building
Measures in Asia (CICA) and
for an official visit.
Xi said China attaches great
importance to Russian President
Vladimir Putins visit to China
later this year.
I am looking forward to
having an in-depth exchange
of views with President Putin
on enhancing the ChinaRussia comprehensive strategic
partnership of coordination, Xi
told Lavrov at the Great Hall of
the People.
Xi called on both sides
to take the occasion of the
15th anniversary of the
signing of the Sino-Russian
Good-Neighbourly Treaty of
Friendship and Cooperation,
and the 20th anniversary of
the establishment of strategic
partnership of coordination,
which both fall this year to carry
forward the friendship from
generation to generation, and
cement the political and social
foundation of bilateral ties.
He encouraged both sides
to strengthen the top-down
design and strategic guidance
of ties, enhance mutual trust and
promote pragmatic cooperation
on big projects in particular.
The two countries should

further step up coordination
and communication on major
international and regional
issues and forge ahead with
political solutions to these
issues, said Xi. He also
called on the two countries to
enhance cooperation within
the framework of the CICA
and the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO).
Lavrov said Russia is
willing to work with China to
deepen economic, cultural and
people-to-people cooperation
and intensify coordination on
international and regional issues
within multilateral organizations
including the United Nations
and the SCO.
Australian police arrest 70 after

spate of Melbourne University thefts
MELBOURNE (Xinhua) -- Australian Police
have arrested 70 people in relation to a wave of
thefts on Melbourne University students, but have
watered down suggestions that criminals were
specifically targeting wealthy Chinese nationals.
Since January, Victoria Police have been
cracking down on crooks stealing bags, wallets
and phones from people in the general vicinity of
Melbourne Universitys inner-city campus.
Earlier this month, local media reported that
many of these victims were Chinese students,
with the university, arguably the most prestigious
in Australia, having received calls from their
concerned parents.
Subsequently, Victoria Police, in consultation
with the Chinese consulate and Melbourne
University, decided to ramp up patrols of the area,
with the universitys 24-hour security service also
put on high alert.
But on Friday Victoria Polices Chief
Commissioner Graham Ashton refuted the claim
that Chinese students, and more broadly Asianborn internationals, were the only target of the
citys petty thieves.
There was certainly a perception in the media
... that there was targeting of Chinese students,
Ashton told Melbourne radio on Friday. Its
certainly not the case.
I think only one-third of victims of those
particularly robberies, which were mainly snatch
and grabs of phones, were Asian.
Of those Asians only a small percentage of
those were Chinese.
Despite the spate of attacks, Ashton said future
Chinese students shouldnt be deterred from
pursuing an education in the Victorian capital.
It wasnt really targeting Chinese students; I
think thats an important message to get across,
he said on Friday.
Weve certainly had a good impact there
since (the operation began) in January, and I
understand (crime) has waned considerably.
JAPAN (The Kyodo News)

-- An earthquake with a
preliminary magnitude of 4.4
jolted southwestern Japan
on Friday, registering upper
5 on the Japanese seismic
scale of 7 in Oita Prefecture,
the Japan Meteorological
Agency said. The quake,
which was centered in central
Oita Prefecture at a depth
of around 10 kilometres,
occurred at 3:09 pm, the
agency said, adding no
tsunami warning was issued.
The town of Yufuin, a
renowned hot spring resort
area, was hit the hardest,
while the quake was also
felt in other areas such as
Kumamoto and Miyazaki
prefectures. Japans Kyushu
region has been jolted by
numerous quakes since a
M6.5 temblor on April 14.
Colombians accused
of housebreaking
apprehended in
Thailand
THAILAND (The Nation)
-- Two arrested, hunt on for
two others including alleged
ringleader; valuables worth
more than Bt22 million
stolen. Two colombian who
are allegedly members of a
transnational criminal gang
- which had stolen valuables
worth Bt22 million from
luxury homes in Bangkok were arrested at a shopping
mall in Sukhumvit Soi
77, police announced on
Thursday. The burgaled
houses included residences of
a public prosecutor, a judge,
a customs official and other
well-to-do people
Christian Robeldo Donne
and Gresson Joan Hernadez
Gomez, both 27, were
allegedly part of a fourmember team that cracked
safe boxes at luxury homes in
Bangkok and neighbouring
provinces on nine occasions
in March and April.
Skys the limit for

Asean airlines flying
within bloc
ASEAN (The Straits Times)

-- The Asean countries
pushing for free skies, to give
travellers more flights, lower
fares and new destinations,
have reached a key milestone.
All 10 member states have
ratified a deal allowing
airlines that meet safety
requirements to fly freely
from their home countries to
any city within the bloc.
In other words, the airlines
from Asean countries will be
able to make as many flights
within the bloc as they want
- as long as the airports can
support them. The deal takes
effect immediately.
Typically, air services are
bound by governmentto-government deals that
stipulate how many flights
airlines can operate and with
which aircraft size.
Vientiane Times
World
Cuba, Britain to cooperate on

energy, education, financial services
HAVANA (Xinhua) -- Cuba and Britain
on Thursday signed several cooperation
agreements regarding energy, education,
cultural and financial services.
These are areas where we believe we can
do a great deal together. Financial services is
an area where the UK leads the world. Cuba
has a very strong education sector and weve
discussed today areas where we can work
together, British Foreign Secretary Philip
Hammond told reporters after meeting with
his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez.
Hammond arrived in Cuba on Thursday
on the first such visit since 1959. He and
Rodriguez discussed a variety of issues
including trade, the social and economic
changes in Cuba, and the response to health
issues such as the Zika virus.
Hammond said that a visit to Havana by
British Prime Minister David Cameron is not
expected in the short term but anything is
possible in the long term.
The top British diplomat highlighted
Londons willingness to deepen tourism
cooperation with Havana. More than 160,000

Britons visited the island last year and tourism
has become one of the most booming sectors
in Cuba.
Cuba is also developing its renewable
energy market and other forms of energy,
which is also an area where the UK has
technology and services to offer. The cultural
exchange is also very important as we seek
to underpin this growing relationship for the
better understanding between the British and
the Cuban people, Hammond said.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez said Havana
attaches great importance to its ties with
Britain and seeks to deepen bilateral relations
in fields that are beneficial to both nations.
Cuba is the second leg of Hammonds Latin
American tour that has taken him to Colombia
and will later take him to Mexico.
Hammonds two-day stay in Cuba follows
the historic visit by US President Barack
Obama to the Caribbean nation last month as
part of the rapprochement between Havana
and Washington after 50 years of enmity.
Venezuela congress votes to

censure food czar amid shortages
People line up to sign a petition organised by the opposition to initiate a recall referendum against
Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela.
--Photo AP
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)

-- Venezuelas oppositioncontrolled congress voted
Thursday to censure the
countrys food minister amid
widespread shortages.
Lawmakers held the
vote against Food Minister
Rodolfo Marco Torres after
he failed to show up for a
congressional hearing.
Critics
of
President
Nicolas Maduros socialist
administration said they took
the vote for the good of the
Venezuelan people in light of
what has become a nutritional

emergency. They said the
censure should be enough to
remove the minister from his
post, but the ruling socialist
party called it a purely
symbolic gesture.
The opposition took
control of congress in
January, but has been almost
entirely sidelined by Supreme
Court decisions rendering
legislative actions null. The
administration said the noconfidence
vote
against
Torres is also invalid because
of a recent court ruling on

parliamentary procedures.
Also on Thursday, the
opposition said it had gathered
the signatures needed to
begin the process of recalling
President Nicolas Maduro.
The bloc needed to gather
signatures from 1 percent
of the voting population to
move on to the next round
of the process. Opposition
leaders said Thursday they
had gathered more than three
times the number of names
needed in just 24 hours.
In this image made from video and posted online from Validated UGC, men look at damaged buildings
after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria.
--Photo AP
More aid deliveries in Syria,

but people still starving
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -The UN humanitarian chief
warned Thursday that despite
increased aid deliveries in
Syria, people are still starving
without medical care and said
the world should be ashamed
at the devastating human toll
in five years of senseless
fighting.
Stephen OBrien demanded
unimpeded
humanitarian
access and told the UN
Security Council that it must
not squander the opportunity
presented by peace talks in
Geneva, which wrapped up
their latest round on Wednesday
with virtually no progress.
The people of Syria cannot
afford to see the situation
move backward again, he
warned. If the international
community fails to maintain
momentum politically, with
the cessation of hostilities, and
with humanitarian access, the
situation will only spiral further
out of control.
OBrien decried the Syrian

governments removal of
medicine and medical supplies
from aid convoys, calling
the practice inhumane and
a violation of international
humanitarian law.
And in a departure from
his prepared text, he warned
Bashar Assads government
that those responsible for the
unnecessary suffering and loss
of life will be held accountable
when the fighting stops, saying
there can never be impunity
for this behavior.
On a positive note, OBrien
said the World Food Program
reached 3.7 million people
with food and the World Health
Organisation vaccinated over
2.1 million children against
polio in March.
The
number
of
humanitarian convoys crossing
borders and crossing combat
lines has increased, with
assistance provided to over
778,000 people in besieged,
hard-to-reach and other priority

areas since January, he said,
and 14 high-altitude airdrops
since April 10 are helping some
100,000 people in Deir el-Zour.
Nonetheless, OBrien said,
current levels of access still
leave civilians starving and
without medical care.
He pointed to the first UN
visit to Daraya since 2012 on
April 16, which found 80 to 90
percent of the besieged town
destroyed, with electricity,
water and sanitation facilities
beyond repair, and households
eating one meal a day with the
poorest sending children into
the streets to beg and being
reduced to eating grass and
wild vegetation.
OBrien said a UN request
to send aid to the town has not
yet been granted. He said the
UN has submitted requests to
send aid convoys to 35 towns in
critical need in May, including
Daraya and Douma, and he
urged immediate approval.
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Location: Phonthan Village, Xaysettha District, Vientiane

Near Lao Stock Exchange, 5 bedrooms,
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+ 3small room, 1,845m Price: 430$/m
( 3,500,000kip/m)
Tel: 020 55111511
Vientiane Times
Opinion
Executive, legislative collusion

Editorial Desk
INDONESIA (The Jakarta

Post, ANN) -- For Indonesias
Corruption
Eradication
Commission (KPK) and other
anti-graft watchdogs, the muchheralded regional autonomy
seems to be a double-edged
sword.
On one hand it has sped
up delivery of public services,
thanks to the transfer of authority
and a whopping amount of
money from the central to
local governments. But on the
other hand, the development
funds entrusted to regional
governments, which this year
alone account for one third of
the state budget, are prone to
embezzlement, often quipped
as the decentralisation of
corruption.
One glaring example of
the swing of the corruption
pendulum from Jakarta to the
regions is the recent KPK case
implicating the political elite in
the south Sumatra regency of
Musi Banyuasin.
On Tuesday the KPK
detained six Musi Banyuasin
legislative council members
after naming them and 10
other local figures graft
suspects. The hall of shame
includes Regent Pahri Azhari
and his wife Lucianty, council
speaker Riamon Iskandar
and his three deputies. KPK

investigators allegedly caught
the six politicians red-handed
accepting 2.5 billion rupiah
(US$189,107) in bribes from
the regent, who had agreed to
provide 17 billion rupiah to all
council members for approving
his financial report for 2015 and
draft regional budget for 2016.
The Musi Banyuasin case,
if proven, would be an example
of the collusion that in the
past typified relations between
executive
and
legislative
powers at the national level.
With more state funds going to
regional governments coffers,
local politicians have found
a new instrument in regional
budgets to enrich themselves or
recover the money they spent
on campaigns.
Misuse of regional budgets,
either through provision of
facilities for legislative council
members or bribery, has been
widespread since the inception
of regional autonomy in 2000.
Indonesian
Corruption
Watch (ICW) data in 2010 found
that misuse of regional budgets
topped the list of corruption
cases that law enforcement
bodies were investigating and
the trend has so far not shown
signs of decline.
Between 2004 and 2015,
the KPK arrested 64 regional
heads for allegedly committing
graft, 17 of them in 2014. The

Home Ministry data is more
saddening as more than 300
regional heads have been
involved in graft since direct
local elections were introduced
in 2005.
There have been mixed
responses to the KPKs tough
anti-corruption
measures
in the regions. Innovative
regional leaders promote
good and clean governance
through budget transparency
and accountability, while their
narrow-minded peers ask the
central government for legal
protection that will spare them
from criminal charges for the
use of their regional budget.
Such rampant corruption
should not however justify
revocation
of
regional
autonomy. The KPK should
maintain its leading role in
corruption eradication in the
regions, but its resources remain
incomparable to the more than
500 regencies/municipalities
and 34 provinces across the
country.
The
most
workable
measure to prevent, if not
stop, corrupt practices is for
the central government to step
up supervision and impose
financial punishments on
regional governments that fail
to uphold budget transparency
and accountability.
GDP or happiness?
Meer Ahsan Habib
BANGLADESH (The Daily

Star, ANN) -- Imagine a world
where you earn a decent living,
the state treats you with fairness,
there is little carbon emission
in the environment, and on top
of everything else, the society
values your opinion. Who
wouldnt want to live in such a
utopian world?
There is hardly any country
in the world that takes into
consideration all these indicators
to determine whether the country
and its people are happy. On the
contrary, governments consider
how fast the country is growing
compared to the rest of the
world. Bangladesh has achieved
a GDP growth of 7.05 percent in
the first quarter of 2016. This is
an amazing achievement and we
are expected to grow at an even
faster rate in the coming days.
The inclusion of Bangladesh
in its Next 11 (N-11) list by
Goldman Sachs supplements
this expectation. These statistics
sound very strong and gives
the world a message about the
emergence of a new economy Bangladesh.
But when I ask myself how
happy I am, I land in a dilemma
- I am happy to earn a decent
living, but pessimistic about
other issues. Am I too unhappy?
When I first met my former
UNDP colleague Seeta Giri in
2010, she greeted me with a big
smile. Later, I found her to be
calmly dealing with tense and
critical issues.
One day I asked her about
her secret to this serenity
and she introduced me to
Bhutans unique concept of
Gross National Happiness
(GNH), established by King
Jigme Singye Wangchuck in
1972. The country estimates
its GNH based on sustainable
development, preservation and
promotion of cultural values,
conservation of the natural
environment and establishment
of good governance.
For more than three decades,
this tiny nation has been nurturing
GNH by preferring well-being
over material growth, thereby
attracting a lot of global interest
in the face of decaying financial
systems, disturbing inequity and
wide-scale destruction of the
environment. So far we have not
been able to do justice to any of
the pillars of happiness, which
is rightly reflected in the World
Happiness Report 2016 (WHR).
Bangladesh secured the 110th
position in this survey, with a
score of 4.643 on a scale of 0-10,
while Bhutan ranked the top
(84) in South Asia, followed by
Pakistan (92) and Nepal (107).
Sri Lanka (117), India (118) and

Afghanistan (154) fall behind us
in this list.
Interestingly, there is a
strong correlation between
sustainable
development,
governance and happiness. Eight
out of the top ten developed
countries, including Denmark,
Switzerland, Norway, Finland,
Canada, the Netherlands, New
Zealand and Sweden ranked top
in both the Corruption Perception
Index (CPI) 2015 and the WHR
2016. This further indicates that
countries with a high level of
governance, less corruption and
sustainable development are
happier than countries that are
found lacking in these areas. Our
GDP speedometer indicates
that we are running fast. But the
question remains whether we
are running in the right direction.
Bangladesh
should carefully
determine
whether its
development
efforts are
sustainable
and devised
in a holistic,
integrated
approach to
well-being.
Bangladesh
should
carefully determine whether
its development efforts are
sustainable and devised in a
holistic, integrated approach
to well-being. If the country
pursues individual objectives,
such as economic development,
and neglect the social and
environmental objectives, it
might face dire consequences in
the future.
Many
countries
in
recent years have achieved
economic growth at the cost
of social exclusion, rising
inequality and grave damage
to the environment. China,
which is presently facing an
economic crisis, is perhaps the
best example of this. In this
backdrop, the UN has designed
the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) to help countries
adopt a more balanced approach,
thereby leading to higher levels
of well-being for the present
and future generations, with a
goal to end poverty, protect the

planet, and ensure prosperity for
all. The WHR 2016 states: In
particular the SDG Index helps
to account for cross-national
patterns of happiness even after
controlling for GDP per capita
and unemployment. A measure
of Economic Freedom, as
proposed by libertarians shows
no such explanatory weight. The
evidence suggests that indeed all
three dimensions of sustainable
development
economic,
social, and environmental are
needed to account for the crosscountry variation in happiness.
Since its inception by
Bhutan, GNH has been gaining
momentum every year. In
2010, the United Kingdom
introduced the Measuring
National Wellbeing Programme
in an attempt to measure the
level of satisfaction of British
citizens at an individual,
community and national level.
In July 2011, the UN General
Assembly unanimously adopted
Resolution 65/309 that placed
happiness on the global
development agenda for the
first time. The same year, the
Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development
(OECD) launched its Better
Life Index (BLI). 2012 marked
several development projects
inspired by GNH - South
Korea and the city of Seattle
(Washington, USA) launched
their respective happiness index,
while the government of Goa
(India) initiated a strategy for
socioeconomic development.
All of them cited the GNH
Index as a model for measuring
happiness. In 2014, the
government of Dubai launched
a localised happiness index to
measure the level of satisfaction
of public services.
Should Bangladesh try
something similar, in parallel
with the existing economic
indicators? It may not be the
best idea to replace GDP or
GNI with a happiness index, but
Bangladesh should strive to find
some answers - how happy are
Bangladeshis as individuals, as
a community and, above all, as
a nation. How sustainable are
the development figures for the
future? In addition to counting
economic indicators, taking
into consideration an existence
of good governance backed by
effective anti-corruption drives,
a job market which offers decent
work environment for all, equal
treatment of individuals and
conservation of nature could
take the country to a whole
new level of development and
happiness.
The writer is a communicationfor-development professional
Vientiane Times
Streetwise
Opinion 7
How can we raise awareness of the

importance of protecting intellectual property?
Laos is marking World Intellectual Property Day with a fair at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane from April 26 to
May 1 where local and foreign businesses are displaying their products. Vientiane Times went along to
sound out public opinion on the need for more protection of products and ideas.
This is my second time here;
I was here last year as well.
I think the fairs a good
idea as it might educate the
public about intellectual
property protection and help
people to learn more about
Businesses set up booths to exhibit their products at Lao-ITECC.
Visith Teppalath
Mr Moun Mounmeuangsen,
a resident of Sivilay village,
Xaythany district: Lao
people arent very aware
of intellectual property
protection as they are not
well educated on this issue.
Some producers dont have
their products copyrighted

or trademarked. And some
people illegally copy the
products of others, but
they dont know that what
theyre doing is illegal.
People usually like to copy
products such as books and
CDs. There should be more
campaigning and advertising
about intellectual property
rights to teach people about
these issues. There should
be education about this for
people of all ages, especially
schoolchildren, so they learn
the rights and wrongs at a
young age.
Ms Bounmy Keomany,
a resident of Donnoun
village, Xaythany district:
Lao people can now make
a lot more products than
before so its the right time
to raise societys awareness
of intellectual property.
Many dont understand
this issue and need more
information about it. Most
people dont talk about
protecting intellectual
property rights, maybe
because they dont know
enough about it and dont
understand what it means.
Nor do they understand
the law on copyright and
trademarks, or the effects
of illegally copying things.
More information should
be distributed to the public
so people can learn the
importance of copyright
good for both producers and

consumers. Producers should
copyright and trademark
their work, to legally protect
their rights and products. If
producers dont copyright or
trademark their work, their
products can be copied easily
and those who copy cannot
be considered guilty. People
who break the rules and copy
the products of others should
be punished according to the
law.
Ms Naenny Phimmasone,
a worker from Sisattanak
district: The sector
responsible should be more
active in providing and
distributing information
about this issue. They should
explain intellectual property
protection laws and the
Mr Bounkham Bothsavang,
a resident of Pakthang
village, Sikhottabong
district: I dont know
much about this issue but
I try to learn about it. It is
very important to be aware

protection because it is
Mr Somphone
Chanthadala, ODOP
representative, Keooudom district, Vientiane
province: I represent the
One District, One Product
scheme in my province. My
products are copyrighted
and protected now. I have
been to this fair before and
Im very happy to come
again. It is important to hold
this fair for World Intellectual
Property Day. Celebrating
this day around the world
promotes awareness of
intellectual property, expands
the influence of intellectual
property across the world,
encourages countries
to publicise intellectual
property protection laws
and regulations, and
enhances public awareness
this. Many people who visit

our booth are interested
in our products. But some
people dont understand
the meaning of protecting
intellectual property so my
colleagues and I sometimes
have to explain what we
know. People need more
information and those who
rights. Laos can do what
the world does and is
a member of the Asean
Economic Community.
Lao people should learn
more about this issue so

that we know what other
countries know, and so
that our products will be
protected too. Lao people
should become more aware
protection as its an
important part of regional
and global integration.
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the laws, and how people
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know a lot about the matter

should help others by
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negative effects of copying

as most people dont know
about these issues. There is a
general lack of information.
There should also be more
public activities about these
issues, more information
distributed, and more public
campaigning, including
through all media channels.
America and Canada
Ms Manivone Vilailak,
Aderans Lao Co., Ltd.
representative: I am very
happy to be a representative
of this company and to
exhibit their products here.
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Vientiane Times
Health & Education
World Malaria Day 2016

End Malaria for Good
Malaria diagnostic kits.
Times Reporters
n World Malaria
Day 2016, WHO
calls on the global
health community
to address the significant gaps
in prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of malaria; and to
End Malaria for Good.
Minister
of
Health,
Associate
Prof.
Dr
BounkongSyhavong,
said
efforts to prevent, diagnose
and treat malaria have
improved in recent years, in
large part due to the leadership
from the government and
the funding support from
our donors, particularly the
Global Fund since 2004.
In addition, technical
support from WHO has
enabled the country to
implement sound malaria
plans and contributed to a
rapid reduction in malaria
deaths, resulting in Laos
meeting the 2015 MDG target
ahead of the global deadline.
The Centre for Malaria
Parasitology and Entomology
is fully committed to
collaborate with the Greater
Mekong Subregion countries
on artemisinin-resistance and
improve access to malaria
control services for migrant
and mobile populations in
order to ensure flattening of
the epidemic in the southern
provinces
and
progress
towards malaria elimination
by year 2030.
To meet this goal, Laos
has expanded its services by
ensuring a regular supply
of rapid diagnostic test
kits and Artemisinin-based
Combination therapies for
prompt and early diagnosis
and treatment of malaria at the
public health facilities and at
the community level through
village malaria workers and
village health volunteers and
establishing Public Private
Mix initiatives for malaria
diagnosis and treatment that
reduces the availability of
counterfeit
anti-malarial
drugs in the private sector.
Mass distribution of
insecticide
treated
nets
coupled with behaviour
change
communication
activities have enabled the
malaria programme to put a
brake on the rapid spread and
perpetuation of the disease
within the country.
WHO Representative to
the Lao Peoples Democratic
Republic, Dr Juliet Fleischl
said WHO has worked
with the Centre for Malaria
Parasitology and Entomology
on many fronts; in the
development of a national
strategy and action plan, in
improving the prevention
activities and surveillance
system,the distribution of
long
lasting
insecticide
treated nets to identified
high-risk populations, and
the recent integration of the
malaria information system
into the Health Management
Information System on the
District Health Information
System platform aimed at data
collection for better prevention
and control efforts, and last but
not the least - capacity building
of the programme staff in
malaria case management and
drug and insecticide resistance
monitoring.
Work at the community
level includes training and
re-training of village malaria
workers and village health
volunteers to carry out early
diagnosis and treatment in
villages in high-transmission
areas, and health education to
at-risk populations including
forest goers on the use of long
lasting insecticide treated nets
and other protective measures
as well as the need to seek
early care when sick with
fever.
Health staff are also
trained in early diagnosis and
treatment of malaria, malaria
health education, malaria
data reporting and outbreak
investigation and response.
Malaria is both preventable
and treatable. WHOs work
on malaria is extensive,
covering community case
management,
diagnostic
testing, drug resistance, and
prevention for high risk
groups, malaria elimination,
malaria vaccine development,
preventive
therapies,
surveillance, treatment and

vector control.
WHOs Global Malaria
Programme has updated the
malaria treatment guidelines
in 2015 based on new
evidence on dose-response
in children, and also includes
recommendations on the use
of drugs for high risk groups.
Global malaria deaths remain
high, an estimated 438,000
deaths reported in 2015, of
which three-quarters occurred
in children under the age of
five.
In 2013, an estimated
584,000 deaths were reported,
of
which
three-quarters
occurred in children under
the age of five.Preventive
treatments are highly costeffective, with the potential
to save tens of thousands of
lives each year.
Vector
control
is
an important factor to
prevent and reduce malaria
transmission. Long lasting
insecticide-treated nets are
mainly used in Laos for high
transmission areas. However,
communities have to use the
bednets correctly, and use
other protective measures
such as mosquito repellents
when outdoors. Many in the
community are still not aware
that malaria is transmitted by
mosquitoes and will need to
be advised on how to protect
themselves against malaria.
WHO will continue to
strengthen the surveillance
system for both humans and
vectors; to promote the ban
on the use of counterfeit and
substandard
antimalarial
drugs and promote health
seeking behaviours among
communities,
particularly
among villagers, mobile and
migrant populations.
Early
diagnosis
and
treatment of malaria reduces
disease and prevents deaths.
It also contributes to reducing
malaria transmission.
Laos has set its sights
on the elmination of malaria
by 2030. Together we can
defeat malaria is the message
for World Malaria Day, to
envision a malaria free world
and End Malaria for Good.
Pepsi Singing Contest:

winner proud of the title
Visith Teppalath
Mr Kiengkai Bandasack is the

winner of the Pepsi Singing
Contest 2016; he is very happy
to be the winner and proud of
the title because it is not easy to
win such prizes.
This is his second time
to compete on this stage and
trying his very best caused him
to emerge as the overall winner
this year.
Mr Kiengkais first time was
in 2013 but he could not pass
the audition round. However,
he did not stop and tried again
this year, practicing hard in all
steps and finally becoming the
winner.
But it was not easy to win
because he had to compete with
496 candidates in the audition
round, with 33 contestants in
the semi-final round, and with
11 contestants in the final
round.
Mr Kiengkai is a 19 year
old student in Grade 7 at
Piavat Secondary School,
Sisattanak district.
He was born on August
19, 1996, in Somsavanneua
village Sisattanak district,
where he lives with his family.
He is a student who has
talent in singing, and loves
both singing and dance. Mr
Kiengkai started practicing
singing and dancing when he
was in primary school.
He was also the winner of
the secondary school singing
test held on March 20,
organised by the Vientiane
Education
and
Sports
Department.
He is a hard working and
diligent student, and actively
participates in all school
activities. He also represented
the
school
to
attend
performance art and schooling
arts activities in Vientiane.
Being the winner,
Mr
Kiengkai now has the right to
work with an entertainment
company and he recently
signed a contract to work with
KPY Entertainment Company,
and is now waiting to start
work. So besides studying in
his classes, he is also working
on his singing at the same
time.
Mr Kiengkai is currently
studying in the last year of
secondary school and after
graduation he plans to go on
the next level to study business
at university but he also wants
to work in entertainment.
The Pepsi Singing Contest
is held yearly. It is a project
held primarily to help promote
art and culture preservation as
well as improving the singing
skills of school children ,
and also encouraging more
young people to express
their special talents through
singing and dancing as well as
participating in extracurricular
activities.
It is also an activity for
giving the chance for students
all over the country to compete
for winning the chalice of
Minister of Educations and
Sports. It is held yearly and this
is the fifth year it has been held.
This year, the contest was
organised into three rounds
such as the audition, semi-
Mr Kiengkai receives a trophy from a representative of the Ministry

of Education and Sports.
His mother and tutor congratulate him.
final, and final; contestants

must show their talent and
skill singing both Lao and
international songs.
This year was more special
than previous times because
this year was more challenging
for constants as they had to
sing both Lao and international
songs during the contest,
together with mixed drama
performances.
The final round was
held at the National Culture
Hall featuring 12 winning
contestants from the semifinal round.
The winner was awarded
with the chalice of the
Minister of Education and
Sports while some money and
prizes were presented to all
titles respectively.
Mr Kiengkai said that he
was very happy and proud
with the title and it was kind
of surprised when he was
announced as the winner
because he had not expected
much about the title but he
tried his best.
It is not easy to be the
winner because there were
many contestants, and they
were judged on three best
aspects such as singing,
performance, and voice. I was
nervous about it, but finally, I
was announced as the winner,
so it means that I have made
the best effort.
I would like to thank the

organisers for organising the
contest and giving the chance
to all contestants to show
their talent; the tutors for
training us in all the singing
and dancing skills and lessons
on performances; my school
and family for supporting and
cheering me up, he added.
Mr Kiengkais older sister,
Ms Montha Bandasack said
that she was very proud of
him because he worked hard
practicing; and she and all
her family members were
surprised when the winner
was announced and they all
were very happy.
A teacher responsible for
sports and arts activities at
Piavat Secondary School, Ms
Souphaphone Boutavong said
that Mr Kiengkai is a good
student who actively works
for the school and he has talent
in the arts, especially singing.
During
the
contest,
each round I encouraged all
students to cheer him on. I
also called to encourage him
in the final round, and as
expected he did well and won
the title. I have to congratulate
him on his success and bless
him to get more success after
graduating from this school.
Being a good student and
with his talent he will go far
in his further studies and his
singing, she added.
Business
Vientiane Times
Read more news at www.vientianetimes.org.la
SMEs can tap new scheme

to get bank loans
(From left) Mr Chia, Ascenz chief executive; Mr Iswaran, Trade and

Industry Minister; Mr Sia, Ascenz chief technology officer; and
Mr Bernard Siah, Ascenz product development manager, viewing
a demonstration of Ascenzs proprietary monitoring system
yesterday.
--Photo ST
Singapore (The Straits

Times, ANN) -- Small, fastgrowing firms often lack
the cash flow and collateral
needed to gain access to bank
financing, but a new scheme
aims to plug that gap.
Enterprise development
agency Spring Singapore
is partnering the three local
banks to catalyse 100 loans
amounting to about US$500
million over two years, under
a scheme called the Venture
Debt Programme.
The scheme allows small
and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) to apply for loans of
up to US$5 million each, to
fund working capital, asset
purchases, research and
development or business
expansion.
Spring Singapore, which
unveiled details of the
programme yesterday, will
share 50 percent of the risk
with the banks.
Venture debt is a type
of alternative financing for
enterprises that have high
growth potential but lack
established revenue streams
or assets to use as collateral.
To compensate for the

higher risk involved in
backing such companies,
lenders might combine their
loans with warrants, or rights
to purchase equity in the firm.
The
scheme,
first
announced in last years
Budget, was rolled out in
January and has already
benefited four companies.
One of them is Ascenz, a
supplier of fuel monitoring
and bunkering systems.
The firm has developed
a proprietary monitoring
technology that provides
shipping firms with real-time
insights on fuel usage.
Chief executive Chia
Yoong Hui said the company
intends to make use of the
US$1 million it obtained
under the Venture Debt
Programme to invest in
research and development, as
well as expand in Europe.
Most of our assets are
intellectual property, which is
intangible, so its challenging
for us to access most types
of funding. This gives us an
alternative, he said.
It also benefits us in a
practical way, in that (venture

debt) doesnt dilute our equity
stake in the company, added
Mr Chia, who co- founded the
company with chief technology
officer Sia Teck Chong.
Minister for Trade and
Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran,
who spoke to the media during
a visit to Ascenz yesterday, said
the scheme will help accelerate
the growth of firms using new
business models and moving
into new markets.
(The programme will help)
fuel the growth of start-ups and
fastgrowing companies, and
also help financial institutions
become more comfortable
with understanding the risks
involved, he added.
Mr Tan Chor Sen, the
head of international, global
commercial banking at Ascenzs
bank, OCBC, said Springs
risk-sharing in the programme
allows us to take risks that we
wouldnt usually have taken.
The longer-term objective
is to eventually have the private
sector take over (in providing
such financing) and have
government support fall off.
This would make for a more
vibrant SME ecosystem, he
added.
Mr Leslie Loh, the
managing director of local
venture capital firm Red Dot
Ventures, said the programme
will provide an alternative for
firms which need funds but are
not yet ready to raise sums in
the US$5 million to US$10
million range from venture
capital.
However, banks lending
under the scheme might require
company founders to put up a
personal guarantee, which
means founders will need to
shoulder the entire risk in the
event of potential default.
This is not for everyone...
Not all start-up founders would
be willing to do that, he added.
Exchange rates as of April 29, 2016

Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public
Foreign Currencies
Buying
Selling
US Dollar 50-100
8,092
8,132
Thai Baht
231.7
233.43
Euro 50-500
9,189
9,235
AirAsia to begin
Vientiane-Bangkok flights
Times Reporters
irAsia, rated the

Worlds
Best
Low-Cost Airline
by Skytrax for seven
consecutive years (20092015), will enhance its
Asean network with a new
daily direct flight between
Vientiane andBangkok Don
Mueang, starting from July
1, 2016.
The Vientiane-Bangkok
flight will be the airlines
second connection between
Laos and Thailand after its
successful Luang PrabangBangkok route.
The
latest
addition
continues to offer AirAsias
low fares, strong on-time
record and comfortable 180
seat Airbus A320 airplanes.
Seats are available at a
promotional fare starting at
320,000 kip one way from
today until May 8 for travel
from July 1, 2016, to May
22, 2017.
Director of Commercial
for Thai AirAsia, Mr
Santisuk Klongchaiya, said
Thai AirAsia received very
strong positive feedback
from its first connection
between Laos and Thailand
with the flight achieving an
average load factor of 80-85
percent.
The response prompted
the airline to immediately add
a second connection with the
Vientiane-Bangkok
sector
now allowing for travel to
Bangkok Don Mueang
International Airport, from
which visitors can easily
reach the heart of Bangkok.
We would like to
thank the Lao people for
welcoming AirAsia so
warmly. We are a low fare
airline that aims to make
travel easy and convenient
in order to stay true to our
motto, Everyone can Fly,
Mr Santisuk said.
At the same time we
A poster advertises AirAsias new sector between Vientiane and

Bangkok.
prioritise service, being on

time, offering a range of
destinations and above all,
safety. We are confident that
our new Vientiane-Bangkok
route will be as well received
as that of Luang PrabangBangkok as Vientiane has
great potential in trade,
investment and tourism with
a unique local culture that is
attractive to travellers, he
added.
The new route means easier
travel from Laos to Thailand,
from which travellers can
access connecting flights to
Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai,
Singapore, Yangon and over
100 more throughout Asia and
Australia.
AirAsia currently flies
direct from Vientiane to Kuala

Lumpur (Malaysia) three
times a week with the route
maintaining a load factor of
over 80 percent throughout
2015.
The new Thai AirAsia
(code FD) Vientiane-Bangkok
flight will be available daily
seven days a week starting
from July 1.
Promotional
fares
displayed are one-way fares,
inclusive of airport tax and
fees.
Promotional
fares
are limited, and terms and
conditions apply.
Fares shown in Lao
kip currency are subject to
the daily exchange rate as
determined by the Bank of the
Lao PDR.
New Zealand prepares to host

RCEP trade talks in June
WELLINGTON (Xinhua) -- New Zealand is to host the 13th round of negotiations for the
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in Auckland from June 12 to 18, Trade
Minister Todd McClay said Friday.
Once completed, RCEP would be the largest trading bloc in the world in terms of population,
covering a total population of more than 3 billion people in 16 countries, McClay said in a
statement.
RCEP aims to broaden and deepen existing free trade agreements between ASEAN and six
other countries, including New Zealand, said McClay.
It is important for New Zealand to play its part in these negotiations which offer us significant
opportunities to increase our trade and economic links with the dynamic Asia region.
The RCEP countries accounted for around 27 percent of global trade and had a combined
gross domestic product of US$23 trillion.
Critically for New Zealand, the 15 other countries covered 55 percent of its goods export
markets last year and six of its top 10 trading partners.
It would not be in New Zealands interests to stand aside from a negotiation that covers at
least 55 percent of our merchandise exports, said McClay.
New Zealands participation in RCEP complements New Zealands existing free trade
agreements in Asia, and will help New Zealand build new FTA relationships, notably with India.
It will help to make the regions noodle bowl of rules operate better together, reducing the
costs for New Zealands businesses to operate in the region.
10 Business
Vientiane Times
Asean Economic Community
Philips closing fluorescent lamp

plant in Samut Prakan
Thailand (The Nation,
ANN) -- The shutdown of
the factory at the Bangpoo
Industrial Estate in Samut
Prakan comes as demand for
fluorescent lamps dims in
markets around the world.
Fluorescent lamps are
gradually being replaced by
light-emitting-diode
(LED)
lamps.
The
plant
produces
more than 1,000 types of
fluorescent lamps.
China will become a
significant lighting production
hub for Asia and the world.
In Thailand, the company
separated its lighting business
from medical and electric
goods in February. The
move will give its lighting
operations more flexibility
in managing its business and
setting its growth plan.
The lighting business will
be under Philips Electronics
(Thailand), while medical and
electrical appliances will be
under a new company named
Philips (Thailand).
The transformation aligns
with the companys strategy
for creating a stronger
foundation for future growth

and innovation to address
customer needs better and
faster.
Under the reshuffle,
our head office is expecting
significant growth in the lighting
business and the creation of
a new segment of smart and
connected lighting, said
Chalermpong Darongsuwan,
managing director of Philips
Electronics (Thailand).
In
Thailand,
the
contribution of fluorescent
lamps in the overall lighting
market is continuing to drop,
from 30 percent last year to
28 percent expected this year.
Overall
demand
for
electric lamps is expected to
brighten by 3-4 percent to
about Bt6.1 billion this year.
LEDs have taken about 34
percent of the market, with
traditional lighting products
still dominant.
However, in the Bt15.3billion luminaire market,
LEDs represent about 62
percent.
We believe that LEDs
will share more than 50
percent of the local electric-
lamp segment in one or two

years, he said.
Philips will bring out
about 1,000 LED products in
Thailand this year.
We will continue to
encourage Thais to convert
to LED bulbs, and this year,
we are going to emphasise
our position as the leader of
the lighting market with the
Philips LED: The right light
is everything campaign.
This campaign will
raise consumer awareness
about the potential of LED
innovation
that
extends
beyond illumination and
cost-saving to the building
of a variety of mood settings
around the house, as well as
the creation of a warm and
energetic atmosphere.
It is to enhance life with
light, he said.
The company will also
focus on positioning itself
as a leading provider of
lighting solutions, especially
in project-based channels,
such as the governments
infrastructure projects and the
private sectors housing and
shopping-mall projects.
The growth of the

automotive industry and
car ownership in Indonesia
Indonesia (The Jakarta
Post, ANN) -- Despite the
global
economic
crisis
showing no signs of going
away, the automotive industry
in Indonesia has experienced
surprisingly positive growth.
According to market research
consultation firm Frost &
Sullivan, Indonesia has one
of the biggest automotive
scenes in ASEAN after
Thailand. They also predict
that Indonesia will be the
regions biggest automotive
market by 2019.
Analysis by Association
of Indonesian Automotive
Manufacturers (Gaikindo )
chief Jongkie D. Sugiarto
suggests that domestic car
sales could increase by
5 percent to 1.05 million
units. This optimism is
based on macro-economic
indicators within the 2016
State
Budget
(APBN),
specifically its economic
growth target of 5.3 percent
this year.
The rapid growth of
the automotive industry in
Indonesia has indirectly

led to increased public
knowledge about car and
a rise in demand for car
ownership. Different types
of cars are in public demand.
By category, they are:
1. City Cars. They have
compact designs, are fuel
efficient and are useful for
day-to-day activities.
2. MPV
(MultiPurpose Vehicles). These
vehicles are comfortable,
appropriate for families and
can accommodate to the
needs of many passengers.
3. SUV (Sports Utility
Vehicles). They are a mix
between sedans and jeeps
that prioritise being able to
traverse different terrains.
4. Sedans. These types of
vehicles are perfect for those
who prioritise comfort in
travel.
Accessories and comfort
are also considered valuable
and can help determine the
value of a car. The more
comfortable it is, the more
diverse features it has, the
better the safety features, the

higher the value and price of
the car.
These aspects are often
packaged
together
by
automotive producers in ways
that attract buyers. They also
add in light down-payments,
long installment periods,
bonus entertainment systems
and service warranties that
last several years.
Those who want to get a
new car, CIMB Niaga gives
its customers a very big
opportunity to win a car by
continuing to increase their
savings balance. Featuring
8 BMW 320i, 32 Honda
BR-V, as well as millions of
Rupiah shopping vouchers,
all without lucky draw!
Just visit your nearest
CIMB Niaga office or contact
us at 14041 to find out how
you can participate in this
amazing
prize-winning
program, which runs until
June 30, 2016.
Now is the time to get
your own dream car with the
smart way!
Lao stock market report

Trade Summary
On Friday, the LSX leapt 2.29 points to 1,123.41 points with a trading volume from EDLGen, BCEL and PTL. The highest volume was from PTL on dividend payment date trading
7,900 shares, gaining 100 kip to close at 2,700 kip after staying stable for a week. However,
the two main stocks BCEL and EDL-Gen traded 5,000 shares and 900 shares respectively,
closing at unchanged prices. LWPC and SVN saw no trading in around 3 weeks with
constant prices.
Daily Turnover by Investor Types (LAKm)
The growth of the automotive industry and car ownership in Indonesia.
Asia News Network (ANN)
Last 7 days Trading Information
BCEL-KT Securities Company Limited Email: Broker@bcel-kt.com
The Asia News Network (ANN) is a network of leading daily English language
newspapers in Asia, supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany
through its regional representative bureau in Singapore.
THE DAILY YOMIURI
It was established in March, 1999, to provide avenues for cooperation and
THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN optimise coverage of major news events in the region.
It also aims to promote journalism, share news stories, feature articles, editorials
and personality profiles. ANN is the worlds most active newspaper alliance with
a membership base of 18 newspapers in 16 countries.
The German News Agency of Deutsche Presse-Agentur, as one of the leading
international agencies and ANNs exclusive partner, distributes news and
THE STRAITS TIMES features, background stories and commentaries from ANN to subscribers
worldwide.
They consist of Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), China Daily (China), The
Statesman (India), The Korea Herald (South Korea), The Star (Malaysia), Sin
Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Nation (Thailand), The Straits Times (Singapore),
The Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines), The Jakarta Post (Indonesia),
Vietnam News (Vietnam), The Daily Star (Bangladesh), Vientiane Times (Laos),
The Kathmandu Post (Nepal), The Island (Sri Lanka), Brunei Times (Brunei),
The Nation (Pakistan), and China Post (Taiwan). The combined circulation of
these newspapers is more than 14 million copies per day.
Vientiane Times
11
Environment
G-77 should adopt South-South

climate change programme of
action: Ambassador Djoghlaf
The beauty of the Paris agreement is that its a

universal agreement, unlike the Kyoto protocol,
said Ambassador Djoghlaf.
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) -- The 134 members

of the Group of 77 and China (G-77) made their
mark on the Paris Climate Change Agreement
and should now adopt a programme of action
to implement it, Ambassador Ahmed Djoghlaf
told IPS in a recent interview.
Djoghlaf, of Algeria, was co-chair of
the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban
Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP), together
with Daniel Reifsnyder, of the United States,
a position which allowed him to witness
very closely the negotiation of the Paris
Agreement.
As the co-chair of the preparatory
committee I can tell you that the G-77 has
been a major actor during the negotiation
and a major player for the success of the Paris
conference, said Djoghlaf.
Djoghlaf said that the Group of 77 and
China made its mark on the Paris agreement
by mobilising a diverse range of countries and
sub-groups, to defend the collective interests
of the developing countries.
The group helped to find balance in the
agreement between mitigation issues that
are important for developed countries and
adaptation issues that are very close to the heart
of the developing countries, said Djoghlaf.
He also said that the group fought for
equity, response measures, loss and damage
as well as means of implementation, including
financing, capacity building and transfer of
technology.
Those that are suffering the most
nowadays are those that have less contributed
to climate change crisis and they are using
their own limited financial resources to address
them, to adapt, to adjust to the consequences
created by others, he said.
Programme of Action in Marrakech
I hope that the G-77 through the leadership
of Thailand will be able to take the lead and
submit to its partners at the next conference of
the parties in Marrakech a draft work program
on capacity building for the implementation of
the Paris agreement, said Djoghlaf.
The 22nd meeting of the Conference
of Parties (COP22) to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
will be held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 7 to
18 November. 2016.
Djoghlaf said the programme should
address North-South as well as South-South
capacity building, which is needed to ensure
that developing countries can implement their
commitments including on issues related to
the finalisation of their nationally determined
contributions and preparation of their future
contributions.
It would be important for the developing
countries to be able to identify their own
capacity building needs and let others do it
for them. It will be also important to have a
framework to coordinate the South-South
cooperation on climate change similar to
the Caracas Plan of Action on South-South
Cooperation or the Buenos Aires Plan of
Action on economic and technical cooperation
among developing countries, he said.
Quoting Victor Hugo Djoghlaf said that
not a single army in the world can stop an

idea whose time has come, I do believe when it
comes to South-South cooperation on climate
change its an idea whose time has come also.
Within the G-77, the diverse group,
you have emerging countries that are now
leaders in renewable energy and the energy
of tomorrow and the they have I think a
responsibility to share their experience and
to allow other countries from the same region
and the same group to benefit from their
experience, he said.
I also believe that time has come for the
G-77 to initiate its own programme of action
on climate change, he said.
Djoghlaf said that developing countries
need capacity building to ensure that they
can continue to participate fully in the
implementation of the Paris Climate Change
Agreement.
Unlike developed countries, which have
fully-fledged ministries dealing with climate
change, he said, In the South there is not a
single country that has a Minister of Climate
Change.
He spoke about how during the negotiations
of the Paris agreement many countries of
the South had only one focal point and yet
sometimes there were 15 meetings taking
place at the same time and the meetings also
often continued into the night.
It can be difficult for this focal point to
be able to understand and to participate, let
alone be heard when there is a proliferation
of simultaneous meetings, he said.
Djoghlaf said that countries of the
South could help address this disparity by
establishing national committees, which
include representatives from a number of
different ministries.
Theres not a single sector of activities
which is not nowadays affected by the negative
impact of climate change, said Djoghlaf.
All the sectors need to be engaged and
we will succeed to win the battle of climate
change when all these ministers, economic
ministers and social ministers, will be fully
integrating climate change in their planning
and in their decision making processes, he
said.
Djoghlaf acknowledged its not easy for
ministers in developing countries to engage
because they have other urgent priorities.
They tend not to see the importance of the
impact of climate change because they believe
that this is not a priority for them, he said.
Yet there is often evidence that supports a
more cross-cutting approach. For example,
said Djoghlaf, World Health Organization
research, which shows that 7 million people
die from air pollution every year, demonstrates
that climate change should also be a priority
for health ministries.
The beauty of the Paris agreement
Djoghlaf said that the beauty of the Paris
agreement is that its a universal agreement,
unlike the Kyoto protocol. The Paris
agreement is very balanced and should last
for years to come because it takes into in to
consideration the evolving capacities and the
evolving responsibilities of countries, he said.
We need a North-South and a South-South
global climate solidarity, said Djoghlaf.
Without judging the past, who is
responsible now, and who is responsible
tomorrow, and who is responsible yesterday,
I think we are all in the same boat, we are all
in the same planet and we have to contribute
based on our capacity, he said.
He described the success of the signing
ceremony held here Friday, where in total
175 countries signed and 15 countries
deposited their instruments of ratification as
unprecedented. This has never happened
before, he said, referring to the developing
countries, which also ratified the agreement.
It is a resounding political message
and a demonstration of leadership, he said.
It is crystal clear that the Paris agreement
will enter into force well before the original
expected date of 2020. The clock is ticking
and we cannot afford any delay.
Saltwater leaks into a stream from a massive saltwater spill from an underground pipeline on the Fort
Berthold Indian Reservation near Mandaree, N.D. (File photo AP)
Scientists say oilfield

wastewater spills release toxins
(AP) -- Brine spills from oil
development in western North
Dakota are releasing toxins
into soils and waterways,
sometimes at levels exceeding
federal
water
quality
standards, scientists reported
in the recent.
Samples
taken
from
surface waters affected by
waste spills in recent years
in the states Bakken oilfield
region turned up high levels
of lead, ammonium, selenium
and other contaminants, Duke
University researchers said.
Additionally, they found that
some spills had tainted land
with radium, a radioactive
element.
Long-term monitoring of
waters downstream from spill
sites is needed to determine
what risks the pollution might
pose for human health and the
environment, geochemistry
professor Avner Vengosh
said. But the study revealed
clear evidence of direct

water contamination from oil
development using the method
known as hydraulic fracturing,
or fracking, he said, describing
the problem as widespread
and persistent.
Wastewater spills are
a longstanding yet largely
overlooked side effect of
oil and gas production
that worsened during the
nations recent drilling boom,
when advances in fracking
technology enabled North
Dakotas daily output to soar
from 4.2 million gallons in
2007 to 42 million gallons in
2014.
The Associated Press
reported last year that data
from leading oil- and gasproducing states showed more
than 175 million gallons of
wastewater spilled from 2009
to 2014 in incidents involving
ruptured pipes, overflowing
storage tanks and other
mishaps or even deliberate

dumping. There were some
21,651 individual spills. The
numbers were incomplete
because many releases go
unreported.
The wastewater is often
much saltier than the oceans
and kills nearly all vegetation
it touches, rendering sections
of crop and ranch lands
unusable. It also contains toxic
chemicals, some of which are
injected during fracking to
release oil and gas from rock
deposits and others that exist
naturally underground.
In their report, published
in the journal Environmental
Science
&
Technology,
Vengosh and other Duke
researchers said their findings
were based on an analysis of
water samples from four areas
affected by spills, two of which
in July 2014 and January
2015 were the largest on
record in North Dakota.
Mauritian farmers go smart

PORT-LOUIS,
Mauritius
(IPS) -- Fifty year-old Prem
Kanoosingh rages against his
peers who excessively apply
chemicals, mostly pesticides
and fertilisers, to their crops.
They make cocktails from
several products and they use
them on their crops. They are
criminals, he shouted at a
function where the Food and
Agricultural Research and
Extension Institute launched
a bio-farming project in early
March 2016.
This farmer, residing
at Union Park, southern
Mauritius,
has
been
practicising bio-farming since
the past decade on one hectare
of land: rotating his crops,
using manure and biological
products to fertilise his land.
It will take 300 years from
now to change the mentality
of our farmers, he felt.
Another farmer Amarjeet
Beegoo, from Moka, in the
centre of the island, begs to
differ. He denies that farmers
are pumping chemicals into
the soil. I changed my
method of production from
conventional to bio-farming
because of the rising costs

of pesticides and fertilisers,
about 700 percent over the last
few years. My business was
not profitable, he told IPS,
before asking with a packet
of pesticides in his hands: do
you think farmers will waste
such costly products into the
soil by using much more than
needed?
Official statistics indicate
that Mauritius imported 54,000
tonnes of chemical fertilisers
and 2,250 tonnes of pesticides
in 2015. Out of the 307 samples
collected from the farmgate
level for testing purposes,
72 percent had no pesticide
residues, on 24 percent the
presence of pesticide residues
was below the codex maximum
residue level (MRL) and 4
percent exceeded this level.
Earlier this year, the
chamber of agriculture carried
out a survey and found that
farmers use at least sixty
active substances in the fields.
Firstly, though several of
these substances are banned
or are not authorised by the
Dangerous Chemical Control
Board, they are still in use
today in the island.

Secondly, while pesticides
are used to deal with a
confirmed problem, 90 percent
of treatments are used as
preventive measures, without
any confirmation of any
specific problem.
Thirdly, the same products
are used to treat all kinds of
problems that visually appear
similar as well as on several
crops. Lastly, there is an
erroneous perception regarding
the role of fungicides that
farmers use often as vitamins
for the plants.
The chambers general
secretary, Jacqueline Sauzier,
believes that time has come
to think about healthy and
ecological ways of producing
vegetables. One of them is
smart agriculture where the use
of chemicals is strictly limited
to the bare essentials with the
help of alternative methods of
production such as trapping and
culture rotation. This brings
down production costs and
the farmers are less exposed to
chemicals and the consumers
get healthy products, she
informed IPS.
12
Vientiane Times
Dining Out
New dish a rising star, but no substitute for papaya salad
Special salads are now very popular in Vientiane.
Phon Thikeo
hoppers
at
the
Vientiane Centre can
be seen queuing up
to buy tam thaad,
a special salad that is now
very popular in Vientiane,
especially among younger
people.
Tam thaad is not the name
of papaya salad, thaad is the
tray that is used to put papaya
salad on, along with several
other food items, explained
Ms Noi, who sells papaya
salad at the Vientiane Centre.
She said the dish is selling
like hot cakes at her shop,
to both new and regular
customers. She and her friends
serve them in order on a first
come, first served basis, so the
system is fair.
We serve this dish and
papaya salad to everyone.
They all like the wide variety

of tastes these dishes offer.
They can order what they want
from us, she said.
Ms Noi sells seven
different salads, all of which
are very popular. They are
tam thaad, tam khaopoun
(rice noodle salad), tam
senlon (vermicelli salad), tam
markhoung (papaya salad),
tam mark taeng (cucumber
salad), tam pon (mixed
vegetables, rice noodle and
meatball salad), and tam
thaley (seafood salad).
The prices vary. A plate of
papaya salad, cucumber and
rice noodles is 12,000 kip,
while a tray of tam thaad and
seafood costs 25,000 kip.
Lao people throughout the
country know how to prepare
these dishes but use slightly
different recipes. Fermented
fish sauce is added to all kinds
People queue up to buy salad dishes at the Vientiane Center.
of salad to give an added

piquancy. If you arent used
to this kind of food and taste
papaya salad for the first time,
you may not like it because
the fermented fish gives off a
strong odour.
But after trying it a second
time, youll probably say
Saep lai lai der, meaning
very delicious.
After living in Laos for
some time, many foreigners
say I dont miss hamburgers
while Im in Vientiane. I can
enjoy a wide variety of Lao
food here which is much
better than hamburger. Lao
food is healthy because of all
the different fresh herbs and
vegetables. The food here is
fresh and not processed, unlike
most of the food in western
countries.
Papaya salad is regarded
as the champion of Lao food
and is the main meal for
many families. And of course

it almost always features on
menus in Lao restaurants.
As a visitor to Laos, youll
have plenty of opportunity to
sample papaya salad. Its easy
to find at street food stalls and
in restaurants. Papaya salad,
sticky rice and grilled chicken
are perennially popular foods
and the undisputed champion
foods of the Lao people.
When Lao people eat
papaya salad, they eat it with
many kinds of vegetables such
as morning glory, cabbage,
lettuce, sweet basil, and green
onions. They also eat it with
pork crackling.
Ms Noi serves her tam
thaad with khaiyiewmar
(preserved eggs), boiled
eggs, yellow bean sprouts,
rice noodles, cooked sliced
bamboo
shoots,
pickled
vegetables, cooked snails, and
pork crackling.
The food I serve up
with papaya salad is different
from what youll get from
other papaya salad vendors.
Different
outlets
serve
different
accompaniments,
and of course the price varies
too, she said.
I have my own recipe for
papaya salad and I prepare a
variety of other items to go
along with it. I dont do the
same thing as other people, I
have my own way, she added.
Apart from Nois papaya
outlet at the Vientiane Centre,
another well-known tam
thaad shop can be found in

Saphangmor village. Its
easy to find if you know
where
Rattana
Business
Administration College is,
on the left hand side when
driving along Phonthan Road
from Lao-ITECC. After 200300 metres you come to a
crossroads where you turn
right and go straight for 300400 metres, then youll see the
tam thaad shop on your left.
Vientiane Times
13
Lifestyle
Workers are the heart of construction

Times Reporters
nside the cool airconditioned

offices
of
the
Bouachanh
Construction Company,
its director Mr Bouachanh
Inthalangsy
is
carefully
assessing the value of a new
house construction project
in line with his customers
needs.
This is one of eight
projects the company has
contracted
to
undertake
this year. Over 20 years,
the company has taken
on more than 200 private
and government projects,
building houses, offices and
schools.
Before leaving his office
in Hongkaykeo village,
Chanthabouly district, to
visit a construction site, Mr
Bouachanh, 53, takes time out
to talk to reporters about the
importance of International
Labour Day, which is
observed annually on May 1.
In running a construction
company, workers are at the
heart of the business. Without
them, it would be difficult to
finish a project on time, he
explained.
Employing more than
70 workers, the company
operates in line with the
Labour Law. Wages range
from 2 to 5 million kip
a month depending on
qualifications and work
experience. All diligent
workers have the right to
receive a bonus at the end of
the year.
Mr Bouachanh Inthalangsy at his desk.
House building is the mainstay of the Bouachanh Construction Company.
In addition, the company

pays 100 percent of
treatment fees if a worker
has an accident on the job.
The company also pays
compensation to a worker
who has been involved in
an accident while they are
receiving treatment.
Post-construction
service is an important part
of the companys policy
in
providing
customer
satisfaction. The company
always carries out any
necessary
repairs
after
completing a building.
We want to create
customer satisfaction and
trust as much as possible.
This is because it benefits us
in that customers advertise
us by word of mouth to
their friends, which is a
big advantage for us, Mr
Bouachanh said.
Since 1996, the company

has completed several large
projects. They include the
construction of two buildings
for the University of Health
Sciences worth about 12
billion kip.
The company has also
worked on a seven-storey
building in Vientiane. Many
of the projects are personally
checked
on
completion
by Mr Bouachanh, who
earned a higher diploma in
construction engineering in
Laos in 1985.
Running a construction
company requires a lot of
capital in order to participate
in bidding for projects. The
father of two sons explains
that if he wins a contract but
doesnt have sufficient capital
to carry it out, he has to take
out a bank loan. If he gets a
contract for a government
Announcement
Bouachanh Construction Company staff at work.
project, the company has to

pay all of the costs up front.
After finishing various
projects in line with accepted
construction and engineering
standards over the past 20
years, the company has

been congratulated by the
government many times.
Mr Bouachanh plans to
expand his business and set
up a liquid concrete company.
It may be just a dream as it

will take a lot of money to
realise this idea. But I wont
give up on my dream and will
continue to work at it until it
comes true, he said.
The book 40 Years of the Lao PDR in two languages - Lao
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
and English - is now available at the Vientiane Times office.
Job Description: Human Resource & Admin Manager

Position: Human Resource & Admin Manager
Company Profile : Outspan Bolovensis a leading player in Coffee
Plantations in Paksong
Place of assignment: Pakse, Laos
Language required: Lao with good communication skills in English
Qualification: University degree in relevant field
Starting Date: May 23rd2016
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Roll out key HR processes including PMP, Rewards, C&B, Learning
& Development
Drive recruitment process for key positions
Setup required policies
Lead admin for the country operations
REQUIREMENTS
8 to 10 years of relevant experience in Human Resource
Prior experience in agriculture industry will be a plus
CONDITIONS
Salary : Net salary between 8,000,000 to 12,000,000 LAK pm
Benefits : Medical insurance cover, 13thmonths salary, annual
incentive
TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Interested applicants should send their CV and cover letter by May
6th2016 under the reference HRM
Application must be sent by email to naveen.chhabra@olamnet.com
The book consists of 213 pages and is divided into three

parts: Laos in Brief; Achievements in National Protection and
Development; and Vision of the Lao PDR.
Information on all sectors of national socio-economic
development, national protection and foreign policy as well
as international cooperation of the Lao PDR are included in
the book.
The video DVD and CD of the 40 Years of the Lao PDR are also
available here.
In addition, the media directory book consisting of the
history, telephone numbers, emails and website addresses of
all Lao media organisations published in the Lao PDR is also
available here. These books would make interesting gifts for
your friends. For more information call: 021 336042-8.
14
Vientiane Times
Poverty Reduction
Attapeus farmers reap rewards

of perseverance
Meuangkham Noradeth
ome people in remote

areas
of
Attapeu
province still lack
knowledge and vocational
skills so crop growing and
animal husbandry is an
important way to help them
improve their living standards
and rise above poverty.
Everyone has different
skills they can use to earn a
living and some people have
only one occupation and are
still able to better their lot in
life. Mr Samlan Ployphanits
family has been growing
crops and raising animals for
many years, whch has been
the key to their success.
A diversity of farming
activities has been the means
to changing their lives with
the resulting profits helping
them to rise above poverty.
People in remote areas
can enjoy a better standard of
living if they persevere and
work hard like Mr Samlan
and his family, who live in
Hinlat village, Sanamxay
district.
Mr Samlan said that
initially his family grew crops
and raised animals to make a
living but this didnt bring in
much money each year. They

struggled to make progress
because of poor road access,
which made it difficult for the
family and all of the villagers
to transport their goods to
markets.
But assistance from the
government and all sectors
concerned has brought a road
to the village, which enables
traffic to pass through and
the locals to transport their
produce and other goods.
This has given Mr
Samlans family new hope and
now they are enthusiastically
growing rice and rearing
animals for sale in the hope
that soon everyone in the
family will enjoy prosperity.
In 1991, the government
built an irrigation system in
the village, enabling people
to grow rice in both the wet
and dry seasons. Mr Samlan
grew rice on a two-hectare
plot, getting a good yield of
high quality grains, some of
which he sold.
Now that the family had
enough rice for their own use
and a surplus for sale, they
acquired another two hectares
of land on which to grow
more rice to further boost
their income.
Rearing cattle for sale is one way for rural families to make a living.
They also bought more

animals and learned new
farming techniques.
After working hard for
many years the family found
that a mix of crop growing
and animal husbandry was the
key to boosting their income
and now they all enjoy a
better standard of life.
The family is now earning
more than 70 million kip a
year.
Mr Samlan said that
although the work is tiring,
they are happy because
they know that farming is
profitable and is moving them
out of poverty, so they are
keen to continue the business
and hope to become even
more successful.
The family has been
rewarded for their efforts and
are satisfied with the outcome

of their labours.
They are regarded as an
example for others in the
village and it is hoped that
more people will emulate
their hard work so that they
too can live a better life and
banish poverty.
Such
a
community
effort would help Attapeu
province to move closer to
its development goals and

eradicate poverty altogether
in line with the nationwide
target set by the government
for 2020.
The Lao government
defines poverty as not
having enough food, lacking
adequate clothing, not having
permanent housing or lacking
access to health, education or
transportation services.
UN predicts 40 percent water shortfall by 2030

Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS (IPS)

-- Ten presidents and prime
ministers from around the
world will work together to
resolve the growing global
water crisis amid warnings
that the world may face a
40 percent shortfall in water
availability by 2030.
The figures continue
to be staggering:
despite
improvements, at least 663
million still do not have access
to safe drinking water.
And projecting into the
future, the United Nations
says an estimated 1.8 billion
people out of a total world
population of over 7 billion
will live in countries or
regions with water scarcities.
The crisis has been
aggravated by several factors,
including climate change
(triggering droughts) and
military conflicts (where water
is being used as a weapon of
war in several war zones,
including Iraq, Yemen and
Syria).
The High Level Panel
on Water, announced jointly
by the the United Nations
and World Bank last week.
is expected to mobilise
financial resources and scale
up investments for increased
water supplies. It will be
co-chaired
by
President
Ameenah Gurib of Mauritius
and President Enrique Pea
Nieto of Mexico. The other
The pastoralists of Ethiopias Somali region are forced to move

constantly in search of pasture and watering holes for their
animals.
--Photo William Lloyd-George/IPS
eight world leaders on the

panel
include:
Malcolm
Turnbull, Prime Minister of
Australia; Sheikh Hasina,
Prime Minister of Bangladesh;
Jnos der, President of
Hungary; Abdullah Ensour,
Prime Minister of Jordan;
Mark Rutte, Prime Minister
of the Netherlands; Jacob
Zuma, President of South
Africa; Macky Sall, President
of Senegal; and Emomali
Rahmon,
President
of
Tajikistan.
At a UN panel discussion
last week, UN Deputy
Secretary-General
Jan
Eliasson of Sweden said water
lies at the nexus between
sustainable development and
climate action.
If the water service fee

is beyond a households
ability to pay, it is a human
rights violation. -- Darcey
OCallaghan, Food and Water
Watch.
Referring to the two
extremes in weather patterns
droughts on the one hand and
floods on the other Eliasson
said one of his colleagues who
visited Pakistan after a huge
flood, remarked: Too much
water and not a drop to drink.
When
world
leaders
held a summit meeting last
September to adopt the UNs
post-2015
development
agenda, they also approved
17 SDGs, including the
elimination of extreme poverty
and hunger and the provision
of safe drinking water to every

single individual in the world
by a targeted date of 2030.
But will this target be
reached by the 15 year
deadline?
Sanjay
Wijesekera,
Associate
Director,
Programmes, and Chief of
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
at the UN childrens agency
UNICEF, told IPS: As we
enter the SDG era, there is
no doubt that the goal to get
safely managed water to
every single person on earth
within the next 15 years is
going to be a challenge. What
we have learned from the
Millennium
Development
Goals (MDGs) is that water
cannot be successfully tackled
in isolation.
He said water safety is
compromised every day from
poor sanitation, which is
widespread in many countries
around the world, particularly
in South Asia and sub-Saharan
Africa.
Currently, nearly two
billion people worldwide
are estimated to be drinking
water which may be faecally
contaminated.
As a result, UNICEF and
others working on access
to safe water, will have to
redouble their efforts on
improving peoples access
to and use of toilets, and
especially to end open
defecation.
As we address water,
sanitation and hygiene, we

must also take into account
climate change. Droughts,
floods, and extreme weather
conditions all have an effect on
the availability and the safety
of water, said Wijesekera.
He also pointed out that
some 160 million children
under-5 live in areas at high risk
of drought, while around half a
billion live in flood zones.
Asked how best the water
crisis can be resolved, Darcey
OCallaghan, International
Policy Director at Food and
Water Watch, told IPS the
global water crisis must be
addressed in two primary
ways.
First, we must provide
clean, safe, sufficient water to
all people because water is a
human right. Affordability is
a key component of meeting
this need. Second, we must
protect water sustainability by
not overdrawing watersheds
beyond their natural recharge
rate.
If we allow water sources
to run dry, then we lose the
ability to protect peoples
human rights. So clearly,
we must address these two
components in tandem, she
said.
To keep water affordable,
she pointed out, it must be
managed by a public entity,
not a private, for-profit
one. Allowing corporations
to control access to water
(described
as
water
privatisation) has failed

communities around the globe,
resulting in poor service,
higher rates and degraded
water quality.
Corporations
like
Veolia and Suez and
their subsidiaries around the
worldare seeking to profit
off of managing local water
systems, she said, pointing out
that financial institutions like
the World Bank and regional
development banks often
place conditions on loans
to developing countries that
require these systems to be
privatised.
But this is a recipe for
disaster. Profits should not be
the priority when it comes to
providing water and sanitation
services to people, said
OCallaghan.
Asked if the public should
pay for water, she said there
is no longer any question that
water and sanitation are both
human rights. What the public
pays for is water infrastructure
upkeep and the cost of running
water through the networks
that deliver this resource to our
homes, schools, businesses
and government institutions.
The UN has established
guidelines
for
water
affordability three percent
of household incomeand
these guidelines protect the
human right to water. If the
water service fee is beyond a
households ability to pay, it is
a human rights violation.
Vientiane Times
15
Science & Technology
Apple Pay is the way to pay if Students can use Facebook

youre an iPhone user
to connect better
SINGAPORE (The Straits
Times, ANN) -- Apple Pay?
I asked the FairPrice cashier.
She pointed to the Near
Field Communication (NFC)
wireless payment reader.
I whipped out my iPhone
6s Plus and, with my thumb on
the Touch ID sensor, moved
it close to the reader. A splitsecond and a confirmation
beep later, I had paid for my
groceries.
So convenient hor? You
will always bring your phone
with you, but not your credit
card, said the cashier as she
passed me the receipt.
Her comments pretty
much sum up the convenience
of Apple Pay.
Launched last Tuesday,
Apples mobile payment
service
currently
works
only with American Express
(Amex) credit cards. Bankissued Amex cards are not
supported.
Visa cards issued by
DBS, UOB and Standard
Chartered will be supported
soon, Apple said.
The service works with
Apple devices that have
the Touch ID fingerprint
sensor and that run on iOS
9.1 or later. They include
the iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and
iPad Pro. The service also
works with Apple Watches
running on watch OS 2.1
or later. But iPads cannot
be used in stores, only
for payment in apps that
support Apple Pay.
I have eagerly awaited
Apple Pays arrival in
Singapore. Having read
- and written - about it in
the past few months, I was
convinced it would be a
hit. And this past week
of tapping away with my
iPhone has only stoked my
bullishness.
First, there is the sheer
convenience. I found I
could still use the NTUC
Plus! reward card to collect
loyalty points at FairPrice
supermarkets while paying
with Apple Pay.
Using it to pay for my

caffeine fix at Starbucks
couldnt be easier. But I do
need to finish up the credits
on my Starbucks app first,
since I cant use both at the
same time.
Using my Apple Watch
to pay for pants at Uniqlo
was really smooth - and drew
many curious glances.
Other supported stores
include Din Tai Fung, G2000,
TopShop, StarHub and Shaw
Theatres.
Convenience
stores,
including
7-Eleven
and
Guardian, and supermarkets
such as Cold Storage, Giant
and Sheng Siong are not
supported at the moment, but
the service is coming soon.
SPC
petrol
stations,
which I frequent, do not
support Apple Pay. Strange,
considering I can use my
Amex card on their readers.
Second, Apple Pay was
a cinch to set up. To add a
credit card, start the Wallet
app. Scan the card with the
app using the iPhone camera
and type in the cards security
code.
You will be prompted
to choose whether to get a
verification code through
SMS or e-mail. Entering this
one-time verification code
completes the process.
For Apple Watch, go to
the Apple Watch app on your
iPhone and select the Wallet
& Apple Pay option. Follow
the steps above.
Once the card is added,

paying for goods and services
is a simple process - just tap
your iPhone on the reader as I
did at the FairPrice outlet.
You do not need to start
the Wallet app or wake the
iPhones display. For the
Apple Watch, double-click
the side button and you will
see your credit card displayed
on the smart watch. Bring it
close to the reader to make
payment.
Finally, Im not too
worried about security issues.
In fact, I think Apple Pay is
more secure than traditional
cards, as it uses the fingerprint
sensor or needs a passcode.
Furthermore,
as
per
industry
standards
for
contactless payment, each
transaction is limited to
US$100 - not much to lose.
On the other hand,
because of the US$100 limit,
Apple Pay is not going to
replace all the credit cards
in my wallet. But I can see it
replacing most of my physical
credit cards when more banks
and payment networks come
on board.
When that day arrives,
I think I will have only one
credit card in my wallet - for
big purchases. For everything
else, Apple Pay will do the
trick.
And once more payment
networks and banks join the
fray, I believe Apple Pay will
be the default payment mode
for iPhone users.
Le magazine Le Rnovateur
disponible en CD-ROM
Les numros du journal Le Rnovateur du mois de janvier
NEW YORK (The Statesman,

ANN) -- Not just connecting
you with friends, interaction
with fellow students on social
networking website can help
you focus and study better,
say researchers.
Developers of open online
courses may want to take a
page from Facebook to keep
more students engaged and
enrolled.
Current open course
platforms do not include
collaborative features for
students to work together,
or
good
conversation
channels between students
and between students and
teachers.
Social
media
may
provide
another
communication channel for
the students, said Saijing
Zheng, former doctoral
student at Pennsylvania State
University.
The researchers found that
open course students were
more engaged on Facebook
groups
and
preferred
interacting more on the social
media site than through the
Facebook Logo.
course tools.
We found that social
media tools may be one way
to keep students engaged in
a open course, said Zheng,
currently research scientist at
Microsoft.
One of the advantages of
Facebook groups is that users
tend to sign up with their
real names while students
can create fake personas on
course message boards and
forums.
Real names give other
students the idea that they are
talking to a real person and
that, perhaps, helps build a
sense of community and they
trust that type of environment

more, Zheng noted.
Students appreciate that
Facebook offers several ways
to contact the professor, she
said.
They can reply to a post,
like a post, and even send a
private message.
Students on Facebook
groups can meet and chat
weeks before the course starts
and, in some cases, long after
it ends.
Facebook replies and
posts also tend to be better
organised than message board
conversations, which can
easily become buried among
other posts, according to the
researchers.
For the study, the
researchers collected data
from three different courses
on Coursera, a platform that
hosts MOOCS, and from
Facebook groups.
The findings were shared
at the annual ACM conference
on Learning at Scale at
University of Edinburgh in
Britain this week.
NASA views China as potential

partner in civilian space
The Space X Dragon cargo capsule approaches the International

Space Station prior to installation in this NASA picture taken April
10, 2016.
CHINA (Xinhua) -- US space

agency NASA views China
as a potential partner, not
a threat, in the civilian space
area, said its head this week.
NASA
Administrator
Charles Bolden made the
remarks at an event hosted
by the Washington-based
think tank the Centre for
Strategic and International
Studies, where he discussed
his agencys role in US

international affairs.
Since I only views
civilian space, I see them as
a potential partner, he said.
Theyre already a partner
in some areas such as Earth
and lunar science, including
collaborative research with
the Chinese Academy of
Sciences on geodetics and
glacial characterisation in the
Himalaya region.
So there are potential
areas of partnerships there,
but because of congressional
restrictions
right
now,
we are limited to merely
multilateral activities, he said.
Engagement always beats
isolation. Engagement always
beats trying to do things on
their own.
US Congress passed a law
in 2011 that prohibits NASA
from hosting Chinese visitors at
its facilities and working with
researchers affiliated to any
Chinese government entity or
enterprise.
On Sunday, China said its
open to space cooperation with
all nations including the United
States, since cooperation
between major space players
will be conducive to the
development of all mankind.
China will not rule out
cooperating with any country,
and that includes the United
States, said Yang Liwei,
Chinas first astronaut, on the
occasion of the first China
Space Day.
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Vientiane Times), Ban Phonpapao, unit 32, arrondissement
de Sisattanak,
Vientiane. BP : 5723.
Contact Tel : (856-21) 33 60 42 ; 33 60 48 -9
Fax : (856-21) 33 60 41.
Courriel : itvimes@gmail.com
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ainsi que nos sponsors quils pourront dornavant consulter
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16
Vientiane Times
Travel
Ballooning over Luxor, Egypt:

antiquities from the sky
A panoramic view of the Bay of Biscay from atop Monte Igueldo in Spain.
--Photo The Korea Herald
Europes new culture

capital: San Sebastian a
feast for the eyes, palate
Korea (The Korea Herald,
ANN) San Sebastian, Spain
-- Located a mere stones
throw away from the SpainFrance border in the Northern
Basque country hugging the
Bay of Biscay is the quaint,
gastronomy mecca coastal
city of San Sebastian, Spain.
Well on its way to
becoming one of the hottest
European
vacation-spot
destinations of the year, San
Sebastian -- or Donostia in
the Basque language -- in the
Gipusoka province of Spain
was named the European
Capital of Culture for 2016,
along with Wroclaw, Poland.
A well-deserved title, the
city is oftentimes upstaged
by its fellow northern coastal
paradise of Barcelona to its
east, however, the countryside
splendors of Donostia are
more than enough to stand on
its own as a must-visit Spanish
town for some much needed
R&R and heavenly culinary
escape for your palate.
While the tourist hot spot
of Barcelona is best known for
its crisp blue beaches and its
salute to the rainbow-colored
mosaic works of Antonio
Gaudi, the mountainous
region of San Sebastian offers
fewer crowds, world-class
gastronomy indulgences that
are simply life altering and
stunning gothic architecture.
Coupled with its London-foglike, darkened cloudy skies,
the classic European-style
building designs and narrow
alleyways of the city made me
feel as though I was taking a
stroll through scenes straight
out of a Sherlock Holmes
novel.
In the city centre, travelers
can immerse themselves in a
plethora of fun and leisurely
activities -- whether its dining,
shopping or simply enjoying a
brisk walk or bike ride through
the quiet and virtually trafficfree streets.
For
shopping-lovers
looking to burn up some
plastic, the city is filled with

both bargain and high-end
designer shops, including
some of Spains most
hallmarked stores: Loewe,
Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear,
Zara and Mango. Shoppers
should keep in mind that in true
European siesta style, many
establishments in Donostia
open late and close early,
and may have midday break
periods. This is especially true
with dining establishments,
so travelers are best to rely
on their hotel for breakfast or
midday snacks.
If youre looking for
something a little more
adventurous than a laidback
stroll and racking up your
Visa balance, fret not because
despite its seemingly calm
coasts, San Sebastian is
actually known for its great
surfing conditions.
Come blue skies or
gloomy downpours, youd
be hard-pressed to ever
find Zurriola Beach void of
surfers. Located on the eastern
of the Beach of La Concha,
this surfing hot spot offers
some of the regions best
white cap swells.
And if youre looking to
tackle a more touristy itinerary,
a trip up Monte Igueldo is a
must for a stunning birds-eye
view of the citys long-stretch
of coast. The historic funicular
de Igueldo is the most popular
option up Monte Igueldo,
which boasts some of the
most breathtaking panoramic
views of the Bay of Biscay
the region has to offer.
For quick day trip ideas
venturing around the outskirts
of the bayside city, the colorful
streets
of
Hondarribias
Walled City was at the top
of my list. Just east of San
Sebastian, about a half hour
drive away, Hondarribia is
the only Gipusoka town that
still retains its Renaissance
walls. The area is said to date
back to the Paleolithic Age,
roughly 2.6 million years ago.
Along with its historic

walled city, Hondarribia next
biggest perk is its strategic
location right on the coastal
border, making it a mere
10-minute boat ride to reach
the south of France.
With
its
serene
atmosphere and picturesque
cobblestone
streets,
the
suburb village of Tolosa in the
southern hemisphere of the
Basque region is also an ideal
hassle-free trip to experience
Northern Spains countryside
village splendors.
Gastronomic Wonders
In a city that knows
how and loves to indulge,
good food and good wine
is a religion of its own in
Donostia.
While the coastal region
does offer more than its fair
share of touristic activities and
adventures to fill a travelers
appetite, there is no denying
the greatest highlight of this
years European capital of
culture -- the gastronomy.
This coastal town with a
population of only 186,000 is
home to more Michelin stars
per square meter than glitzy
fine-dining hub Paris.
When it comes to San
Sebastian eats, the locals
have
impeccably
high
standards, akin to any of
the worlds famous culinary
cities, guaranteeing you will
stimulate your taste buds like
never before on a European
vacation that will act as a
celestial indulgence for your
mouth and stomach.
Us locals have this
running joke that we have the
highest number of Michelin
star restaurants to population
ratio in the world, said local
tour guide Lourdes Gorrino
Arrieta.
For us, food is one of
the most important parts of
our culture and everyday life
so this is why even in this
small region, you will find
some of the worlds finest
restaurants, she added.

Post, ANN) -- They take off at
first light, reinforced wicker
baskets filled with people,
heading into the skies over
Luxor, Egypt.
Only from a balloon
high in the sky, in the clear
air of the early morning,
can a visitor begin to grasp
the beauty of antiquities on
the ground in this one-time
Egyptian capital known in
ancient times as Thebes.
The city in southern
Egypt is one of the worlds
largest outdoor museums,
boasting majestic pharaonic
temples on the east bank of
the Nile River and heavily
adorned tombs of some of the
best-known ancient kings
including Tutankhamun, the
boy king on the west bank.
The path of the brightly
colored
balloons
is
determined by prevailing
winds. On the ride, the
silence is broken only by the
whoosh of the gas burners and
the occasional exclamations
from tourists awed by the
sights.
Yet there may be mixed
feelings at takeoff: a healthy
dose of adventurism and
A hot air balloon flies over the mortuary temple of Ramsis III at
Medinet Habu on the west bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt.
anticipation about what the

short flight will reveal, but also
concerns about safety. Three
years ago, 19 people died
here in a balloon accident.
Since then, authorities have
imposed rigid regulations on
balloon operators, including
cancelling flights on badweather days and training
requirements for pilots.
The ride lasts about 20
minutes, before the pilot
begins looking for a safe
landing zone. Tourists brace
themselves for landing, a
usually bumpy affair more
akin to a soft crash landing.

The details of life in rural
Egypt come into view as the
balloon begins its descent,
with farmers toiling in the
fields and children heading
to school in the dusty roads
of the west bank.
A dedicated ground crew
riding a rugged truck tracks
each balloon. The trucks
maneuver in anticipation of
the landing spot. Once the
balloon touches down, they
hurry to grab ropes to prevent
it from taking off again or
moving sideways.
A breathtaking Dubai
underwater retreat
Post, ANN) -- Imagine
spending your holiday in a
three-storey
marine-style
retreat with the master
bedroom and bathroom totally
submerged
underwater,
providing breathtaking views
of the surrounding coral reef
and marine life.
Situated just 4 kilometres
off the coast of Dubai,
the Floating Seahorse is
essentially a boat that includes
floor to ceiling windows, a
fully-fitted kitchen with a
dining area, an open plan

living area and an upper deck
that hosts an informal bed, a
mini bar, a kitchenette and a
glass-bottomed Jacuzzi.
An artificial coral garden
spanning 45 square metres
will be available next to
each structure, which will
reportedly total 131.
According
to
The
Huffington Post, up to 42
villas are set to be completed
by the end of this year. The
villas cost US$2.7 million
each and they are already
sold out. The coral garden is

still under construction.
Initially unveiled at
the Dubai International
Boat Show last March, the
Floating Seahorse is part
of a cluster of six islands
located on a man-made
archipelago dubbed The
World. A collection of
private and resort islands,
The World combines 300
small islands reclaimed from
the sea and constructed into
the shape of a map of the
world.
Situated just 4 kilometers off the coast of Dubai, the Floating Seahorse is essentially a boat.
Vientiane Times
17
Art & Leisure
Chinas domestic animated films see

78.6 percent box-office surge
A scene from Monkey King: Hero is Back.
CHINA (Xinhua) -- Domestic

animated films screened in
China generated more than
2 billion yuan (around
US$300 million) in 2015,
posting growth of 78.6
percent from the previous
year, according to a report
released Wednesday at the
12th China International

Cartoon
&
Animation
Festival in the eastern city of
Hangzhou.
A total of 57 animations
were screened in China,
including
43
domestic
productions,
and
ticket
sales amounted 4.4 billion
yuan, up 45 percent year on

year, according to the report
on Chinas animated film
industry.
Monkey King: Hero Is
Back, which made a record
950 million yuan, topped
Chinas domestic film box
office chart.
Fourteen
foreign
animations were screened
in China last year, or one
fourth of the total number.
However, they pulled in 2.4
billion yuan, more than half
of the box office revenue for
animated movies.
There
were
33,700
screens across China by the
first quarter of this year. This
year is regarded as important
time for Chinas film industry,
especially for animations,
with box office revenue
expected to surpass 6 billion
yuan, according to the report.
Willy and his friends attend a graduation rehearsal at Comcenter College in Vientiane.
Model adds degree to his

portfolio of successes
Shaping children into leaders
THAILAND (The Nation,

ANN) -- Ways to teach
children how to make the right
decisions in an increasingly
complex world have been the
subject of numerous studies in
recent years. The focus tends
to revolve around Executive
Function (EF) skills that,
learned early enough in life,
can be pillars of support
throughout life, from school
to the workplace.
The
Publishers
and
Booksellers
Association
of Thailand, the Research
Centre for Neuroscience,
the Institute of Molecular
Biosciences
at
Mahidol
University, the RLG Institute
(Rakluke Learning Group),
the Preschool Education
Association of Thailand,
Class Publishing House and
Prapakarn Education pooled
ideas about EF learning in a
recent panel discussion.
Interest in developing EF
skills has led to childrens
storybooks taking on fresh
perspectives, a representative
of the Publishers and
Booksellers
Association
noted.
The
association
has
initially identified 139 of 400
childrens books as ideal for
building EF skills and plans
to encourage publishers to
produce more. Another round
of selections begins in June.
Harvard
Universitys
Centre on the Developing
Child
has
characterised
EF skills as the ability
to retain and work with
information,
concentrate
and switch between focuses
with ease, much as an airtraffic controller manages
the arrivals and departures of
dozens of planes on multiple
runways.
Executive Function entails self-regulation based
on working memory, mental
flexibility and self-control.
We arent born with these
skills, but everyone has the
potential to develop them.
EF involves higherlevel cognitive functions,
the mental process that can
be divided into three sets
Sisouphan Amphonephong
C
Hundreds of Thai language storybooks will soon bear EF stickers
showing how they can be used to bolster a childs like skills.
of skills, RLG Institute

president
Subhawadee
Harnmethee
said.
The
foundation skills are working
memory, inhibitory control,
and shift, or cognitive
flexibility.
The self-control skills
are
emotional
control,
focus or attention, and selfmonitoring. And the practical
skills are initiating, planning
or organising, and goaldirected persistence. With
continuous development of
these skills, children will
learn positive behaviour
and good decision-making
that will benefit them, their
families and society.
Chulalongkorn University
Book
Centre
manager
Songyos Samkasat stressed
how crucial this skill set is
in life.
We focus on developing
intelligent
people
and
children receive all sorts of
gold medals. Society also
needs good, moral people.
But its well known now
that successful people arent
necessarily happy people.
These days we worry
about the world we find at
our fingertips on the touch
screen, Songyos pointed
out. With such an excess of
information at hand, some
people might read just the first
few sentences of an article or
someone elses post and then
share it on the social networks
without even knowing if the
information is correct or not.
So how can we prevent

our children from becoming
victims of these false
messages? EF skills provide
a scientific answer. Parents,
teachers and society share
a duty to give children the
opportunities to develop
executive-function
skills
successfully.
Tida Pitaksantisuk of
the Preschool Education
Association said active
learning should be the goal
in every home and school. It
offers hope for individuals
and society. The outcome
would be a better-educated
population capable of meeting
the challenges of the future.
Studies of brain function
indicate that EF skills begin
to develop shortly after birth
in the frontal lobe, which
grows fastest during the first
seven years of life, she said.
Its the golden time when
adults and caregivers can get
the children looking through
the magnifying glass of
storybooks.
Education should not
only instil daily life lessons
but also an overall process for
thinking that includes working
towards goals, adapting,
and resisting peer pressure
to take risks, such as trying
illegal drugs. Children need
be more conscious about their
personal safety. The world
is getting more complicated,
and just teaching them to
brush their teeth regularly is
no longer enough.
elebrity
friends
and
fans
of
model
Bounxien
Vilayvanh (Willy)
gathered for his graduation
ceremony at Comcenter
College in Vientiane on
Friday to show their support.
Willy is one of many
students at the college to bask
in their success and finally
receive that much-anticipated
certificate.
Willy has graduated with
a bachelor degree in Business
Administration after five
years of study.
He said he was glad he had
stayed the course and pursued

the degree programme and
was now enjoying his success
and relishing the admiration
of his family and friends.
He was proud of his
efforts and of having
achived
an
eductional
milestone, and was happy to
have pleased his loved ones.
He thanked his family,
especially his parents, who
had continued to support
him and encouraged him to
complete the course.
Willy hasnt yet made
any plans to do a masters
degree but intends to use his
abilities to help his familys
business and his work in the
Lao entertainment scene.

He will continue to
do modelling and singing
as those are the things
he enjoys, and is glad to
provide
happiness
and
entertainment to the public.
A new song is in the
works, which he is now
practising after having taken a
long break from the recording
studio while studying in
China, as well as spending
time on the catwalk.
He urges his fans to
follow and support his
activities, and plans to
become a more regular fixture
in fashion and entertainment
circles.
Nobody offers me negative roles:

Shivani Surve
MUMBAI (The Statesman,
ANN) -- Actress Shivani
Surve, known for her bubbly
image onscreen, says she is
ready to play negative roles
but nobody is ready to offer
her that type of characters.
I might do a negative
role, but nobody offers
me negative characters.
Everybody says that No, you
cant do that. They think that
I dont look like a vamp. So,
I really dont know what will
make me look like that.
Maybe my face is sweet
enough for that type of roles.
I cant do any vampish
character, Shivani, who
has featured in TV shows
like Navyaa, Phulwa and
Anamika, said.
Asked why actors get
bored and leave TV shows
after playing a character for
a long time, Shivani said:
Why does it happen with
them... I dont understand?
I never get bored with doing
repeatedly the same scenes.
You are an actor, it
means you are a creative
person. In every scene
you have to show your
creativity. The day you will
get bored, it means you are
not showing your creativity.
Shivani Surve.
You are doing acting for the

money purpose.
Shivani will next be
seen in Jana Na Dil Se Door
wherein she will portray the
role of Vividha.
Vividha is a very
different character. There
are a lot of shades in her
character. Thats why I
decided to be part of this
show.
The story of the show
is based in Ajmer, but
she doesnt know whats
happening outside that city
and doesnt know anything
about the bad and good
people in the world. The
show features how Atharva
(Vikram Singh Chauhan)

makes Vividha a strong and
individual girl. It tells how
both of them fall in love with
each other, she said.
Sharing
similarities
between her role and her
personal life, Shivani said:
Vividha is very attached to
her family. So am I. Also, she
is sweet just like me.
Apart from Hindi shows,
Shivani has also appeared in
several Marathi serials like
Devyani and Sundar Maza
Ghar -- And she says that
working in any daily soap
is similar irrespective of the
language in which it is being
made.
18
Vientiane Times
Whats On
Walk for Labour Day
The Lao Federation of Trade Unions is organising a walk for
health to mark the 130th International Labour Day.
When: April 30, starting at 5:30am
Where: Patouxay monument.
Almsgiving at Hor Phakeo

Museum
An almsgiving ceremony to mark the second phase of the

restoration of the Hor Phakeo Museum.
When: May 20, in the early morning.
Where: Hor Phakeo Museum, Setthathirath Road, Vientiane.
Mini Thailand Week

Shoppers are invited to browse and buy
a wide selection of goods on sale at the
Mini Thailand Week.
Where: Sanamdaeng Stadium in Pakxe
district, Champassak province
When: April 29-May 5.
Rocket festival in
Vientiane province
Viengkham district, Vientiane province, will stage its annual
rocket festival (Bang Fai Lan, Bang Fai Saen) to provoke
rainfall and celebrate fertility.
Locals will gather in fields on
the outskirts of villages and
towns to launch the rockets
they have made.
Activities: Street fair and
performances by popular
singers
When: Middle of May
Where: Pakkayoung village,
Viengkham district, Vientiane
province. The village is about 60km from Vientiane.
Freshy contest
The public is invited to the semi-final of the Sirimona Freshy
Boy and Girl 2016 contest.
There are 400 contestants
and 10 judges and a free
concert featuring Jiar
Pacific and Miss Drink will
also take place.
Where: Vientiane Centre
When: May 1, 4-9pm.
Art shop
All welcome to the two-in-one annual stock room sale: Art

treasures to be discovered: prints, photographs, books, cards,
paintings and more, all by local artists at reduced prices. Brica-brac: Jewellery, clothing, shoes, household items, and other
pre-loved treasures.
When: April 23-30, Saturday and Sunday open 10am-4pm,
Monday to Friday 3:30pm-8pm
Where: i:cat gallery, Setthathirath Road, Simeuang village.
Call: 020 7783 9674
The Vientiane Times welcomes notices from

members of the public for announcement on
this page. Any events or functions open to
the general public are suitable for publishing.
Contact: lattanyphone@yahoo.com
European
Food Festival
5th European Food Festival featuring
chefs, European food, and live music.
When: Saturday May 7, 10am-10:30pm
Where: Parking lot at the National Culture
Hall
Contact: +856 021 255 575
Chinese Singing Contest
People in Vientiane dont

miss for join cheering
the Lao and Chinese
people at the Chinese
Singing Contest that will
take place in early of next
month after completed the
second round last week
at World Trade Center.
Where: The final round will take place at National Culture Hall
in Vientiane.
When: May 10 at 7pm.
Cool summer pool party

Pool Party with a fashion show by Adidas and music provided
by DJs.
Where: Mercure Hotel, Vientiane
When: April 30, from 4:30-10 pm
For more information contact: 020 59950333
Luang Prabang
photo exhibition
Have you ever wondered what it was
like in Luang Prabang in the 1920s?
Experience those days through
photographs taken from 1920 to 1950.
When: Until May 2
Where: French Institute, Luang Prabang
World Intellectual Property

Right Trade fair
Shoppers - dont miss this
great opportunity!
When: April 22-30
Where: 4th floor of ITECC
Mall, Vientiane
Come along for aerobics!

When: Every evening, 5-6pm
Where: Chao Anouvong Park, Mekong River, Vientiane
International Jazz Day

Enjoy an evening of jazz in Vientiane.
When: April 30, 6pm
Where: 79 Pub and Restaurant
Charity run
This 5km run/walk in aid of the Autism Centre in Vientiane will
see the lights turned off in Chao Annouvong Park and replaced
with black lights while playing great music to make this event a
very colourful and exciting experience. The fee is 80,000 kip.
When: April 30, 7-9pm
Where: The route runs from the flagpoles in Chao Anouvong
Park to the Landmark Hotel and back.
Contact 020 9986 2688
B14
Bodyslam
World Tour
B14 Bodyslam World Tour
in Vientiane. Dont miss
this ultimate concert of Lao
and Thai bands, including
Bodyslam from Thailand
and Black Eyes, Sack
Cells, DJ Faahsai + Mc
Pam.
Tickets and T-shirts on sale
at M-Point marts. Tickets
100,000 kip. Starting on May 3, T-shirts will be on sale for
69,000 kip.
Where: Parking lot at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane.
When: Saturday, May 14, starting at 6 pm
Free concert
Dont miss
this concert
by bands and
singers from
the Thaviseuth
Studio to
mark World
Intellectual
Property Day.
Where: Lao-ITECC
When: April 27-29, starting at 6pm.
Love Art Festival

The festival is a lot of fun and
involves making kites!
When: April 29-May 3, from 10am9pm
Where: Vientiane Centre,
Khouvieng Road
For more information: 020 5405 7999
Temple mural photo exhibition

Photos of Buddhist mural paintings in Nongbuatha temple,
Songkhone district, Savannakhet province, will be on display.
When: April 30-May 1, from 8:30am to 8pm.
Where: Sisaket temple, Vientiane.
Casting for new music video

Budding actors are
invited to join auditions
for a music video for the
new track Khiddeedee
Kon Ja Pai by the rock
band Boxer.
How to apply: Persons
aged 15-23 are invited to
post their pictures and comments on Boxers Facebook page,
up until the end of this month.
For more information call Mr Ord on 020 99933000
Fanglao dance classes

Children and young people who love modern dance are invited
to register for the following weekend sessions: Kids Class, HipHop, BBoy and K Pop.
Where: Fanglao Dance Company at the Asean Mall.
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 7pm.
For more information call: 020-77527911 or 020-52262111.
Vientiane Times
Sports 19
Chinese table tennis topshots enter

quarter-finals at 2016 Asian Cup
DUBAI (Xinhua) -- Chinese
male players Xu Xin and
Zhang Jike and their female
compatriots Liu Shiwen and
Li Xiaoxia have won here their
qualifying matches Thursday at
the 2016 Nakheel Asian Cup.
Xu Xin, the worlds number
three in the International Table
Tennis Federation (ITTF)
was victorious over Jung
Youngsik from South Korea
in four sets. The three times
Asian Cup gold medal winner
Xu will face Youngsiks
countryman Less Sangsu
Friday in the knockout. Xu
is aiming for a fourth title
to gain direct qualification
to the Liebherr 2016 World
Cup to be held in Saarbrucken,

Germany in October.
Zhang Jike, who told
Xinhua ahead of the tournament
that this Asian Cup was an
important test 100 days ahead
of the 2016 Summer Olympics
in Rio de Janeiro (August
5-21), won 3-0 against Wong
Chun Ting from Hong Kong,
China.
Zhang will encounter
Chiang Hung-Chieh, ranked 72
globally, from Chinese Taipei.
Chinas women stars
Liu Shiwen and Li Xiaoxia
faced little resistance in the
qualifying round, too. Li was
victorious over Singapores Yu
Mengyu (3-1) and Yang Haeun
who suffered some pain in her

legs after the match. Liu, the
worlds number one in the ITTF
womens world, left the courts
beating Tie Hana (Hong Kong,
China) and Japans Hirano Miu.
A repetition of the standoff
from last year between Liu
and Singapores Feng Tianwei
who ranks seven in the ITTF
womens list, is possible.
Of course Im hoping
to defend my title here and
qualify for the Womens World
Cup later this year, said the
2010 world champion who
was born in northeast Chinese
city of Harbin and joined the
Singaporean national team in
2007.
Liverpools Philippe Coutinho (centre right) fights for the ball with Villareals Eric Bailly during their
Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Villarreal and Liverpool FC at the Madrigal
stadium in Villarreal, Spain on Thursday.
--Photo AP
Liverpool suffers late loss to

Villarreal in Europa League
MADRID (AP) -- Liverpool
conceded in injury time in
losing to Villarreal 1-0 in the
first leg of the Europa League
semifinals on Thursday.
The match looked set for a
draw until the second minute
of added time, when Adrian
Lopez scored for the host
after a quick counterattack.
In Ukraine, striker Kevin
Gameiro converted an 82ndminute penalty for two-time
defending champion Sevilla
to draw away with Shakhtar
Donetsk 2-2.
Liverpool
seemed
set to return home with
the scoreless draw until
midfielder Denis Suarez
broke into the area and
passed inside to an unmarked
Lopez to tap in. Liverpool
players complained of offside
but video replays showed
Lopez appeared to be in a
legal position.
We can do better
defending than that but we

look for positives now,
Liverpool defender Kolo
Toure said. There is another
game, we had chances to
score. We know we can do
it, we just need to believe.
We just need to learn from
the mistakes, and play the
same game we did against
(Borussia) Dortmund (in the
quarterfinals).
The
result
ended
Liverpools
seven-game
unbeaten
streak.
The
English team hadnt lost in
12 games in this seasons
Europa League, a record that
Villarreal matched with its
win on Thursday.
Were going to throw the
kitchen sink at them in the
second leg, Liverpool coach
Juergen Klopp said. Theres
no shame in going out in the
semifinals but if you are going
to go out in the semis, then do
so kicking and screaming.
Villarreal has won all

seven of its home games in
this seasons competition,
conceding only once.
We played a good game,
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon
Mignolet said. Everyone
saw Villarreals quality but
we had some chances to
score. It was a very tactical
game. They were tough to
break down but with the fans
behind us it is there to play for
at home (next week).
Mignolet made a great
save in the 87th on a shot
by Cedric Bakambu, but in
stoppage time he committed
to Suarez, who calmly set up
Lopez perfectly.
The Europa League gives
Liverpool its only chance of
winning a title this season,
the first for coach Klopp
in charge. It also can give
the English team a chance
to return to the Champions
League if it wins the title.
Bill Tilden: A US tennis hero, but

with a morals clause
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- In the 1920s and
1930s, Bill Tilden was to tennis what Babe
Ruth was to baseball. Honoring him with a
historical marker should be an ace if not
for questions about his conduct with teenage
boys.
Tildens athletic accomplishments are hard
to overstate. He became the first American
to win Wimbledon in 1920, won seven US
championships, triumphed at Wimbledon
twice more and maintained his prowess on the
court for decades. The Associated Press voted
him the greatest player of the first half of the
century in 1950, and he was inducted into the
International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1959.
A group is pushing for a historical marker
at Philadelphias Germantown Cricket Club,
his home court. But his mixed legacy has
raised roadblocks, especially in a state where
the sex abuse scandal involving another
sports figure, Penn States Jerry Sandusky,
still reverberates.
The panel that approves historical markers
voted down Tildens nomination in March,
4-1.
Tildens accomplishments in tennis
are unquestioned, the panel wrote. But his
criminal history led them to deny approval.
The climate about this type of sexual
misconduct is too fresh in the minds of
Pennsylvanians, Karen Galle, coordinator of
the states historical marker program, told the
AP.
In this April 1930 file photo, Bill Tilden trains on

Rot Weiss grounds at Grunewald near Berlin,
Germany. A group is pushing for a historical
marker touting the accomplishments of tennis
great Bill Tilden at Philadelphias Germantown
Cricket Club, but hit a roadblock over questions
about the stars conduct with teenage boys. (File
photo AP)

20
Vientiane Times
Sports
Dortmunds Mats Hummels to

join Bayern Munich
BERLIN
(Xinhua)
-Mats Hummels will leave
Dortmund at the end of the
season to join rivals Bayern
Munich, the Bundesliga runnerup announced in an official
statement on Thursday.
The
Germany
international has breathed his
wish to leave Dortmund and
to move to Bayern Munich
for the next season. However,
according to the statement
Hummels transfer depends
on Bayerns offer. So far,
Bayern Munich have not
submitted any offer.
The BVB is willing
to agree on a transfer of
their team skipper but only
with an appropriate offer,
which meets the value of the
player. Nevertheless, Mats
Hummels contract runs until
June 2017, meaning Bayern
Munich will definitely have
to pay a transfer fee to realize
the signing.
The 27-year-old centre
back already played from
1995 until 2008 for Bayerns
youth teams before he joined
Borussia
Dortmund
to
make his breakthrough as a
Bundesliga player. Hummels
made 223 appearances in
Germanys top flight to

provide 19 goals overall.
If both teams can agree on
a transfer, Hummels would be
the fifth player, after Thomas
Helmer, Torsten Frings,
Mario Goezte and Robert
Lewandowski, who moved
from Dortmund to Bayern.
Dortmund sit currently
on the second place of the
Bundesliga standings with
three rounds to spare. They
still have the chance to clinch
one title this season as they
face Bayern Munich in the
German Cup final in Berlin
on May 21.
Berlins Niklas
Stark (right)
and Dortmunds
Mats Hummels
vie for the
ball during
the German
DFB Cup semi
final soccer
match between
Hertha BSC
and Borussia
Dortmund at the
Olympiastadion
in Berlin,
Germany on
Wednesday.
--Photo AP
Quintana awarded stage win,

leads Tour of Romandie overall
MORGINS,
Switzerland
(AP) -- Nairo Quintana was
awarded victory, and took the
overall lead, after stage two
of the Tour of Romandie on
Thursday when Ilnur Zakarin
was demoted for impeding
him.
Zakarin, the defending
champion
from
Russia,
finished first in a head-tohead sprint to complete a
climb to the Morgins ski
station but veered to his right
across Quintanas racing line
in the final 50 meters.
Quintana seemed beaten
anyway but got the first place
plus time bonuses that lifted
the Colombian 18 seconds
ahead of Zakarin in the
overall standings.
A chasing pack headed by
Rui Costa of Portugal was 26
seconds back and included the
yellow jersey of Spains Jon
Izagirre. He slipped to third
overall, 20 seconds behind his
Movistar teammate Quintana.
Two-time
Romandie
winner Chris Froome of
Britain lost all chance of a
third title in the six-day race
when he had a puncture as the
main contenders prepared to
make their move. He finished
more than 17 minutes back.
Fridays stage is a
15-kilometre time trial around
Sion.
Lao and Thai basketball teams and referees pose during the 10th SEABA U18 Championships for Men
in Indonesia this week.
Lao basketball team has high hopes

for Asean School Games
Sangkhomsay
Bubphanouvong
The Lao mens U-18

basketball team expects to
perform well at the Asean
High School Games in
Thailand in July after gaining
good experience at the 10th
SEABA U18 Championships
for Men in Indonesia from
April 23-28.
The Lao U-18 mens
basketball team is now setting
its sights on the school games
in Thailand after learning
from
their
encounters
with some strong regional
opposition in Indonesia.
Participating
in
the
SEABA U-18 Championships
were basketball teams from
the Philippines, Thailand,
Indonesia,
Malaysia,
Singapore and Laos. The Lao
team finished at the bottom
of the ladder but still gained
plenty of match experience
after facing more powerful
rivals.
Many players on the
Lao U-18s basketball team
come from Luang Prabang
province and some players
from Champassak province.
Those
players
will
continue to train at their
provincial basketball courts
as they prepare to travel to
vie at the school games in
Thailand. The U-18 mens
basketball team is being
trained by their coach, Mr
Khankeo Duangdeuan.
Meanwhile the Lao U-18
womens basketball team is
also hard in training in the
lead up to the championships
in Thailand. The womens
team also features many
players from Luang Prabang
province.
At the 2014 National
Games
in
Oudomxay
province, Luang Prabang
provinces
mens
team
won the gold medal in the
basketball event.
In the future, Luang

Prabang
province
will
continue to support the
provincial
mens
and
womens teams to vie at the
sixth National Student Games
in Borikhamxay province
from February 1-9, 2017.
Meanwhile the Luang
Prabang provincial mens and
womens teams at the open
level will also be chasing
medals at the 11th National
Games in Xieng Khuang
province in 2018.
Currently
the
Lao
Basketball Federation has
national mens and womens
basketball teams at the
open level but they lack the
necessary experience to be
competitive at the regional or
international levels.
The last time the Lao
mens national basketball
team competed at the open
level regionally was at the
18th SEA Games in Thailand
back in 1995.
Mi Jung Hur tops South Koreandominated leaderboard
Winner Nairo Quintana from Colombia of team Movistar (left)

gestures as Ilnur Zakarin from Russia of team Katusha crosses the
finish line of the second stage, a 173.9 km race between Moudon
and Morgins during the 70th Tour de Romandie UCI ProTour
cycling race in Morgins, Switzerland on Thursday.
--Photo AP
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Mi Jung Hur topped the

South Korean-dominated leaderboard Thursday
in the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout,
opening with a 5-under 66 in breezy conditions.
Hur made five straight birdies on the 15th to
the first hole. The two-time LPGA Tour winner
bogeyed the par-4 fifth and rebounded with a
birdie on the par-4 eighth.
My putting just was everything on the
course today, Hur said. My shot wasnt that
good and my address wasnt that comfortable,
but my putting did really well.
She lives in the area in McKinney.
I used to live in Orlando, Florida, for
seven, eight years, Hur said. Then we had
a tournament here three years ago and I look
around, it looks pretty nice to live. So I just asked
my parents, Can we move to Texas? We love
it because theres two big Korean towns nearby.
We just moved right away.
South Korean players held six of the top eight
positions. So Yeon Ryu and Eun-Hee Ji were tied
for second with American Gerina Piller at 67,
and Sei Young Kim, Amy Yang, Jenny Shin and
Scotlands Catriona Matthew shot 68.
Piller, the US Solheim Cup star who lives in
nearby Plano, birdied four of her last seven holes.
Its a little tougher this week being a home
game and having family in town and just staying
at home, Piller said. Its hard to go home and
go to bed. You want to do the dishes or stuff like
that. Definitely. have to be more conscious with
your time and how you prepare just like any
Mi Jung Hur sinks a birdie putt on the eighth

green during the first round of the Volunteers
of America Texas Shootout golf tournament in
Irving, Texas on Thursday.
--Photo AP
other week because youre at home and its kind

of pulling you opposite directions.

March 2016 VT Issue 98

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Vientiane Times

The First National English Language Newspaper

saturday April 30, 2016

President gives instructions

President Bounnhang Vorachit

also Secretary General of the

inaugural session on April

In particular, attention must be

Storms batter all parts of Laos

Localised storms will continue

have battered several provinces

have been toppled by heavy

The worst incident occurred

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The Prime Minister says the

National exam winners

World Malaria Day

New dish a rising star,

Saturday April 30, 2016

New PM urges officials to

Prime Minister Thongloun

Prime Minister Thongloun

He thanked the ministrys

to fulfill his duties and called

President to visit China

National exam winners named

President gives instructions to... from page 1

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Lao Press in Foreign Languages

Established 1994, Volume 22

Tel: (856-21) 336042, fax: (856-21) 336041

If you have a problem accessing the website, please call directly to

The top eight winners of the

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PM announces measures to... from page 1

Saturday April 30, 2016

Polio vaccinations planned in four provinces

Khammuan provincial Health Department recently met to discuss polio immunisation in

Vientiane court imprisons Vietnamese nationals for selling illegal

China is top investor in Laos with 760 projects

Saturday April 30, 2016

Nanang stressed that

House For Sale or Rent

Very good location, Ban Chomphet, Close

2 Storey house full furnished, 200 sqm with a 60 sqm

In brief from Asia

Chinese president meets

The two countries should

Australian police arrest 70 after

JAPAN (The Kyodo News)

Skys the limit for

ASEAN (The Straits Times)

Saturday April 30, 2016

Cuba, Britain to cooperate on