Global Witness Warned About Illegal Logging   A British-based NGO warned that the countries in Mekong Sub-region will face with more flooding in rainy-season and severe drought in dried-season if these governments do not take tough measures against illegal logging.

Laos is Classified as one of the Highest TB infection cases   Laos Ministry of Public Health reports that the infection rate of tuberculosis cases of Lao people is ranked number 5 in Asia for the countries that have highest tuberculosis infection cases.

Laos: Fuel Price Hike   The Industry and Commerce Department of Laos reported that the rise in the price of crude oil in the world market to more than 115 dollars a barrel last week had forced the Lao government to approve another round of fuel price hike.

Laos: Mineral Revenues Increased   The Energy and Mining Department of Laos said the total value of the country’s mineral exports in 2007 was more than 538 million dollars.

HRW Asks Thailand to Allow International Organizations to Monitor Hmong Repatriation   HRW has called on the Thai government to allow international organizations and NGOs to observe the repatriation of Hmong asylum seekers from the army-run detention camp at Ban Houay Nam Khao in Phetchabun province’s Kao Kho district to Laos.

Over 22,000 tourists celebrated Lao New Year in Luang Prabang.   The traditional Lao New Year festivities officially started on April 13 with a fair or Talat Nat in the center of the city, where all necessary festival items and handicrafts ranging from candles to live animals were displayed for sale.

Laos: Less Than 1% of UXO-contaminated Areas Cleared So Far   Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense said that since the UXO-Lao established in 1996, it has cleared over 13,037 hectares of lands of unexploded ordnances, but that area is still less 1 percent of all UXO-contaminated lands in the country.

Boundary Setting for That Luang Marshland Development Started   Lao officials have started the process of defining the area of Bung That Luang or That Luang marshland that has been promised to a Chinese company to develop into a new residential area and business center of the capital city.

Geological-Mineral Mapping of Northern Laos Completed   Vietnam has completed a geological survey and mapping of northern Laos, discovering up to 117 new mineral deposit sites.

Laos Inaugurated Route 3   Laos last month inaugurated Route 3, its segment of the North-South Economic Corridor linking southern China and Thailand via Luangnamtha and  Bokeo provinces.