The Lao Tawan Taekwondo Club is set to continue its winning streak at the upcoming Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Cup in Luang Prabang province this September.
The anticipation follows a successful performance at the 7th Heroes Taekwondo International Championship in Bangkok, Thailand from 10 to 12 August, where the club’s junior members won several medals.
Vinarinthone Ngonvorarath clinched a gold medal in the boys’ 18 kg U-6 category, while Natxanon Santivilakone achieved gold in the boys’ 49 kg U-14 category, alongside securing two silver and two bronze medals. The event saw 3,069 fighters from 30 countries, with 15 young athletes from the Tawan Taekwondo Club competing.
“The fact that they won gold medals certainly exceeded my expectation, and I’d like to consider that a jackpot,” said the club president, Soutthida Phommavong.
According to Soutthida, her students underwent a five-day-a-week training over two months before the competition.
Looking ahead, the Tawan Taekwondo Club plans to enter 45 fighters in the Korean Ambassador’s Cup, supported by six trainers and the club’s president. With high hopes and a goal of securing 25 gold medals, the club aims to replicate their success from two years ago.
“I would always reassure my students to do their best despite the results. Because, in the end, winning or losing doesn’t matter; it’s all about gaining new experience,” she added.
Apart from their recent victory in Bangkok, the club also triumphed at the Governor of Vientiane’s Cup in June.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Tawan-Taekwondo-Shine-with-Gold-at-International-Championship.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Original.blue_.whitetext.jpeg-150x150-1.jpgSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-09-19 09:07:532024-09-03 09:09:44Tawan Taekwondo Shine with Gold at International Championship
Southeast Asian nations can expand women’s economic participation and thus spur more equitable growth and development by investing in the care economy. A new UN Women data snapshot titled Women’s Economic Empowerment and the Care Economy in ASEAN, released before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Women Leaders’ Summit in Vientiane on 23 August, supports the adoption of the new ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening the Care Economy and Resilience Towards ASEAN Community Post-2025.
The data snapshot shows that women’s participation in the region’s labor force is systematically lower than men’s partly due to women’s unequal share of care responsibilities in households. In addition, many of the paid caregiving jobs held by women are in the informal economy in which workers are especially vulnerable.
The data snapshot points to the structural barriers to gender equality in the world of work and calls for transforming care systems to increase opportunities for women and girls to fully participate in economies and societies.
The data snapshot says that expanding care services, such as kindergartens, and enhancing care-supporting workplaces through parental leave can ease the time constraints on women and girls with care responsibilities. Improving the status of women workers in the care economy requires expanding social protections and improving labor conditions, including wages, equal opportunities, and freedom from discrimination, harassment and violence.
The snapshot says that to uphold the promise to leave no one behind, efforts to transform care systems need to include vulnerable groups such as girls, single women with children, and women in old age.
“Gender data shows that one of the biggest obstacles to women’s economic empowerment is the unequal burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women,” said Christine Arab, Regional Director of UN Women Asia and the Pacific. “By addressing structural barriers and improving working conditions and compensation through gender-transformative policies and programs, we can create an environment that offers equal opportunities, empowers women, and promotes economic rights for everyone in ASEAN.”
On 20 August, Vientiane Capital’s Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism (DICT) issued a notice banning the importation of Buddha images and Buddhist relics in an attempt to promote locally made artifacts.
The notice emphasized the importance of supporting local artists and artisans by encouraging the use of locally produced Buddha images.
Individuals or legal entities wishing to import items must obtain permission from the Department of Information and Culture (DICT) in Vientiane at least two weeks before the importation. Only relics originally discovered or created in Laos, or those exported from Laos for modifications, are eligible for import. Artifacts featuring languages or symbols that do not comply with Lao law and culture are strictly prohibited.
For first-time violators, a fine of LAK 3 to 5 million (USD 136 – 226.9) will be imposed. A second violation will result in an increased fine of LAK 5 to 10 million (USD 226.9 – 453.98). For a third offense, the fine could range from LAK 10 to 15 million (USD 453.98 – 680.97), and the violator may also face arrest. Additionally, violators will be responsible for managing the return of the illegally imported items, including any associated costs and documentation.
One user commented, “This is definitely a good move considering the fact that there are many opportunists trying to traffic religious relics into some temples without the awareness of the Lao government.”
Another user added, “This law should be applied to other provinces as well, not just the capital.”
Despite the support, some individuals view this move as insignificant and are urging the government to address what they consider more pressing issues.
“Maybe they should release a notice on how they are going to fix the roads instead. This is a more concerning aspect of the country that many are suffering from,” remarked another Facebook user.
As the new regulation takes effect, its impact on the preservation of Lao culture and the protection of religious artifacts will be closely watched, as will the public response to its enforcement.
Source:
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Vientiane-Enforces-Ban-on-Imported-Buddha-Images-to-Support-Local-Artisans.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Original.blue_.whitetext.jpeg-150x150-1.jpgSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-09-17 09:02:132024-09-03 09:03:54Vientiane Enforces Ban on Imported Buddha Images to Support Local Artisans
Tawan Taekwondo Shine with Gold at International Championship
The Lao Tawan Taekwondo Club is set to continue its winning streak at the upcoming Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Cup in Luang Prabang province this September.
The anticipation follows a successful performance at the 7th Heroes Taekwondo International Championship in Bangkok, Thailand from 10 to 12 August, where the club’s junior members won several medals.
Vinarinthone Ngonvorarath clinched a gold medal in the boys’ 18 kg U-6 category, while Natxanon Santivilakone achieved gold in the boys’ 49 kg U-14 category, alongside securing two silver and two bronze medals. The event saw 3,069 fighters from 30 countries, with 15 young athletes from the Tawan Taekwondo Club competing.
“The fact that they won gold medals certainly exceeded my expectation, and I’d like to consider that a jackpot,” said the club president, Soutthida Phommavong.
According to Soutthida, her students underwent a five-day-a-week training over two months before the competition.
Looking ahead, the Tawan Taekwondo Club plans to enter 45 fighters in the Korean Ambassador’s Cup, supported by six trainers and the club’s president. With high hopes and a goal of securing 25 gold medals, the club aims to replicate their success from two years ago.
“I would always reassure my students to do their best despite the results. Because, in the end, winning or losing doesn’t matter; it’s all about gaining new experience,” she added.
Apart from their recent victory in Bangkok, the club also triumphed at the Governor of Vientiane’s Cup in June.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/08/23/tawan-taekwondo-shine-with-gold-at-international-championship/
ASEAN Leaders Urge Boost in Care Economy Investment to Empower Women, Drive Inclusive Growth
Southeast Asian nations can expand women’s economic participation and thus spur more equitable growth and development by investing in the care economy. A new UN Women data snapshot titled Women’s Economic Empowerment and the Care Economy in ASEAN, released before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Women Leaders’ Summit in Vientiane on 23 August, supports the adoption of the new ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening the Care Economy and Resilience Towards ASEAN Community Post-2025.
The data snapshot shows that women’s participation in the region’s labor force is systematically lower than men’s partly due to women’s unequal share of care responsibilities in households. In addition, many of the paid caregiving jobs held by women are in the informal economy in which workers are especially vulnerable.
The data snapshot points to the structural barriers to gender equality in the world of work and calls for transforming care systems to increase opportunities for women and girls to fully participate in economies and societies.
The data snapshot says that expanding care services, such as kindergartens, and enhancing care-supporting workplaces through parental leave can ease the time constraints on women and girls with care responsibilities. Improving the status of women workers in the care economy requires expanding social protections and improving labor conditions, including wages, equal opportunities, and freedom from discrimination, harassment and violence.
The snapshot says that to uphold the promise to leave no one behind, efforts to transform care systems need to include vulnerable groups such as girls, single women with children, and women in old age.
“Gender data shows that one of the biggest obstacles to women’s economic empowerment is the unequal burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women,” said Christine Arab, Regional Director of UN Women Asia and the Pacific. “By addressing structural barriers and improving working conditions and compensation through gender-transformative policies and programs, we can create an environment that offers equal opportunities, empowers women, and promotes economic rights for everyone in ASEAN.”
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/08/22/asean-leaders-urge-boost-in-care-economy-investment-to-empower-women-drive-inclusive-growth/
Vientiane Enforces Ban on Imported Buddha Images to Support Local Artisans
On 20 August, Vientiane Capital’s Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism (DICT) issued a notice banning the importation of Buddha images and Buddhist relics in an attempt to promote locally made artifacts.
The notice emphasized the importance of supporting local artists and artisans by encouraging the use of locally produced Buddha images.
Individuals or legal entities wishing to import items must obtain permission from the Department of Information and Culture (DICT) in Vientiane at least two weeks before the importation. Only relics originally discovered or created in Laos, or those exported from Laos for modifications, are eligible for import. Artifacts featuring languages or symbols that do not comply with Lao law and culture are strictly prohibited.
For first-time violators, a fine of LAK 3 to 5 million (USD 136 – 226.9) will be imposed. A second violation will result in an increased fine of LAK 5 to 10 million (USD 226.9 – 453.98). For a third offense, the fine could range from LAK 10 to 15 million (USD 453.98 – 680.97), and the violator may also face arrest. Additionally, violators will be responsible for managing the return of the illegally imported items, including any associated costs and documentation.
The government’s move has garnered praise from social media users, particularly on Facebook.
One user commented, “This is definitely a good move considering the fact that there are many opportunists trying to traffic religious relics into some temples without the awareness of the Lao government.”
Another user added, “This law should be applied to other provinces as well, not just the capital.”
Despite the support, some individuals view this move as insignificant and are urging the government to address what they consider more pressing issues.
“Maybe they should release a notice on how they are going to fix the roads instead. This is a more concerning aspect of the country that many are suffering from,” remarked another Facebook user.
As the new regulation takes effect, its impact on the preservation of Lao culture and the protection of religious artifacts will be closely watched, as will the public response to its enforcement.
Source: