New UK-Laos Society Launches to Build Links Between Countries

A new UK-Laos Society is bringing together people interested in business, education, culture, tourism, and development to build connections between the two countries. Founders Adrian Keeling and Hugh Evans, a former British ambassador to Laos, said they established the group because the UK lacked an organization focused on developing UK-Laos ties. “There wasn't really an association in the UK whose primary aim was developing links between the two countries. We thought that was a shame, and together we decided to set one up,” Keeling said. The society held its inaugural reception in London on 1 October, with around 50 guests attending. Lao Ambassador to the UK Mayboua Xayavong attended the society’s inaugural...

Economy

Attapeu Discusses South Korean Support for 580-Hectare Industrial Zone

Attapeu authorities discussed potential South Korean support for developing a 580-hectare industrial zone during a meeting with South Korean Ambassador Lee Jeong-hyop on 11 November. The zone was among several...

Champasak Orders Unauthorized Occupants to Leave University Land

Champasak authorities have ordered unauthorized occupants of land registered to Champasak University to leave and remove their buildings within three months, while allowing 339 approved families to receive compensation...

Laos-Vietnam Railway UXO Clearance Reaches 90 Percent in Laos Section

Surveying, clearance, and destruction of unexploded ordnance (UXO) along the Laos-Vietnam Railway project in Khammouane Province has reached 90 percent completion, clearing the way for heavy machinery to begin...

Laos Adopts Five-Year Plan to Protect Migrant Workers

Laos has approved a five-year migration plan aimed at protecting workers’ rights, improving access to decent jobs, and expanding social protection for people moving across its borders. The framework, endorsed...

Thousands of Students Leave School Before Graduation in Vientiane

Vientiane Capital has fallen short of government goals to reduce school dropouts, with financial pressures and barriers to attendance keeping children out of classrooms, education authorities reported on 10...

Vientiane Forecasts Faster Economic Growth This Year

Vientiane Capital expects its economy to grow by 7.6 percent this year, falling short of its 8 percent target as handicraft production, mining, and tourism-related businesses face slower growth. The...

Travel

Thai Airways Reports Breach Involving Over 60,000 Passenger Records

Thai Airways is investigating unauthorized access to passenger booking information held by its service provider Amadeus, with around 60,529 records potentially affected, the airline said on 9 November. The airline will notify affected passengers individually after checking the information supplied by Amadeus. It has reported the incident to the relevant authorities, while its review of the affected records continues. The information potentially accessed includes passenger names and booking references, alongside travel dates, routes, and cabin classes. The airline also identified around 376 additional records that may contain more extensive personal details, including passport numbers, nationalities, phone numbers, email addresses, and frequent flyer membership numbers. Flight, ticket, and seat numbers may also be...

Laos Targets 6 Million Visitors in 2026 as Chinese Arrivals Projected at 2 Million

Laos expects to welcome between 5 and 6 million international tourists in 2026, with Chinese visitors projected to account for around 2 million of that total, according to government estimates. The numbers will be...

ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor Takes Center Stage at Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

Laos hosted the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 in Luang Prabang from 24 to 27 June, spotlighting the proposed ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor (ARTC) as a key initiative to boost regional travel and connectivity. Held...

Health & Environment

Oudomxay Investigates Eight Illegal Gold Mining Cases, Public Questions Official Oversight

Authorities in Oudomxay Province have investigated eight cases of illegal mining, prosecuted 10 people, and collected more than LAK 2.688 billion (USD 119,000) in fines and other payments to the state, according to a provincial report. The cases involved illegal mineral extraction, including alluvial gold mining. Some operations used basic equipment, while others relied on heavy machinery. Saksombat Keositthivongsa, head of the provincial task force, presented the findings on Oudomxay Radio and TV Station. The latest case came to light on 28...

Sport

Salavan United Terminates National Football Player Over ‘Unexcused Absence’ Amid Match-Fixing Allegations

Salavan United Football Club, based in Salavan in southern Laos, has terminated the contract of Lao national team winger Soukphachan Lueanthala amid match-fixing allegations, citing his “unexcused absences” from training. The club announced the...

Laos Prepares For ASEAN Para Games With 12-Sport Bid

Laos is preparing to compete in 12 sports at the 14th ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur next October. The Lao team has proposed entering athletics, swimming, powerlifting, boccia, women’s goalball, men’s blind football,...

Politics

Champasak Orders Unauthorized Occupants to Leave University Land

Champasak authorities have ordered unauthorized occupants of land registered to Champasak University to leave and remove their buildings within...

Japan Provides JPY 955.8 Million in Road, Bridge Repair Equipment to Laos

Japan handed over road and bridge repair equipment worth JPY 955.8 million (USD 6.05 million) to Laos on 9...

Laos, Russian Region of Tatarstan Discuss New Trade Opportunities

Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan wants to expand trade and investment with Laos, with the region’s official media describing current...

Luang Namtha Finds 184 People Allegedly Involved in USD 1 Million Corruption Cases

Authorities in Luang Namtha have identified 184 people involved in two corruption cases that cost the state LAK 23.3...

Feature

Lao, Thai Textile Traditions Meet in Dress at Bangkok Exhibition

A gown combining Thai silk and Lao fabric brought two neighbouring countries' textile traditions together at an international fashion exhibition in Bangkok in October. Titled Lao-Thai Solidarity, the dress featured traditional Lao weaving patterns alongside Thai silk, with each material making up half of the design. Lao designer Khamphao Bouaphanh, founder of Khamphao Sungdai, created the gown for the Global Thai Silk Exhibition. It showcased how traditional textiles from both countries could be incorporated into contemporary fashion. The design featured a Naga motif along the lower skirt, a Dao Kai Noy pattern on the bodice, and a sash made from Pakse Mudmee silk. Weaving Two Textile Traditions Together The dress combined 50 percent Thai silk with 50 percent locally woven Lao fabric. Rather than keeping the materials separate, the design brought them together through patterns and details associated with both countries. The Naga motif, a recurring element in Lao art and textiles, ran along the lower panel of the skirt and wrapped around the back. The upper bodice featured the Dao Kai Noy pattern, translate to Little Chick Star, or the Pleiades in english. A sash made from Pakse Mudmee, a traditional Lao ikat silk,...

Champasak Orders Unauthorized Occupants to Leave University Land

Champasak authorities have ordered unauthorized occupants of land registered...

Japan Provides JPY 955.8 Million in Road, Bridge Repair Equipment to Laos

Japan handed over road and bridge repair equipment worth...

Laos, Russian Region of Tatarstan Discuss New Trade Opportunities

Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan wants to expand trade and...

Luang Namtha Finds 184 People Allegedly Involved in USD 1 Million Corruption Cases

Authorities in Luang Namtha have identified 184 people involved...

AION i60’s Overseas Debut Shows How GAC Is Building Global Competitiveness

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On November...

Lei Zhang Named TIME100 Climate 2026 Titan for Pioneering Clean Energy Infrastructure for the AI Era

TIME recognition underscores Lei Zhang's leadership in shaping the...

Tales of Border Town | “Laogeng” Cross-Border Fair-Going

BEIJING, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report...