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Misbehaving Monks: Sex Scandal Shakes Thai Buddhist Faithful

By Montira RUNGJIRAJITTRANON/AFP - Reverence for the saffron-robed Buddhist monkhood is deeply woven into Thai society, but a sex extortion scandal has besmirched the clergy and left the devout questioning their faith. Thai police this week arrested a woman accused of bedding at least 11 monks in violation of their vows of celibacy, before blackmailing them with thousands of secretly taken photos of their trysts.The monks are said to have paid nearly USD 12 million, funneled out of their monasteries funded by donations from laypeople hoping to increase their merit and prospects for reincarnation.The scandal provoked outrage over hypocrisy in the monkhood, concern their status shields them from scrutiny, and...

Economy

Lao Government to Renegotiate Hydropower Deals Amid Public Outcry Over Electricity Prices

The Lao government has announced plans to renegotiate electricity purchasing agreements with hydropower companies in response to growing public anger over rising power bills.  This decision comes after widespread backlash...

Laos Wind Farm to Begin Full Operation in Late August, Says Sekong’s Deputy Governor

Commercial operations of the Monsoon Wind Project, Laos’s first and Southeast Asia’s largest onshore wind farm, are expected to begin by late August or early September. Deputy Governor of Sekong...

Laos Makes Steady Progress in Poverty Eradication, Several Districts Declared Poverty-Free

Laos continues to make significant strides in poverty eradication, with multiple districts across the country being officially declared poverty-free, bringing the nation closer to its goal of graduating from...

Thailand Postpones Tourism Tax Again, Now Unlikely Before 2026

Thailand’s long-anticipated “Tourism tax,” often referred to as the “land entry tax,” has been delayed once again, with officials now targeting the second or third quarter of 2026 for...

Tripartite Cooperation Accelerates: Promoting Logistics and Tourism along the China-Laos-Thailand Railway

A press conference convened in Thailand's Khon Kaen on 14 July to promote the forthcoming Logistics and Tourism Promotion Meeting along the China-Laos-Thailand Railway, scheduled for 19 August at...

Vientiane’s BRT Project Reaches Over 80% Completion

Vientiane’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has now reached 81.5 percent completion as of early June, with construction teams focusing on final-phase upgrades to traffic systems, sidewalks, and roadside...

Travel

Thailand Postpones Tourism Tax Again, Now Unlikely Before 2026

Thailand’s long-anticipated “Tourism tax,” often referred to as the “land entry tax,” has been delayed once again, with officials now targeting the second or third quarter of 2026 for implementation. On 14 July, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Jakraphon Tangsutthitham announced that 2025 would not be an appropriate time to begin collecting the THB 300 (approx. USD 9.26)  fee, citing “uncontrollable external factors” affecting the tourism industry. The deputy minister emphasized that the timeline requires adjustment, with the Ministry planning to closely monitor international tourist demand during the high season quarters of 2025 before making any final decisions. A Four-Year Journey of Delays, Reversals The tourist entry fee concept originated in 2021...

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...

Vientiane Launches Sustainable Tourism Initiative with Innovative Technology for Growth

The Lao government has announced plans to boost tourism in Vientiane Capital with the theme "Vientiane's Sustainable Tourism," The initiative aims to incorporate innovative technologies into tourism management and create new attractions for...

Health & Environment

Vientiane Approves Stricter Waste Management Rules With Fines for Violators

The Vientiane Capital People’s Council has approved a new Agreement on Waste Management and Disposal, introducing sweeping reforms and stricter penalties aimed at reducing illegal dumping and improving environmental conditions across the capital. Passed during the provincial council meeting on 10 July, the regulation offers a step toward a cleaner and more sustainable city. The newly enacted agreement introduces a tiered system of penalties based on the amount and type of waste involved.  Individuals or organizations that improperly discard less than one...

Sport

From Comeback to Glory: Lao Boxer Soukan Taypanyavong Claims International Title

As hundreds of voices erupted around the boxing ring, anticipation surged through the arena. It was the moment Soukan “Nong Oh” Taypanyavong had been training for, a battle that would decide whether years...

Laos Wins Two Medals at ASEAN Jujitsu Championship

The Lao National Jujitsu Team won a silver and a bronze medal at the 2nd ASEAN Regional Championship held in the Philippines from 12 to 13 July. Khamkeo Vilayphone won the silver medal in...

Politics

Lao Authorities Arrest 59 Vietnamese Nationals in Fraud Crackdown

Lao and Vietnamese police have arrested 59 Vietnamese nationals involved in a high-tech fraud ring based in the Golden...

Laos Debunks Rumors of Sending Troops to Fight in Ukraine

Laos has refuted recent claims circulating in “several foreign news outlets” alleging that Laos is preparing to send troops...

Lao Prime Minister Receives Japan’s Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

The Japanese Emperor awarded Lao Prime Minister (PM) Sonexay Siphandone the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising...

Hun Sen Calls for Halt to Thai Imports and Film Screenings Amid Renewed Tensions

Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen has called for an immediate suspension of the import of key strategic goods from...

Feature

Misbehaving Monks: Sex Scandal Shakes Thai Buddhist Faithful

By Montira RUNGJIRAJITTRANON/AFP - Reverence for the saffron-robed Buddhist monkhood is deeply woven into Thai society, but a sex extortion scandal has besmirched the clergy and left the devout questioning their faith. Thai police this week arrested a woman accused of bedding at least 11 monks in violation of their vows of celibacy, before blackmailing them with thousands of secretly taken photos of their trysts.The monks are said to have paid nearly USD 12 million, funneled out of their monasteries funded by donations from laypeople hoping to increase their merit and prospects for reincarnation.The scandal provoked outrage over hypocrisy in the monkhood, concern their status shields them from scrutiny, and soul-searching across society about the role of religion. "I'm not involved in the religion like I used to be," 33-year-old motorbike taxi driver Mongkol Sudathip told AFP. "I don't have full respect for it anymore." King Maha Vajiralongkorn has cancelled invitations to more than 80 monks who had been due to attend his upcoming 73rd birthday celebrations, citing "inappropriate behavior that caused mental distress among the Thai people". While the 11 monks have been stripped of their robes, the kingdom's National Office of...

Lao Authorities Arrest 59 Vietnamese Nationals in Fraud Crackdown

Lao and Vietnamese police have arrested 59 Vietnamese nationals...

Laos Debunks Rumors of Sending Troops to Fight in Ukraine

Laos has refuted recent claims circulating in “several foreign...

Lao Prime Minister Receives Japan’s Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

The Japanese Emperor awarded Lao Prime Minister (PM) Sonexay...

Hun Sen Calls for Halt to Thai Imports and Film Screenings Amid Renewed Tensions

Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen has called for an...