28.4 C
Vientiane
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
spot_img

Three Lao Women Arrested in Thailand for Involvement in Illegal Prostitution

On 14 June, three Lao women were arrested in Thailand for engaging in illegal prostitution activities in Mueang district, Nakhon Nayok Province. According to Thailand’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the arrests followed a report of an unauthorized sex service operating in the area. A police officer went undercover as a customer to gather evidence and coordinate the arrest. Upon entering the establishment, a 19-year-old Thai woman named Parita offered sexual services for a fee of THB 2,000 (approximately USD 61.61). She explained that THB 500 (USD 15.40) would go to the bar owner, with the remaining 1,500 baht as her earnings. Authorities later arrested the bar's two managers: a 45-year-old Thai man...

Economy

Laos Commits LAK 215 Billion to Strengthen Education and Keep Students in School

The Lao government has allocated over LAK 215 billion (approximately USD 9.97 million) to strengthen the country’s education sector, with a focus on increasing school enrollment, reducing dropout rates,...

Oil surges, stocks fall on Middle East fears as Israel strikes Iran

AFP – Oil prices soared and stocks sank Friday after Israel launched "preemptive" strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites and warned of more to come, stoking fears of...

EssilorLuxottica Expands in Laos with New High-Capacity Lens Facility

EssilorLuxottica, a global leader in the design, production, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, optical equipment, and eyewear, including both prescription and sunwear, has strengthened its presence in the Asia-Pacific...

LOCA Launches Green Bond to Boost EV Use in Laos

LOCA, the Lao-grown ride-hailing and electric mobility startup, has announced the extension of its current fundraising round through the issuance of a USD 2.5 million Green Bond.  This new funding...

Salavan Opens First Drug Rehabilitation Center to Combat Substance Abuse

Salavan Province inaugurated its first dedicated drug rehabilitation center on 10 June, marking a significant step in tackling substance abuse and supporting the recovery and reintegration of affected individuals. The...

Laos Agricultural Exports Reach USD 977 Million in Early 2025, Eyes Expansion into New Markets

Laos has made significant progress in agricultural exports, generating USD 977 million in revenue during the first five months of 2025, achieving 65 percent of its USD 1.5 billion...

Travel

Laos Among Highest for US Tourist Visa Overstays, But Lowest for Student Compliance

Laos is among the top countries with the highest overstay rates for The United States tourist and business visas, according to the latest data from the US Department of Homeland Security. However, when it comes to student and exchange visas, Lao nationals have the lowest overstay rate of any country reporting data. According to the US Department of Homeland Security's latest report on entry and overstay patterns, Laos recorded a 9.55 percent overstay rate in the B-1/B-2 visa category, which includes temporary visitors for business and tourism.  This places Laos among the top two countries with the highest overstay rates in this category, alongside nations such as Djibouti. By comparison, neighboring countries...

Luang Namtha Plans Restoration of Tad Nam Dee Waterfall After Storm Damage

Authorities in Luang Namtha Province are reviewing plans to restore the Tad Nam Dee Waterfall, a popular natural tourist site, following significant damage caused by last year’s floods from Typhoon Yagi. The popular eco-tourism...

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

Save the Children Expands Mosquito Control Efforts Ahead of ASEAN Dengue Day

In commemoration of ASEAN Dengue Day on 15 June, Save the Children International in Laos announced the full rollout of its expanded ‘Driving Down Dengue in Laos’ (DDDiL) project, aimed at reducing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The initiative, a collaboration between Save the Children, the Department of Communicable Disease Control under the Ministry of Health, the Australian government, and the World Mosquito Program, is preparing for the official release of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes in July 2025.  This next phase follows a...

Sport

DanceSport to be Included in National Games Medal Competitions

Laos has officially approved DanceSport as a medal event at the Lao 12th National Games, marking the sport’s debut in the country’s competition. The organizing committee officially approved the inclusion of DanceSport on 23...

Lao Runner Lodkeo Inthakoumman Wins Double Gold at Singapore Open 2025

Lodkeo Inthakoumman, a leading long-distance runner from Laos, captured two gold medals at the 85th Singapore Open Track & Field Championships, held from 24–25 April 2025.  The 30-year-old dominated the women’s long-distance events, clocking...

Politics

Thailand-Cambodia Border Talks End Without Agreement as Cambodia Turns to ICJ

Latest Update on 16 June at 3:40 PM The 6th meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) concluded on...

Oil surges, stocks fall on Middle East fears as Israel strikes Iran

AFP – Oil prices soared and stocks sank Friday after Israel launched "preemptive" strikes on Iran's nuclear and military...

Latest from the National Assembly: Laos Unveils New Measures to Curb Inflation, Tackle Debt

In the first nine days of the 9th national assembly, which will continue through 26 June, Prime Minister Sonexay...

Laos Agricultural Exports Reach USD 977 Million in Early 2025, Eyes Expansion into New Markets

Laos has made significant progress in agricultural exports, generating USD 977 million in revenue during the first five months...

Feature

Laos Launches Nationwide Blood Drive Amid Persistent Shortages

As World Blood Donor Day approaches on 14 June, Laos is taking urgent action to address its ongoing struggle with blood shortages through a nationwide campaign. Organized by the Lao Red Cross in partnership with local health departments and hospitals, the blood drive is being rolled out across all provinces with the goal of encouraging more people to donate. The campaign's flagship events are taking place on 11 and 12 June in Luang Prabang and Vientiane Capital, respectively. On 11 June, the Souphatra Hotel in Luang Prabang hosted a full-day blood drive from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, featuring fun activities and prizes to draw in participants. The following day, Lao ITECC Mall in Vientiane is scheduled to welcome donors from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm  While these events aim to celebrate the global spirit of blood donation, they also highlight a sobering reality: many provinces in Laos continue to struggle with meeting their blood supply needs. Luang Prabang, in particular, remains among the most affected areas. Despite repeated campaigns and calls for support, fear and misinformation continue to keep many people from rolling up their sleeves.  Medical officials warn that unless this trend...

Oil surges, stocks fall on Middle East fears as Israel strikes Iran

AFP – Oil prices soared and stocks sank Friday...

Laos Agricultural Exports Reach USD 977 Million in Early 2025, Eyes Expansion into New Markets

Laos has made significant progress in agricultural exports, generating...

Six Decades of Tension: Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute Might Head to International Court

Cambodia is escalating a decades-old border dispute with Thailand...

Kiwa PVEL Releases 11th Edition of the PV Module Reliability Scorecard

The total number of Top Performers remains steady, but...

AXA Launches “Max Goal II Insurance Plan”

Shortest guaranteed breakeven timeframe and market-first Wealth Master Service to...