Phontham Visapra

Thailand, Indonesia Begin Clean-up After Massive Floods Kill Hundreds

By Alfath Asmunda/AFP - The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Southeast Asia climbed past 400 on Saturday as clean-up and search-and-rescue...

Lao Migrant Workers Send Home USD 366 Million in First Half of 2025, Under 10 Percent Using Banks

Lao migrant workers sent home an estimated USD 366 million in the first six months of this year, according to new data from the...

Over 100 Bodies Recovered in Hat Yai Flood; Identification Efforts Underway

On 27 November, the National Police Headquarters said more than 100 bodies have been recovered after the catastrophic floods in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province....

Pink Elephants March for Thailand’s Late Queen Mother

AFP - On 27 November, eleven pink painted elephants marched through Bangkok, bowing in unison outside the Grand Palace in a lumbering tribute to...

Laos Steps Up Debt Reforms With New Strategy, Stronger Oversight

Laos is advancing major public debt management reforms with a new medium-term strategy and tighter oversight of state-owned enterprises to strengthen fiscal stability and...

Laos Launches 16 Days of Activism Campaign Focused on Digital Violence

Laos kicked off the 2025 global campaign for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence on 25 November, putting a national spotlight on...

Inflation in Laos Soars to 4.8 Percent in November

Laos’ inflation rate rose to 4.8 percent in November, up from 4.3 percent in October, driven mainly by higher costs for electricity, water, health...

Rosewood Luang Prabang Announces Festive Season Events

Rosewood Luang Prabang is set to host a series of events and dining experiences from December 2025 through January 2026. Located in the UNESCO...

International Monetary Fund Says Lao Economy to Grow by 4.5 Percent in 2026

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Laos’ economy will expand by 4.5 percent in 2026, supported by stronger exports, rising tourism, foreign...

At Least Eight Dead as Southern Thailand Floods Hit Nearly 2 Million

Southern Thailand is confronting its most severe flooding in over three centuries as relentless monsoon rains have killed at least eight people and affected...

Lao Central Bank Cuts Base Interest Rate to Support Economic Growth

The Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) announced on 20 November that it is reducing the 7-day base interest rate from 9% to 8.5%...

Savannakhet Sets Stage for Biggest-Ever That Ing Hang Festival

Authorities in Savannakhet Province said preparations for the annual That Ing Hang Temple Festival, scheduled for 30 November to 5 December, are now almost...

ADB Approves USD 36 Million to Boost Skills, Employment for Lao Youth

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 36 million financing package to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Laos,...

Myanmar Military Says Nearly 1,600 Foreigners Arrested in Scam Hub Raids

AFP - On 23 November, the Myanmar military said it arrested nearly 1,600 foreign nationals in five days in a highly publicized crackdown on...