Government

Laos Seizes Major Drug Hauls, Arrests Over 4,000 in Six Months

Laos arrested 4,025 suspects in connection with 1,786 drug cases during the first six months of 2026 as authorities intensified a nationwide crackdown on narcotics, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone told the National Assembly on 6 July. Laos has been stepping up in its anti-drug campaigns by targeting both domestic drug...

Railway Expansion, Education Reform Among Key Issues at National Assembly

Expanding the railway to southern Laos, rolling out a new school system, reducing poverty,...

Laos Steps Up Illegal Mining Crackdown After Luang Prabang Gold Mining Cases

The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce has ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal...

Myanmar’s Leader Wraps First ASEAN Visit in Laos, Signs Mekong Dam Study

Myanmar's recently elected President, Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in the 2021 military...

Fire Incidents Cost Laos Over USD 14 Million in First Half of 2026

Fire incidents across Laos claimed eight lives and destroyed homes, businesses, and vehicles during...

Laos Improves in Corruption Index but Still Ranks Among Southeast Asia’s Lowest

Laos has made noticeable progress in the fight against corruption, improving its score by five points in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released...

Lao Government Unveils Four Strategies to Boost Domestic Power Generation

The Lao government has announced four key strategies aimed at accelerating domestic power generation, to address the country’s ongoing electricity shortage.  Speaking at a National...

Laos Shakes Up Cabinet in Sweeping Reform, Names New Central Bank Chief

Laos has carried out a sweeping government reshuffle, replacing or reassigning nine ministers along with the governor of the central bank.  The move follows a...

Lao Government Enforces Ban on Unregistered, Unlabeled Imported Food Starting 1 July

Starting 1 July, Laos will prohibit the import and sale of unregistered food products that lack approval from the Food and Drug Administration or...

Laos Targets Five Percent Annual Growth by 2030 Amid Economic Reforms

The Lao government has unveiled an ambitious strategy aimed at boosting national growth and modernising key sectors as Laos continues to recover from years...

Cambodia Confirms Participation in JBC Meeting with Thailand, Excludes Disputed Temples Referred to ICJ

Cambodia has confirmed its participation in the upcoming Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting with Thailand, scheduled for 14 June, with Phnom Penh serving as...