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 Freezes 50 Accounts, Recovers Billions in Anti-Corruption Crackdown

The Ministry of Finance Party Committee has intensified its anti-corruption efforts, taking action by inspecting and freezing 50 accounts while recovering substantial sums of...

Lao National Assembly Debates Major Constitutional Reforms: What’s at Stake

The Lao National Assembly is currently debating the 2025 Draft Constitution of Laos, which proposes a number of major changes to the country’s legal...

Authorities Detect Harmful Chemicals in Fruits at Houaphanh Market

Authorities in Houaphanh Province discovered hazardous chemical substances in fruits sold at a market in Aed district on 13 March. During an inspection, provincial officials...

Laos Tackles Bureaucratic Bloat with Major Government Overhaul

As Laos continues to grow and change, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party has recognized that its government structure isn't keeping pace with the country's...

Vientiane Announces Potential Water Shortages, Calls for Preservation Efforts

The Water Supply Enterprise of Vientiane Capital issued a statement on 5 March, announcing that water production during the hot season will likely be...

Mining License Issuance Suspended Pending Regulation Improvements

The Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines has temporarily suspended the issuance of new mining licenses, effective 28 February, in order to improve the...