Government

Corruption Crackdown in Laos’s Attapeu Province Uncovers Millions in Financial Irregularities

Attapeu authorities have detailed five years of corruption investigations and financial irregularities, including a major treasury case involving more than LAK 90 billion (USD 4 million) in payments made without original supporting documents. On 22 September, Souvansi Keoviset, head of the Attapeu Provincial Anti-Corruption Agency, presented the results of investigations...

Xaysomboun Identifies Four Companies Over Unauthorized Gold Mining

Authorities in Xaysomboun Province have identified four companies allegedly involved in unauthorized alluvial gold...

Champasak Prosecutes 37 Individuals for Corruption Over Five Years

Champasak authorities prosecuted 37 people for corruption-related offenses between 2021 and 2025, according to...

Thailand Restores 30-Day Visa-Free Stay, Limits Visa-Free Land Entries to Twice a Year

Thailand has cut its visa-free tourist stay from 60 days back to 30 days,...

Houaphanh Finds LAK 12.8 Billion in Losses Linked to Official Violations

Authorities in Houaphanh, northern Laos, have uncovered 120 officials who had allegedly  violated party...

Southeast Asia Backs Independent Anti-Corruption Efforts

Anti-corruption agencies, civil society groups, journalists, and NGOs from across Southeast Asia gathered on 29 April in Malaysia to strengthen their commitment to protecting...

Thailand Urges Laos to Reconsider Sanakham Hydropower Dam Location

Thailand has formally called on Laos to reconsider the proposed location of the Sanakham Hydropower Project, planned between Xayaburi and Vientiane province of Laos,...

Laos Seeks Solutions to Address New United States Tariff Hikes

Laos' exports to the United States are expected to face significant impacts following the recently announced tariff increases, prompting the Lao government to seek...

Laos Pauses Importer-Exporter System for Necessary Upgrades

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced the temporary closure and upgrade of the Importer-Exporter Registration and Management System for goods and services. As...

Japan Honors Sonexay Siphandone with Order of the Rising Sun

On 29 April, the Japanese government announced that Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun is conferred on Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister...

Laos Expands Vocational Training to Curb Labor Shortage

The Lao government will introduce new vocational education programs in the 2024–2025 academic year as part of efforts to modernize education and address labor...