Health

Bear Paws, Pangolin Meat Seized in Vientiane Restaurant Raid Amid Laos’ Wider Crackdown

Lao authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal wildlife trade after raiding a Chinese-owned restaurant in central Vientiane, one of several wildlife enforcement operations carried out this year. On 18 May, officers from the Law Enforcement Network for Aquatic Animals, Wildlife and Forestry (LAO-WEN) inspected a restaurant in Chommany...

Laos Releases Dengue-Blocking Mosquitoes in Savannakhet

On 9 June, Savannakhet Province launched its first bacteria-enhanced mosquito release program, becoming the...

Rescuers Pull First Survivor Alive From Flooded Cave in Laos

One of the villagers trapped for more than a week inside a flooded cave...

Fish Deaths Spread Along Xe Don in Champasak as Water Tests Raise Concerns

Local communities have reported several fish death cases along the Xe Don River in...

While Exports Flow, Low-income Families Bear the Heat of an Uneven Grid

Additional reporting by Simmavanh Vayouphack When temperatures climbed above 40°C across many parts of Laos...

Laos, Thailand, Myanmar Faces Arsenic Contamination in Mekong River

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has confirmed arsenic contamination exceeding international safety standards across transboundary sections of the Mekong and Kok Rivers, affecting Laos,...

Thailand Classifies Cannabis Flowers as Controlled Substance for Medical Use Only

On 24 June, the Thai Ministry of Public Health officially announced a new regulation that classifies cannabis flowers as a controlled herbal substance, aiming...

Toxic Thailand Rivers Pinned on Myanmar Mines

By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee and Sally Jensen/AFP - A sprawling new mine is gouged into the lush rolling hills of northeast Myanmar, where civil war...

Indonesia Province Pushes Vasectomies to Curb Poverty Amid Regional Population Shift

Late April, Indonesia’s West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi announced a birth control initiative encouraging men from low-income households to undergo vasectomies in a move...

Laos Celebrates International Day of the Midwife with Renewed Commitment to Maternal Health

On 18 June, Laos joined the global community in celebrating the International Day of the Midwife, honoring the vital role midwives play in safeguarding...

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...