Health & Environment

Trendy ‘Squishy’ Toys Suspended in Laos Over Chemical Safety Concerns

Laos has ordered the immediate suspension of the import and sale of Squishy toys nationwide after authorities warned that some may contain hazardous chemicals that pose health risks, particularly to children. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued the order on 28 July, instructing provincial industry and commerce departments across...

Laos Eyes State Fuel Stations as Future EV Charging Hubs

Laos is exploring plans to turn state-owned fuel stations into electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging...

Lao Government Suspends Mining Company Over River Pollution in Vang Vieng

The Lao government has ordered Daochalearn Mineral Processing Sole Co., Ltd. to immediately suspend...

Former MRC Chief Anoulak Kittikhoun Named First Lao Head of Mekong Institute

Former Mekong River Commission (MRC) Chief Executive Officer Anoulak Kittikhoun has been appointed Executive...

Laos Turns to Public-Private Partnership to Tighten Product Quality Controls

Laos has launched a new state-backed company to inspect and certify the quality of...

Helpline Services for Youth Launches at Laos-China Railway Stations

The Lao Youth Union (LYU), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Laos-China Railway (LCR) launched counseling helpline materials at all railway stations...

Inflation Limits Lao Families’ Recovery From COVID-19, Says New World Bank Report

While economic activity has recently picked up in Laos, the rising cost of living is having a widespread negative impact, with poorer families most...

Houaphanh Authorities Grant Lao Citizenship to Unauthorized Migrants

Unauthorized migrants in Et District, Houaphanh Province have been granted Lao nationality by the provincial authorities to preserve their rights as Lao citizens. Some...

New Protection Shelter for Domestic Violence Victims Opens in Attapeu

A new shelter for survivors of gender-based violence has opened in the province of Attapeu, with support from the governments of Japan, UNFPA, and...

WHO Downgrades COVID Pandemic, Says It’s No Longer Emergency

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating...

Sustainable Tourism Can Conserve Environment, Says Tourism Official

Ms. Sengsoda Vanthanouvong, Deputy Director of the Tourism Promotion Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT) recently spoke about the impact of tourism...