Health & Environment

Laos Gives Unlicensed Beauty Clinics Until November to Obtain Permits Amid Weak Oversight Concerns

The Ministry of Health has ordered unlicensed medical and beauty facilities across Laos to obtain official permits by 30 November, but the directive has raised questions over its delayed public release and how authorities will enforce the deadline. The Ministry issued the directive on 29 May but did not publicize...

Flooding Hits Over 60,000 in Khammouane as Rivers Rise Above Danger Levels

Flooding has affected more than 60,000 people across all 10 districts of Khammouane province...

Thailand’s HIV Cases Pass 550,000, Laos Reports Rising Infections Among Young People

Thailand has recorded 557,993 cumulative HIV cases, health authorities say, even as new infections...

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

Laos has ordered the immediate suspension of the import and sale of Squishy toys...

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...

Hong Kong to lift COVID Mask Mandate on Wednesday

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate Wednesday, ending the city's last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city's...

Three ASEAN Countries Take Measures After Bird Flu Death in Cambodia

After a 12-year-old girl died from bird flu in Cambodia and over ten human cases and one more death were reported in the country,...

Cambodian Bird Flu Viruses Cases Identified as Endemic Clade

The viruses that infected two people in Cambodia with H5N1 avian influenza were identified as an endemic clade of bird flu circulating in the...

Cambodia Records First Bird Flu Death Since 2014

The Cambodian Ministry of Health has reported the country's first death from H5N1, or bird flu, since 2014. Khmer Times reports that a 12-year-old girl...

Luang Prabang Engulfed in Toxic Smoke as Landfill Fire Gets Out of Control

Authorities in Luang Prabang expect that it will take longer to extinguish the fire at a landfill in Lak 8 village amid ongoing forest...

MRC Promotes Responsible Water Resources Management & Development

The Mekong River Commission released two flagship documents on Tuesday, aiming to maximize the potential benefits of hydropower and other water-related development projects while...