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...

UN: World Must Step Up Efforts to Protect Rights to a Healthy Environment

Fifty years after the Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment, States must do much more to ensure present and future generations will be able...

Children’s Day: A Call for Hope, Joy and Justice for All Children in Laos

The following article is an opinion piece by Roslyn Hanson Gabriel, Country Program Director for World Vision International in Laos, in regards to the...

Rare Eld’s Deer Sees Populations Increase in Laos 

Populations of Eld's deer have increased in national protected area in Savannakhet Province over the last six years, according to a new report. An official...

Laos Monitors Monkeypox Among Tourists  

Following a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) that cases of monkeypox have emerged in several countries, health officials in Laos are on...

Over 1 Million Meals Distributed by the Ministry of Health, WFP and World Vision in Savannakhet and Salavan Provinces

After almost two years of restrictions, Lao PDR has fully reopened its borders on 9 May, recording a significant decrease of COVID-19 cases across...

7,000 Die Annually in Laos from Smoking

Laos sees some 7,000 deaths each year from smoking-related illnesses, or 19 individuals per day, including nonsmokers who inhale secondhand smoke. Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Minister...