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...

Hundreds of Fish Deaths Reported in Nam Khan River

Villagers near the site of the Nam Khan 2 hydropower plant have reported hundreds of dead fish floating in the river by the dam. The...

Ton Pheung Locked Down After Chinese National Tests Positive for Covid-19

A Chinese worker living in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone tested positive for Covid-19 upon his return to China. Authorities in Laos have locked...

No New Covid-19 Cases Confirmed in Laos This Month

Laos has not confirmed a new Covid-19 case since 7 December last year, with the total number in the country unchanged at 41 and...

Laos Locks Down Ton Pheung District Again

Authorities in Laos have locked down Ton Pheung District in Bokeo Province for the second time. According to a notice issued by the National Taskforce...

Lao Labor Return from Thailand Illegally, Sparking Covid Fears

Authorities have arrested 13 Lao laborers returning from Thailand who re-entered the country illegally via the Mekong river at Sangthong District, Vientiane Capital. According to...

Mekong Water Levels to Drop Due to Power Grid Maintenance in China

The water outflow at Jinghong hydropower station in China’s Yunnan province is dropping due to power grid maintenance during 5–24 January 2021, leading to...