Health & Environment

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 have fallen by 12,000 over the past three years. Across the border in Laos, officials are tracking a similar pattern among young people, though on a smaller scale. Thirteen of Thailand’s 77 provinces now record more...

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...

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...

Vientiane Province Steps Up Wildfire Prevention Efforts as Fire Alerts Increase

Vientiane Province has recorded 385 fire alerts in the first quarter of 2025, signaling an increase in fire activity, according to Global Forest Watch. In...

Laos to Strengthen Road Safety During Lao New Year

Vientiane plans to deploy 1,172 traffic police officers across 143 stations in the country during the Lao New Year celebrations to ensure orderly, convenient,...

Myanmar Earthquake Aftershocks Continue as Death Toll Approaches 3,000

As of 2 April, Myanmar and Thailand have recorded 264 aftershocks following the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March. With the...

Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Tops 1,000, More Casualties Expected: Here’s What We Know So Far

LATEST UPDATE on 29 March at 12:48 PM The deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake that rocked central Myanmar on 28 March has claimed the lives of at...

Severe Air Pollution Continues to Hit Laos

On 27 March, many parts of Laos were covered in a thick haze with PM 2.5 levels greatly exceeding safe levels, adversely affecting people's...

ASEAN Unveils Guidelines for Agroecology Transitions

Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in collaboration with key international partners, have officially launched the ASEAN Guidelines for Agroecology...