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...

Lao Government Sign USD 150 Million Agreement with Asian Development Bank for Four Projects

On 12 December, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a loan and 16 agreements with the Lao government for a total of four projects,...

Laos, Korea Launch Water Management Project to Boost Agriculture

Laos and South Korea have launched a USD 5.6 million partnership to improve water management and agricultural practices in Laos, focusing on sustainability and...

Vietnam to Ban E-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products in 2025

Vietnam will ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products starting in 2025, the National Assembly announced on 30 November. Early next year the country will join...

Malaria Cases Rise in Asia Pacific Despite Regional Gains

The Asia Pacific region has seen mixed progress on the road to malaria elimination by 2030. While eight of 20 endemic countries reported a...

Laos-Thailand Partnership Achieves Kidney Transplant Milestone

Laos’s Mittaphab Hospital and Thailand’s Ramathibodi Hospital from Mahidol University achieved a medical milestone by successfully performing their first kidney transplant surgery on 18...

Lao Launches Project to Combat HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria in Bokeo

On 6 December, the Ministry of Health in Laos launched a EUR 3 million (approximately USD 3.17 million)  health initiative in Bokeo Province to...