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...

Choice, Availability: Leaders Champion Universal Access to Family Planning in Laos

Joint Op-Ed by H.E Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, Minister of Health, Dr. Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, UNFPA Representative in Laos, and Ms. Sumita Banerjee, FP2030 Managing Director...

Houaphan Authorities Investigate Chemical Leak from Mining Company

Houaphan's provincial authorities are promptly responding to reports of chemical discharge from Laos-China Rare Mineral Development Company North 2 Limited into a river in...

Black Bear Cubs Rescued, Handed Over for Conservation

Vientiane Capital's public security rescued 16 black bear cubs from the Far Thai Microfinance Institution in Nongsanokham village, Sikhottabong district, on 17 March before...

Harnessing Innovation for Sustainable Water and Forest Management in Asia-Pacific

By Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations United we stand, divided we fall – it’s an...

UK Continues Funding UXO Clearance in Savannakhet Province

The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has reaffirmed its support for the HALO Trust’s Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) clearance operations in Savannakhet province by...

To Protect Everyone’s Health is to Protect Everyone’s Rights

Op-Ed by Patricia Ongpin, UNAIDS Country Director for Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia This year, the world marked the tenth anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day on...