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...

A Blue Legacy for Children’s Rights: UNICEF Laos’ 50th Anniversary

It was 1973, and the peace agreement between the Royal Lao Government and the communist Pathet Lao marked the end of the Lao civil...

Laos to Grow EV Market, Fueled by Renewable Energy Ambitions

The burgeoning popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) in Laos has marked significant growth in 2023, with a total of 4,631 EVs sold, comprising 2,592...

Earthquake in Northwestern China Kills at Least 131 People, Deadliest in Nine Years

BEIJING (AP) — A strong overnight earthquake rattled a mountainous region of northwestern China, authorities said Tuesday, reducing homes to rubble, leaving residents outside in...

High Sugar, Salt Content in Infant Foods Across Seven ASEAN Countries, UNICEF Report Reveals

Children across Southeast Asia are exposed to excessive amounts of sugar and salt contained in commercially produced food, a new study revealed. The research assessed...

Laos Grapples with Surge in Abandoned Infants Amid Economic Turmoil

Laos is grappling with a concerning rise in baby abandonment cases, with two incidents reported this month igniting public outrage and shedding light on...

New Protection Centers Opened in Laos for Survivors of Violence

New centers for survivors of violence opened in Bolikhamxay and Champasack provinces. These two new "Counseling and Protection Centers for Women and Children" are...