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...

World AIDS Day: Amplifying Community-Led HIV Response

Op-Ed by Patricia Ongpin, UNAIDS Country Director for Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Malaysia, Dr Panina Phoumsavanh, Director of Center for HIV, AIDS and STI...

Laos to Ban E-Cigarettes Amid Growing Concerns

The Lao government is set to amend its legislation on drug prevention and control to incorporate electronic cigarettes into the list of prohibited substances....

China’s ‘Love Heart Journey’ Offers Lifeline to Lao Children Battling Heart Disease

A group of five children, ranging from eight months to 12 years old, along with their parents, embarked on a journey from Laos to...

Sumatran Rhino Calf Born in Indonesia Adds to Endangered Species of Fewer Than 50 Animals

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A critically endangered Sumatran rhino was born on Indonesia’s western island of Sumatra on Saturday, the second Sumatran rhino born...

WHO Asks China for More Information About Rise in Illnesses and Pneumonia Clusters

GENEVA (AP) — Chinese officials say they did not detect any “unusual or novel diseases” in the country, the World Health Organization said Thursday,...

Laos to Hold Second Human Capital Summit to Tackle Nutrition

Human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health needed for boosting productivity—is the most important form of capital for the growth of society, and Laos is...