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Rare Earth Ponds Burst in Houaphanh, Villages Halt River Use Pending Inspections

Village authorities along the Nam Vaen and Nam Xam rivers have told residents to stop using river water after two rare earth mining ponds in Houaphanh burst on 1 November and released chemical wastewater into the Nam Vaen River. According to the 3-November notice, residents of Meuangvaen, Nakao, and Nakhoun...

Muddy Nam Song River Raises Public Doubts Over Official Explanation

Vang Vieng’s Nam Song River has been muddy for weeks, but many residents are...

Laos Revokes Import Licences of Six Vehicle Companies

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has revoked the import licences of six vehicle-importing...

Laos Inflation Eases to 7.7 Percent as Electricity Costs Remain High

Laos’ inflation edged down to 7.7 percent in October from 7.8 percent in September,...

Laos to Raise Private Sector Minimum Wage to LAK 3.4 Million from January 2027

Laos will raise the minimum monthly pay for private sector workers to LAK 3.4...

Laos Rolls Out Nationwide Digital Identity App, Phases Out Paper Documents

Laos has launched its LAeID digital identity application nationwide, giving citizens electronic access to their identity documents and gradually replacing paper household registration books...

Laos Suspends Vientiane Private Hospital Suspected of Organ Trafficking

The Ministry of Health announced the immediate closure of BLL Hospital after a Taiwanese media investigation published allegations of organ trafficking at the facility. Despite...

Power Outages to Hit Four Vientiane Districts in Early July

Electricite du Laos (EDL), a state-owned national electricity utility, will cut power across four Vientiane districts from 1 to 5 July to carry out...

EDL to Cut Power Across Six Vientiane Districts Through End of June

Electricité du Laos (EDL) will cut power across six Vientiane districts from 26 to 30 June for maintenance and infrastructure upgrades. According to the notice...

Laos Intensifies Scam Crackdown, Nearly 900 Arrested Since Early June

Laos has arrested nearly 900 people linked to scam centers since 1 June, according to public data.  The latest crackdown saw 170 Chinese nationals handed...

Bolikhamxay Official Denies Illegal Gold Mining Allegations at Lak 20

Bolikhamxay provincial authorities have denied social media reports of placer gold mining, saying the claims are inaccurate and based on misleading information. On 23 June,...