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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...

Lao Official Apologizes After Remarks on Thai Rescue Team Spark Backlash

A deputy village chief in Xaysomboun, Somchay Vilayvong, has issued a public apology after making remarks perceived as insulting toward a Thai rescue team...

Three Lao Nationals Among Four Arrested at Nong Khai Agarwood Site

On 20 May, Thai authorities arrested three Lao nationals and one Vietnamese national for working without valid permits at an agarwood processing site in...

China to Tighten Control Over Micro-Drama Content

China is stepping up regulation of micro-dramas, with new measures introduced on 2 May targeting content that often features rich–poor romance storylines and dramatic...

Dead Fish in Xe Don River Spark Questions Over Official Investigation

Authorities in Salavanh province have attributed the mass death of fish along the Xe Don River to extreme heat, but the explanation has drawn...

Laos Draws 1.36 Million Tourists in First Three Months of 2026, Up 8 Percent

Laos welcomed 1.36 million tourists in the first three months of the year, marking an eight percent increase compared to the same period last...

Power Outages Hit Vientiane Over Three Days for EDL Infrastructure Works

The Electricité du Laos (EDL) has begun a three-day schedule of daytime power interruptions affecting multiple villages and public facilities in Vientiane Capital, running...