ASEAN

Vietnam, Philippines Reach Upper-Middle-Income Status as Laos Eyes 2035 Target

Vietnam and the Philippines have been reclassified as upper-middle-income economies by the World Bank, leaving Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste as the only ASEAN members still in the lower-middle-income category. The annual income classifications, released on 1 July, place seven of ASEAN's 11 members in the upper-middle-income bracket or higher....

Lao Deputy PM Holds Talks in Myanmar to Deepen Bilateral Ties

Laos and Myanmar are moving to expand bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors following an...

At Least 19 Dead After 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines...

Lao Buddhist Organization Tightens Social Media Guidelines

The Lao Buddhist Fellowship Organization has issued new nationwide guidelines governing how monks use...

Thailand, Vietnam Target USD 25 Billion Trade Goal as Ties Enter ‘New Phase’

Thailand and Vietnam pledged deeper economic and security cooperation on 28 May as the...

Lao PM Heads to ASEAN Summit as Timor-Leste Joins, Thailand-Cambodia Peace Talks Advance

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone will travel to Kuala Lumpur from 26-28 October to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings under Malaysia’s 2025...

Tropical Storm Kills Family of Five as Hits Philippines

AFP - Tropical Storm Fengshen killed a family of five Sunday as it ploughed across the Philippines' main island Luzon, police and disaster officials...

Thailand, Laos Set USD 11 Billion Trade Target by 2027, Eye New Infrastructure to Boost Border Economy

In his first official visit abroad as Thailand’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul pledged to deepen economic ties with neighboring Laos by setting an ambitious...

Laos’ First Consultancy Leads ASEAN Diplomacy Program Engages 19 Nations

A youth-led Lao consultancy has made history as the first Lao team to lead a major regional diplomacy program.   The Element & Partners team guided...

Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia Strengthen Defense Ties Amid Trilateral Military Exercise

On 14 October, Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang, held high-level meetings in Laos with President Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Sonexay...

Thousands Stranded as Record Floods Submerge Vietnam Streets

By Tran Thi Minh Ha/AFP - Record floods submerged streets and inundated homes in Vietnam on 8 October, leaving tens of thousands of people...