ASEAN

Bear Paws, Pangolin Meat Seized in Vientiane Restaurant Raid Amid Laos’ Wider Crackdown

Lao authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal wildlife trade after raiding a Chinese-owned restaurant in central Vientiane, one of several wildlife enforcement operations carried out this year. On 18 May, officers from the Law Enforcement Network for Aquatic Animals, Wildlife and Forestry (LAO-WEN) inspected a restaurant in Chommany...

Bangkok Bar Fire Kills 27, Leaves Dozens Critically Injured

A fire late on Sunday night at a packed pub in Bangkok has killed...

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,...

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...

ASEAN Nears 35 Percent Renewable Energy Target

Solar and wind energy capacity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region witnessed a 20 percent increase in 2023, reaching a total...

Thailand Set to Recognize ‘Wai’ Greeting as Official National Symbol

Thailand is set to officially recognize the iconic "wai" gesture—"nop" in Lao—as a fundamental part of its national identity, the Thai National Identity Committee...

Laos to Balance Tourist Appeal, Hydropower Ambitions

Laos is at a crucial time in its economic development, navigating the balance between attracting visitors for Visit Laos Year 2024 and bolstering its...

Laos Appoints Alounkeo Kittikhoun as ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar

Alounkeo Kittikhoun, a former minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and a veteran Lao diplomat, has been appointed as the new Association of Southeast...

Cambodian Critic Charged With Defamation Over Comments on Facebook

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — An outspoken critic of Cambodia’s government who was badly hurt by assailants four months ago has been arrested on...

Myanmar to Join ASEAN Tourism Forum in Vientiane Amidst Ongoing Civil War

Amidst an ongoing civil war between the military government and its civil opposition, Myanmar is pushing ahead with efforts to revitalize its tourism sector...