ASEAN

Miss Universe Dispute Leaves Six Southeast Asian Franchises in Limbo

The Miss Universe Organization is facing a major dispute just weeks before its 75th anniversary pageant, with contestants from six Southeast Asian countries caught in the middle. Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore could all be affected by a disagreement over who has the right to run their national...

Thailand Restores 30-Day Visa-Free Stay, Limits Visa-Free Land Entries to Twice a Year

Thailand has cut its visa-free tourist stay from 60 days back to 30 days,...

Laos Prepares For ASEAN Para Games With 12-Sport Bid

Laos is preparing to compete in 12 sports at the 14th ASEAN Para Games...

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...

Bangkok Bar Fire Kills 27, Leaves Dozens Critically Injured

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

Laos, Malaysia Sign Deal for Cross-border Railway Operations

Kuala Lumpur (The Star): Malaysia and Laos have marked an important milestone in cross-border railway movement with a memorandum of collaboration signed between their...

Laos Receives USD 426 Million from Lao Workers Abroad as Foreign Remittance

Lao workers who work abroad send an average of over USD 35.5 million per month back to Laos, or USD 426 million per year,...

United States and Norway Provide Over USD 20.8 Million to Increase UXO Clearance in Southern Laos

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Norway have continued their long-term commitments to supporting the unexploded ordnance (UXO)...

Laos Sees Slight Improvement in Global Ranking for Passports

The Lao passport currently stands in 87th position on a definitive list of the world’s most powerful passports, up slightly from last year’s ranking...

Thailand Includes Laos-China Railway in 2024 Strategic Direction, Boosting Tourism Connectivity

Thailand's Tourism Authority has incorporated the Laos-China Railway into its 2024 strategic direction, aiming to enhance tourism connectivity and attract quality visitors, marking a...

Russia Proposes Local Currency Initiative to Entice Trade with ASEAN Nations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed the use of local currencies while urging the revitalization of trade between Russia and Southeast Asian nations during...