World

Japanese Arrivals to Laos Jump 36 Percent Amid Renewed Tokyo Tourism Push

Laos welcomed 23,133 Japanese tourists in the first six months of 2026, a 36 percent jump from the same period last year, as the country ramps up tourism promotion in Japan. The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism reported that Japanese arrivals have climbed steadily since 2022, rising from 6,848...

Prime Minister Calls for Tighter Oversight of Boten SEZ Amid Development Challenges

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has called for stronger management of the Boten Special Economic...

Laos-China Railway Trade Surges as Cross-Border Freight Hits New Highs

Trade along the Laos-China Railway continued to grow sharply in the first half of...

Van Crash in Thailand Kills Two Lao Nationals, Injuries 12

A passenger van carrying 14 Lao nationals crashed and caught fire in Thailand's Roi...

Laos Border Checkpoints Report Strong Revenue Growth in First Half of 2026, Exceed Targets

Laos’ international border checkpoints collected strong state budget revenue in the first half of...

Lack of Birthplace Makes New Vietnamese Passport Ineligible for Visas in Germany, Spain

Vietnam’s new passports lack information regarding holders’ birthplaces, causing Germany and Spain to deny them visas, although embassies are working to find solutions to...

Myanmar Military Regime Extends State of Emergency

Myanmar's military junta has extended its state of emergency by six months, saying elections could only be held after the country has achieved stability. The...

Japanese Documentarian Detained in Myanmar

A Japanese video journalist was detained on Saturday by Myanmar’s security forces during a flash protest in Yangon. The Associated Press reports that Japanese documentarian...

More Wild Tigers Alive Globally Than Previously Thought

A new assessment reveals that the number of tigers living in the wild has increased by about 40% since the last assessment in 2015. The...

Chinese Call Center Trafficker Arrested in Thailand

A Chinese national wanted for smuggling people across borders to work at scam call centers in Laos and Cambodia was apprehended on Saturday at...

Laos-China Railway Proposes Standing Tickets

The Laos-China Railway has proposed standing tickets as a way to accommodate large volumes of passengers following the reopening of the country to tourism. The...