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...

Myanmar Central Bank Bans Payments in Foreign Currency

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) on Wednesday banned foreign currency for local payments to stabilize the foreign exchange rate in the country. The bank...

Vietnam Calls for Asia to Create Peaceful, Sustainable Environment for World Prosperity

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh proposed that Asia strengthen its responsibility in keeping and creating a peaceful and sustainable environment for development...

Incoming Australian Government to Focus on Relationships with Southeast Asia

The incoming government of Australia, headed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the Labor party, intends to focus on relationships with Southeast Asia and...

US President Biden Forms Economic Bloc for Indo-Pacific

US President Joe Biden has formed an economic framework with 12 Indo-Pacific nations officially named the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Five years after his predecessor pulled...

Thailand Prepares Monkeypox Monitoring Center 

Thailand has established an emergency operation center to monitor the spread of the monkeypox virus.  Bangkok Post reports that Director-General of Thailand’s Disease Control Department,...

MRC Chief and Thai DPM Call for Earlier Warnings of Water Discharges in Mekong River

Thailand's high-level representative to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council urged China and other riverine governments to be more transparent regarding water release along...