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...

US Strikes Reported in Venezuela as Caracas Declares National Emergency

UPDATED on 3 January at 4:43 PM United States President Donald Trump claimed on 3 January that American forces had “captured” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro...

Laos Prepares for February Vote Amid Regional Election Year

Laos will hold nationwide elections on 22 February to elect members of the National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils. The election will be overseen by...

Thailand Releases 18 Cambodian Soldiers Held Since July: Govts

AFP - Thailand on Wednesday, 31 December, released 18 Cambodian soldiers captured in July, both governments said, after a fresh ceasefire between the neighbors...

Beijing Backs Ceasefire, Aid Efforts in Cambodia–Thailand Border Tensions

China hosted a trilateral meeting with Cambodia and Thailand in Yuxi City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, as the two Southeast Asian neighbours took further...

Laos, Vietnam Set 2026 Agenda for Border Protection, Trade

Laos and Vietnam have set key areas of cooperation for 2026 in border management and cross-border activities, following the 34th annual meeting between the...

Thais, Cambodians Fear Returning Home Despite Border Truce

By Thanaporn Promyamyai with Suy Se in Phnom Penh/AFP - At a Thai university-turned-shelter for displaced people, Kanlaya Somjettana is reluctant to go home...