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...

Laos-China Railway Marks Fourth Anniversary with Record Growth

The Laos-China Railway (LCR) marked four years of operation on 3 December, highlighting its transformative role in turning Laos from a “landlocked” nation into...

Lao Railways Launches First Cross-Border Freight Service Using Its Own Rolling Stock

On 2 December, Lao National Railways introduced a new freight operation linking Thanaleng Station in Vientiane with Nong Khai Station, Thailand, across the Mekong. The...

Malaysia Revives Search for MH370 in Bid for Answers

Malaysia will restart the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 later this month, nearly 11 years after the aircraft vanished, the country’s transport...

Thailand Seizes USD 300 Million in Assets Linked to Cyber-Scam Networks

AFP - Thailand has seized more than USD 300 million in assets tied to criminal networks running multibillion-dollar scam centers in Southeast Asia, Prime Minister...

Laos, Thailand Prepare for Launch of 5th Friendship Bridge in Late December

Laos and Thailand are gearing up for the official launch of the 5th Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge on 25 December, marking a new milestone in...

Thailand’s Afternoon Alcohol Sales Ban Lifted Ahead of New Year Celebrations

Laotian Times and AFP - Thailand has officially lifted its decades-old ban on alcohol sales between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, a move aimed...