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...

Maldives Begins ‘Generational Ban’ on Smoking

AFP - The Maldives began implementing a smoking ban Saturday on anyone born after January 2007, becoming the only nation with a generational prohibition...

Thailand Cancels November Full Moon Party Amid National Mourning

Thailand’s famed Full Moon Party, held annually on Haad Rin Beach in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani Province, will not take place this November.  The event,...

Vietnam Flood Death Toll Rises to 35: Disaster Agency

AFP - Record heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam last week killed 35 people, disaster management officials said on 2 November, with five...

Thai Ex-Pm Thaksin’s Party Elects New Leader After Daughter’s Exit

One of Thailand's largest political parties, founded by ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, elected a new leader on Friday, the party said, following the resignation of...

In the Black: The Business of Mourning Thailand’s Queen Mother

AFP - In a bustling Bangkok market, hundreds of wholesale vendors have been selling black clothing since dawn -- several with hefty discounts --...

Laos, Republic of Korea Celebrate 30 Years of Diplomatic Relations with Launch of Lao Digital Park

Laos and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations by launching the Lao Digital Park Project, a landmark initiative...