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 Government Enters Shutdown as Congress Fails to Reach Funding Deal

By Frankie TAGGART/AFP - The US government began shutting down after midnight Wednesday as lawmakers and President Donald Trump failed to break a budget...

Philippines Quake Toll Rises to 69 as Injured Overwhelm Hospitals

UPDATED on 1 October, 2025 at 2:56 PM By Pam CASTRO/AFP – The death toll from a powerful earthquake in the central Philippines rose to...

Indonesia to Launch Digital Immigration System on 1 October

Indonesia will launch a new official digital immigration platform, “All Indonesia”, on 1 October, aiming to streamline international arrival procedures for travelers. The All Indonesia...

Major Infrastructure Push Targets Road, Rail, and Waterway Upgrades in Laos

Laos has launched a five-year strategic roadmap to modernize its national transport system, with a focus on upgrading roads, bridges, railways, and waterways.  Key projects...

Typhoon Bualoi Kills Dozens in Vietnam, Philippines

AFP - A typhoon that ripped roofs off homes has killed dozens of people across Vietnam and the Philippines, officials from both countries said...

Vietnam to Evacuate 250,000 from Coast Ahead of Typhoon Bualoi

AFP - Vietnam plans to evacuate more than 250,000 residents from coastal areas on Sunday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Bualoi, which is...