World

Lao Migrant Workers Send Home USD 500 Million in First Seven Months of 2026

Lao migrant workers sent an estimated USD 500.7 million back to Laos during the first seven months of 2026, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.  The ministry shared the figures during a labor migration meeting in Vientiane on 22 September. Employment Department Director General Anousone Khamsingsavath said...

Vietnam Emerges as Laos’ Second-Largest Foreign Investor with USD 8 Billion in Projects

Vietnam has become Laos's second-largest foreign investor, with more than 400 projects worth a...

Laos, China Launch Digital Payment Link For Cross-Border Transactions

Laos and China have launched a new digital payment link that allows Chinese visitors...

Miss Universe Dispute Leaves Six Southeast Asian Franchises in Limbo

The Miss Universe Organization is facing a major dispute just weeks before its 75th...

Laos, Thailand Move Forward With Plans for New Friendship Bridge Linking Vientiane, Loei

Laos and Thailand are studying a possible new Friendship Bridge linking Vientiane Province with...

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...