World

US Court Strikes Down 75-Country Visa Pause, but Ruling Does Not Lift Laos Travel Ban

A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that paused immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Laos. The ruling, issued on 21 August by US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan, found that the State Department had exceeded its legal authority by stopping consular...

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...

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...

Trump Slaps New Travel Ban on 12 Countries; Partial Restriction on Laos

By Danny KEMP/AFP - On 4 June, US President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban targeting 12 countries including Afghanistan, Iran, and Yemen,...

Thailand Rejects ICJ Route, Urges Peaceful Talks with Cambodia Over Border Dispute

The Thai government has announced it will not refer the recent border clash with Cambodia to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), emphasizing a...

Vietnam Abolishes Two-Child Policy Amid Declining Birth Rate

Vietnam has officially ended its long-standing two-child policy as the country grapples with a falling birth rate and a rapidly ageing population. On 3 June,...

South Korea’s President Lee Takes Power After Sweeping Election Win

By Hieun SHIN/AFP - South Korea's centre-left Lee Jae-myung was declared president Wednesday after winning a snap election, taking the helm of a nation...

Vietnam to Introduce Lao Language in General Education Near Border Areas

Vietnam will begin offering Lao as one of eight foreign languages in its general education curriculum, starting with a pilot program in schools located...

Anthrax: Laos Partially Lifts Livestock Import Ban from Thailand, Mukdahan Still Restricted

Laos has eased its ban on importing livestock and meat products from Thailand, imposed earlier this month following a fatal anthrax case in Mukdahan...