Regional

More Lao Citizens Live Abroad as Foreign Population Nearly Doubles

The number of foreign nationals living in Laos has nearly doubled over the past decade, led by a sharp increase in Chinese residents, even as hundreds of thousands of Lao citizens live abroad. Laos recorded 79,827 foreign residents in its 2025 census, up from 45,538 in 2015. The census also...

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...

Timor-Leste Moves to Join Cluster Munition Ban at Vientiane Conference

Timor-Leste has taken a formal step toward joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions, signing...

Seven-Year-Old Becomes Laos’ Youngest Internationally Rated Chess Player

Seven-year-old Bounthiengtham “Jayson” Sengphachan has already done something no Lao chess player his age...

Thailand’s HIV Cases Pass 550,000, Laos Reports Rising Infections Among Young People

Thailand has recorded 557,993 cumulative HIV cases, health authorities say, even as new infections...

Chinese Institute in Laos Sees Increase in Applications Despite Overall Low University Enrollment

The number of candidates applying for the Bachelor's program in Chinese Language Teaching at the Confucius Institute has nearly tripled in the past two...

Laos Records Decline in University Enrollment Across the Country

The National University of Laos (NUOL) is widely preferred by students seeking higher education across the country, but this year the enrollment number has...

Thousands of Pieces of Unexploded Ordnance Found Buried in Ground at Cambodian School

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian authorities have temporarily closed a high school where thousands of pieces of unexploded ordnance from the country’s nearly...

Vietnamese Driver Stuck in Landslide Last Week Found Dead

After an extensive search operation by provincial authorities and the military, the deceased body of a missing Vietnamese citizen was found buried under a...

Laos, Philippines Discuss Direct Flights to Boost Trade, Investment, Tourism

Foreign Ministers of Laos and the Philippines discussed the possibility of starting direct flights between the two countries to boost trade, investment, and tourism...

Malaysia Makes Owning LGBTQ+ Swatch Punishable by up to 3 Years in Jail

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s government said Thursday that all Swatch products that contain lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer elements — including...