Regional

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 has done before. The young player from Vientiane Chess Academy recently became the youngest Lao player to receive an official FIDE Rapid rating, a ranking based on performance in faster-paced chess games, scoring 1503 after a...

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...

Laos, Vietnam Set USD 4 Billion Trade Goal as Economic Ties Grow

Laos and Vietnam are pushing to take their economic partnership to the next level,...

Former MRC Chief Anoulak Kittikhoun Named First Lao Head of Mekong Institute

Former Mekong River Commission (MRC) Chief Executive Officer Anoulak Kittikhoun has been appointed Executive...

Lao Police Arrest Two Nationals in Cross-Border Heroin Investigation

Two Lao nationals have been arrested in Laos as part of a growing cross-border...

Thailand Looks to Indian Weddings for New Tourism Revenue

Thailand is looking to Indian weddings as a new source of tourism following the loss of Chinese visitors this year. Nikkei reports that officials believe...

Cambodia Bans Talc Powder Imports Over Asbestos

Cambodia has temporarily halted imports and distribution of talcum powder products after asbestos was discovered in several brands of baby powder. Khmer Times reports...

Former UK Ambassador Arrested in Myanmar

The UK's former ambassador to Burma/Myanmar, Vicky Bowman, has been arrested in Yangon, the nation's capital. BBC News reports that Ms. Bowman and her husband...

Global Coffee Prices to Rise Amid Drop in Vietnam Supply

Vietnam's large stockpile of coffee beans is diminishing, a development that is expected to push global coffee prices even higher. Traders surveyed by Bloomberg predict...

UN Regional Forum on Statistics Explores Data Governance Issues

Heads of national statistical offices, statisticians and other experts from across the region are meeting this week at the United Nations Economic and Social...

Thai Motorists Face Fines, Jail for Splashing Pedestrians

The Thai government warns motorists that splashing water from a puddle or pothole onto pedestrians while driving may result in jail time. The Thaiger reports...