Regional

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...

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...

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,...

ASEAN Bans Myanmar Military Leadership from Meetings for Inaction On Peace Plan

Myanmar’s junta Generals will be barred from ASEAN meetings until progress is made on the agreed-upon “Five-Point Consensus” for peace. Al Jazeera reports that the...

Russian Orthodox Church to be Opened in Yangon, Myanmar 

On Wednesday, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry announced plans to “create a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church of Exarchate of Southeast...

Fire Kills 13 at Satthahip Pub in Thailand

Thirteen lives were lost in the flames at a new pub early this morning in Chonburi Province, Thailand.  PhuketGo reports that the fire at Mountain Bar & Bristo...

Transboundary Cooperation Reignited to Counter Wildlife Trafficking

Almost 100 representatives from wildlife relevant enforcement agencies from Laos and Thailand met in Huay Xai, Bokeo Province on 3-5 August to rekindle cross...

Thai Medical Council Warns Sexual Contact With Foreigners Risky Amid Monkeypox Outbreak

A member of the Medical Council of Thailand has advised Thais to avoid having sexual contact with foreigners amid the outbreak of monkeypox virus in...

Lack of Birthplace Makes New Vietnamese Passport Ineligible for Visas in Germany, Spain

Vietnam’s new passports lack information regarding holders’ birthplaces, causing Germany and Spain to deny them visas, although embassies are working to find solutions to...