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,...

Myanmar Central Bank Bans Payments in Foreign Currency

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) on Wednesday banned foreign currency for local payments to stabilize the foreign exchange rate in the country. The bank...

Vietnam Calls for Asia to Create Peaceful, Sustainable Environment for World Prosperity

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh proposed that Asia strengthen its responsibility in keeping and creating a peaceful and sustainable environment for development...

Incoming Australian Government to Focus on Relationships with Southeast Asia

The incoming government of Australia, headed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the Labor party, intends to focus on relationships with Southeast Asia and...

US President Biden Forms Economic Bloc for Indo-Pacific

US President Joe Biden has formed an economic framework with 12 Indo-Pacific nations officially named the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Five years after his predecessor pulled...

Thailand Prepares Monkeypox Monitoring Center 

Thailand has established an emergency operation center to monitor the spread of the monkeypox virus.  Bangkok Post reports that Director-General of Thailand’s Disease Control Department,...

MRC Chief and Thai DPM Call for Earlier Warnings of Water Discharges in Mekong River

Thailand's high-level representative to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council urged China and other riverine governments to be more transparent regarding water release along...