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 to Begin Construction of Border Fence with Cambodia

Thailand will begin construction of a border fence along its frontier with Cambodia in April, Thai military officials said. The project aims to stregthen...

Vietnam Warns of Possible Flight Cuts Amid Jet Fuel Shortage

Travellers flying to and from Vietnam could face disruptions as early as next month, after the country’s aviation authority warned that jet fuel supplies...

Lao Airlines Raises Flight Costs by Up to 125 Percent as Fuel Prices Soar

Lao Airlines, as Laos’ national carrier, announced an increase in its fuel surcharge (YQ) for both domestic and international flights, effective 11 March, as...

Vietnam Cuts Fuel Taxes to Zero, Urges Work From Home as Middle East Crisis Bites

Vietnam has slashed fuel import tariffs to zero and called on businesses to shift employees to remote work, as escalating conflict in the Middle...

Thailand Orders Suspension of Fuel Exports, Raising Risk of Shortages in Laos

Thailand has ordered the temporary suspension of fuel exports following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that poses a direct threat...

Thailand to Raise International Departure Tax by 53 Percent from 20 June

Thailand is set to increase the international departure Passenger Service Charge from 20 June.  The move will be implemented across six major airports, which include...