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US, China Reach ‘Framework’ Deal on TikTok Ownership

By Meissa Gueye and Daniel Silva/AFP - The United States and China announced a "framework" deal on September to resolve their dispute over TikTok that calls for the Chinese-owned app to pass to US-controlled ownership. In a social media post, US President Donald Trump said, without directly naming the social media giant, that a deal was reached with a "certain company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save. They will be very happy!" Trump added on his Truth Social network that he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, 19 September. A senior Chinese official said the two sides "reached a basic framework consensus on resolving...

Economy

Asian Development Bank Funds USD 41M for Primary Healthcare in Laos

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 41 million financing package to strengthen primary health care in Laos. According to ADB, the Green Primary Care Project will improve...

Laos Calls for Increased ASEAN Investment in Nature-Based Solutions

Laos is urging ASEAN member states to ramp up investment in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), calling them powerful tools for protecting forests, strengthening communities, and tackling...

New Incentives for Nature-Based Tourism Investment in Lao Forests

World Bank Laos - A decision announced today by the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will promote nature-based tourism in forested areas of Laos. The regulation provides incentives for...

Laos Signs Agreement to Develop Pumped-Storage Hydropower Project in Sekong

On 1 September, Électricité du Laos Generation Public Company (EDL-Gen) signed an agreement with private firms from Singapore to develop the pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) project. According to EDL-Gen, the partnership...

Laos Fuel Price Fluctuations Hit Commuters, Families, Delivery Workers

Fuel prices in Laos have shifted modestly compared to the same period last year, according to the Lao State Fuel Company (LSFC). While the changes may appear minimal on...

One in Three Girls in Laos Married Before 18, UNICEF Reports

One in three girls in Laos is married before 18, making it one of the highest child marriage rates in the region, UNICEF reports. Despite laws prohibiting marriage below 18,...

Travel

Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Ban Use of Power Banks In-Flight Due to Safety Risks

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have jointly announced a ban on the use of power banks during flights, citing growing safety concerns over lithium battery-related incidents in aviation. Under the new policy, passengers are no longer permitted to use portable chargers to power or recharge their devices while onboard. Passengers are now required to remove power banks from their carry-on luggage prior to boarding and keep them in a visible location throughout the flight. While these devices may still be brought onboard in limited quantities, their use during the flight, including charging them via the aircraft’s USB ports. is strictly prohibited. The move follows increasing global scrutiny of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer...

ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor Takes Center Stage at Mekong Tourism Forum 2025

Laos hosted the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 in Luang Prabang from 24 to 27 June, spotlighting the proposed ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor (ARTC) as a key initiative to boost regional travel and connectivity. Held...

Vientiane Launches Sustainable Tourism Initiative with Innovative Technology for Growth

The Lao government has announced plans to boost tourism in Vientiane Capital with the theme "Vientiane's Sustainable Tourism," The initiative aims to incorporate innovative technologies into tourism management and create new attractions for...

Health & Environment

Lao Civil Servants Eligible for Up to 6.5 Months of Maternity Leave

Female civil servants in Laos are entitled to maternity leave ranging from four to six and a half months, depending on circumstances, under the newly amended Civil Servants Law. Standard maternity leave lasts four months and can be taken before or after childbirth. For cesarean deliveries, leave is four and a half months, while mothers expecting twins receive an additional two months, totaling six and a half months.  In the event of a miscarriage, one month of leave is granted, with...

Sport

Laos Announces 33 Sports for 12th National Games

The Ministry of Education and Sports has confirmed that 33 sports will be contested at the 12th National Games, set to take place in Vientiane Capital from 15 to 25 November. Minister of Education...

Thailand Requests Cambodia to Reduce Athlete Delegation for 33rd SEA Games Amid Safety Concerns

Thailand, host of the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, requested Cambodia to limit its athlete delegation to no more than 200 due to safety concerns. On 21 August, during the Chefs de Mission Seminar...

Politics

Laos Reaffirms Interest in Joining BRICS, Deepens Ties with Russia

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphadone has reaffirmed Laos’ interest in joining BRICS, a key alliance of emerging economies, stating...

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Concludes State Visit to Laos

Cuban President and First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, concluded...

Lao President Thongloun Wraps Up China Visit with Focus on Friendship, Future Cooperation

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith concluded a four-day visit to China from  3 to 6 September, during which he attended...

Türkiye Rolls Out Cold Storage, Vocational Training Initiatives in Laos

On 27–28 August, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) launched two key initiatives in Vientiane Capital, including two...

Feature

Back in Business: How Tourists Are Reviving Laos’ Hotels, Restaurants, Communities

After years of pandemic-induced quiet, Laos is seeing its hotels fill up, restaurants reopen, and communities come back to life, thanks to a new wave of returning international tourists. According to official data, Laos welcomed more than 2.3 million tourists in the first half of the year of 2025. The surge in visitors is giving a much-needed boost to the country’s hospitality sector, which struggled during and for years after the COVID-19 pandemic.  From boutique hotels in Luang Prabang to riverside restaurants in Vientiane, businesses are reopening, restaffing, and reimagining the experience for today’s traveler. Laos is also gaining international attention. In its annual ranking, Lonely Planet placed the country fourth on its list of the Top 30 Best Places to Visit in 2025.  The guide highlights the country’s affordability and accessibility, particularly with the introduction of a sustainable high-speed rail, as well as must-see destinations such as VangVieng, Vientiane’s Pha That Luang, and the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. But beyond easier access and affordability, visitors say what keeps them coming back is something more personal: the peaceful vibe, warm hospitality, and authentic cultural experiences. Local Businesses Stepping Up Hotels and restaurants are...

Laos Reaffirms Interest in Joining BRICS, Deepens Ties with Russia

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphadone has reaffirmed Laos’ interest...

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Concludes State Visit to Laos

Cuban President and First Secretary of the Central Committee...

Lao President Thongloun Wraps Up China Visit with Focus on Friendship, Future Cooperation

Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith concluded a four-day visit to...

Türkiye Rolls Out Cold Storage, Vocational Training Initiatives in Laos

On 27–28 August, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency...

Acting Thai Government Moves to Dissolve Parliament

By Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI/AFP - Thailand’s acting prime minister has...