PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia has welcomed the announcement that New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art will return more than a dozen pieces of ancient artwork to Cambodia and Thailand that were tied to an art dealer and collector accused of running a huge antiquities trafficking network out of Southeast Asia.
Cambodia Welcomes Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Plan to Return Looted Antiquities

Laos Grapples with Surge in Abandoned Infants Amid Economic Turmoil
Laos is grappling with a concerning rise in baby abandonment cases, with two incidents reported this month igniting public outrage and shedding light on the post-Covid challenges and the growing economic crisis.
High-Speed Rail Linking Nong Khai, Vientiane Expected to Complete in 2028

The Nong Khai-Vientiane stretch of the Thai-China high-speed rail (HSR) project is anticipated to conclude construction in 2028, revealed Thai Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote on 14 December.
Lao PM to Join ASEAN-Japan Summit, Focus on Regional Cooperation
Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is set to participate in the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation from 16-18 December in Tokyo, accepting an invitation from Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
Colombia Investigates the Killing of a Hmong American Comedian, Activist

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian authorities on Wednesday were investigating the alleged kidnapping and murder of a Hmong American comedian and activist who was found dead Monday in a wooded area of the northern city of Medellín.
New Protection Centers Opened in Laos for Survivors of Violence
New centers for survivors of violence opened in Bolikhamxay and Champasack provinces. These two new “Counseling and Protection Centers for Women and Children” are the country’s 5th and 6th protection hubs for survivors of violence to seek accommodation and shelter, counseling, psychosocial support, legal advice, and vocational training.
Newly Elected Thai Lawmaker Sentenced to 6 Years for Defaming Monarchy

BANGKOK (AP) — A court in Thailand convicted and sentenced a recently elected lawmaker Wednesday to six years in prison for defaming the monarchy under a controversial law that guards the royal institution.
Lao People’s Army Museum Unveils New Face After Renovation
The Lao People’s Army History Museum in Vientiane Capital reopened its doors to the public on 13 December after undergoing extensive renovations, marking a major transformation for the historical institution.