Asia Laos Laos has been included in the list of countries facing full entry restrictions following new US travel ban; Washington cites security concerns, while critics argue the move is politically driven and risks harming diplomatic and economic ties
Asia Laos Planned its exit from Least Developed Country status, Laos set a timeline, starting work on a readiness assessment; The government aims to strengthen economic resilience and meet UN criteria, focusing on stability, human capital and sustainable growth
Asia Laos A major local government overhaul will create 640 new sub-districts; The reform aims to streamline governance, bring authorities closer to communities, and strengthen local development as part of a broader modernization push
Asia Laos Mineral sector has exceeded its five-year production and revenue targets; The government credits stricter oversight, improved licensing, and stronger environmental standards
Asia Laos K-Food Ingredient Trade Mission was held in Vientiane; organized by KOTRA, it promotes Korean food ingredients and linking Korean suppliers with Lao buyers through B2B meetings and a public K-Food festival, marking 30 years of Korea-Laos ties
Asia Laos Utility Électricité du Laos EDL-Nam Theun 2 signed a contract with Indonesia’s state-owned INK to enhance hydropower capacity; The deal targets modernization, increased generation, and better grid integration to support Laos’s energy export goals
Asia Laos Female civil servants are now eligible for maternity leave ranging from 4 up to 6,5 months for mothers expecting twins; miscarriages earn one month of leave, with medical extensions as needed
Asia Laos The government is enforcing stricter penalties on tobacco companies that fail to comply with new graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, aiming to curb smoking and protect public health
Asia Laos Mimee Phommaly, a 27-year-old woman with a degree in agriculture, is transforming in Luang Prabang farming: her Khamphet Farm cultivates over 25 types of fruit, actively challenging gender stereotypes in farming and empowering community by providing jobs
Asia Laos In the village of Ban Nam Deua, a Swiss-backed initiative is helping residents secure legal land rights; Through training, mapping and community engagement, the project empowers villagers to manage their land sustainably and avoid disputes or exploitation
Asia Laos A cooperation pact with Cambodia has been signed on 19 July to curb cross-border scams and drug trafficking, protect citizens and enhance regional security; since late June, Cambodia’s fight on scam networks led to 2.100 arrests and 2.300 deportations
Asia Laos 35.446 unexploded ordnance have been cleared in the first half of 2025 across 14 provinces in Laos, including bombs, landmines and cluster munitions; children remain most at risk, making up over 60% of victims as they unknowingly play with UXO
Asia Laos FAO and IUCN launched a $42 million GEF-funded initiative to protect primary forests in Southeast Asia and the Pacific; It supports Laos, PNG and Thailand, aims to manage 3,2M ha, restore 8,5k ha, cut 34M t CO₂, and benefit around 20.000 people