Laos News News Laos » Social: Laos social media task force: Will it target ‘fake news’ or censor online criticism?
Civil society groups in Southeast Asia are pushing back against the Laos government’s recent directives to monitor social media platforms and enforce internet registration. On May 20, the Ministry of ...
News Laos » Social: Prominent social activist “disappears” in Laos
Circumstances surrounding the disappearance of activist Sombath Somphone indicate that Lao authorities took him into custody, raising concerns for his safety. UPDATE: Laos urged to end silence on ...
News Laos » Social: Documentary on China-Laos friendship screened in Laos
VIENTIANE, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A screening of the documentary "Hands of Hope," a film highlighting the friendship between China and Laos, was held on Thursday in Lao capital Vientiane, attended by ...
News Laos » Social: Laos: Anniversary of ‘disappearance’ of social activist demands action
The fate of prominent social activist Sombath Somphone, who was apprehended at a police checkpoint in Vientiane one year ago, is yet to be disclosed by members of the government of Laos, whose ...
News Laos » Social: Can all of Laos rise from poverty like its Prabang City?
Luang Prabang, in the north of Laos, is experiencing something of an economic boom. When the author of this article last visited in 2012, the city's central street and roadway, Sisavangvong Road, did ...
News Laos » Social: Laos in limbo heading into 2023
Laos experienced compounding social and economic pressures in 2022. The headline news story of the year was the country’s dire external debt. 2022 was also significant as it marked the 10th ...
News Laos » Social: Thai Protests Inspire Online Calls for Change Next Door in Laos
Houayheuang “Muay” Xayabouly, a Lao social media influencer who was arrested in September 2019 after criticizing Laos’s response to floods. Credit: Facebook/Houayheuang Xayabouly As anti-government ...
News Laos » Social: Unprecedented Protests Are Putting Laos in Uncharted Waters
Current political and economic issues succinctly explained. In the past year, Laos has witnessed more popular unrest than at any time in decades, as well as what might have been an unprecedented ...
News Laos » Social: Rare earth mining expands into Laos, threatening entire Mekong River
New data show a recent proliferation of rare earth mines across river basins in Laos, potentially posing a transboundary water pollution threat to Vietnam and the entire Mekong River system. The new ...
News Laos » Social: Japan pledges US$4.3 million to modernise Laos’ geospatial infrastructure
The government of Japan has granted approximately 649 million yen (US$4.3 million) to Laos to upgrade outdated topographic maps and establish an online geospatial data system.