(LEAD) Laos' leader to visit N. Korea to mark key party anniv.: KCNA

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout; CHANGES photo) SEOUL, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- Laos' President Thongloun Sisoulith will visit North Korea to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the North's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, state media...

Chula ARi Pilots Model Community to Tackle the Looming Aging Boom 

Chula ARi, an integrated interdisciplinary project for an urban aging society, uses research to return data to communities and co-develop a comprehensive elderly care model covering economics, society, health, environment, and innovation. The...

Astronomical event calendar: Here’s what stargazers can expect through Oct. 13, 2025

The following events can be viewed using a small telescope: Draconid meteor shower set to light up the night sky on Oct. 8 Astronomy enthusiasts in Staten Island and the New York metropolitan area are in for a celestial treat on Oct. 8, 2025, as...

Laos Economy Inches Forward as Inflation Eases in September, Exports Keep Rolling

The cost of living in Laos is still rising, but not as fast as before. New data from the Lao Statistics Bureau shows that prices across the country grew by 4.5 percent in September compared to the same month last year. This is a small improvement...

Scrapping VAT may trigger crisis — analysts

By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter ECONOMISTS and tax experts warned that scrapping the value-added tax (VAT) may trigger a fiscal or even an economic crisis, as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) collected P487 billion in the first eight...

Say hello to UAE’s new T20 hope Laxman Sreekumar

DUBAI // The UAE were controversially eliminated from the Emirates Twenty20 in Dubai on Friday, when a dispute over the keeping of the score was resolved by them losing by one run against Lancashire. Mohammed Naveed had hit the last ball of the...

IAF Chief AP Singh says Operation Sindoor showcased teamwork and precision

Hindon, Oct 8: Indian Air Force Chief A.P. Singh on Wednesday said that Operation Sindoor stands as a moment of immense pride for the nation and exemplifies how victory is achieved through effective teamwork, synergy, and coordination among the...

From tulips to tofu: Lakeshore flavors find fusion

Nestled between sandy beaches and charming downtowns, Michigan’s Lakeshore communities—Holland, Muskegon, Grand Haven, and Saugatuck—have long celebrated Dutch heritage as their cultural hallmark. But beyond the tulips and windmills, a quieter...

asia Laos' president to visit North Korea for celebration of ruling party

SEOUL — Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith will visit North Korea at the invitation of leader Kim Jong-un for celebrations commemorating the country's ruling party on Oct 10, state news agency KCNA announced on Thursday (Oct 2). The visit would...

ADB revises Laos' growth down to 3.7 pct for 2025

VIENTIANE, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised Laos' economic growth forecast down to 3.7 percent for 2025 and 3.8 percent for 2026, citing concerns over debt vulnerabilities, weak demand, and tariffs. In its April 2025...

The traditional friendship between Laos and China is at its best in history

The opening session of our China Conference 2025, held in London on September 27, was addressed by senior diplomats from the embassies of the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Cuba, Russian Federation, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and...

Australian Business Champion Visits Laos to Boost Agriculture, Mining Cooperation

Australia’s Business Champion for Laos, Charles Olsson, is visiting Laos from 30 September to 3 October to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries, focusing on agriculture, mining, and sustainable development. The visit aligns...

Australia’s Business Champion Visits Laos to Boost Economic Cooperation

KPL Strengthening trade and investment ties between Australia and Laos is in sharp focus this week as Mr. Charles Olsson, Australia’s Business Champion for Laos, visits the country from30 September to 3 October 2025. His visit reflects Australia’s...

Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam: Oct 1, 2025

INDONESIA 1.FREEPORT AGREES ON 12 PCT DIVESTMENT DEAL AT NO COST: DANANTARA -- JAKARTA GLOBE US miner Freeport McMoran has agreed to divest 12 per cent of its stake in a local arm to Indonesia at no cost, according to the sovereign wealth fund...

AirAsia launches new Chiang Mai–Udon Thani route this December

AirAsia adds a new Chiang Mai–Udon Thani route from December 2025, enhancing regional connectivity and access to Vientiane, Laos. CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – AirAsia has announced the launch of a new domestic route connecting Chiang Mai and Udon Thani,...

Hanoi ready for first-ever Cultures of the World Festival

Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi is set to host the first Cultures of the World Festival from October 10 to 12 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, celebrating global cultural diversity and promoting people-to-people exchanges through art, fashion, film, and...

Vietnam’s overseas investment quadruples in nine months

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese investors poured a total of 846.8 million USD into overseas projects in the first nine months of 2025, a 4.5-fold surge from the same period last year, reported the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance....

China-aided vocational skills development center handed over to Laos

VIENTIANE, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The handover ceremony for the China-aided Oudomxay Vocational Skills Development Center was held in northern Laos' Oudomxay province, marking a significant symbol of the long-standing friendship and cooperation...

Laos: Implement UPR Recommendations, End Attacks on Critics

Human Rights Watch welcomes Laos’s support of 189 recommendations of the 257 received during its fourth UPR Cycle, including recommendations to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Laos...

Laos Targets Over 43 Million Tourists By 2030

Laos aims to attract more than 43 million tourists between 2026 and 2030, Minister of Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket announced at the Party Congress on 25 September. The target includes 21 million domestic and 22 million international...