Country
Laos
Lao Government Critic Shot Dead in ‘Brazen’ Attack, Rights Group Says
By Sebastian Strangio
Anousa “Jack” Luangsuphom was shot twice by an unidentified gunman in a Vientiane coffee shop on April 29.
Laos Is Not in a Chinese ‘Debt Trap’ – But It Is in Trouble
By Anjali Bhatt
Laos is disturbingly reliant on investment from China – and no one knows how much, and under what terms.
Time Is Running out for Indonesia to Turn the Tide on Myanmar
By David Hutt
If Indonesia ends up the steward of ASEAN’s failure over Myanmar, Laos – the next chair – will be the gravedigger.
Smoke and Heat: Breaking Records in Southeast Asia
By Luke Hunt
The long-range forecasts paint a bleak, hot outlook, with suffocating heat and smoky air across Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
Laos-China Railway Launches Crossborder Passenger Service
By Sebastian Strangio
The 1,000-kilometer line reflects the growing economic integration of southern China and mainland Southeast Asia.
Laos Takes Another Step Forward on Controversial Mekong Dam
By Sebastian Strangio
The China-backed Pak Lay hydropower project is just one of nine dams that the Lao government has planned for the Mekong River.
The Last Days of Beautiful Luang Prabang
By Tom Fawthrop
UNESCO experts insist that a huge dam would destroy the “authenticity and integrity” of the World Heritage Site in Laos.
Inflation Continues Its Steady Upward Rise in Laos
By Sebastian Strangio
Rising tourism arrivals could offer some economic relief, though the government faces a number of complex structural challenges.
Inflation in Laos Continues to Rise, Reaches 23-Year High
By Sebastian Strangio
While inflation is projected to fall in 2023, there is no quick fix to the country's economic troubles.
A Touch of Populism and Austerity from Laos’ New PM
By David Hutt
A month after his appointment, Sonexay Siphandone has given some indication of how he plans to tackle the country's severe economic challenges.
Is Laos’ Prime Minister On His Way Out?
By David Hutt
Phankham Viphavanh, who took office in early 2021, may be on the way out -- hounded by scandal and a bad year for Laos’ economy.
‘Where is Sombath?’: After 10 Years, the Question Remains Hanging
By Sebastian Strangio
Despite a decade of calls from U.N. officials and human rights groups, there is still no word as to the ultimate fate of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone.