Laos-ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)   Lao Ministry of Industrial and Commerce officials are developing a strategic plan on export promotions, aimed at mitigating the impacts of implementing the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement or AFTA.  (English and Lao descriptions)

Thailand: Impossible to Repatriate All Huay Namkhao Hmongs by Year's End   Thai military authorities admit that they would not be able to send all Hmongs at Huay Namkhao camp back to Laos by the end of this year, as the majority of them refuse to volunteer to go back. (English and Lao descriptions)

Laos: 26% of Its People Still Live In Severe Poverty   Laos admits that 26% of its population still live in the poorest conditions due to the ineffective implementation of various development projects aimed at eradicating poverty in the country. (English and Lao descriptions)

Vientiane Officials Concerned About Trash Disposal Problem During SEA Games   Lao authorities admit concerns about trash disposal during the 25th SEAGAMES which Laos will host in Vientiane from December 09 to 18, as the city is currently able to dispose of only 60% of its total daily trash.

Laos Among Five ASEAN Nations Criticized Over Human Rights   Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Philippines and Singapore were criticized for failure to truly promote and protect human rights, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Hua Hin, Thailand, which was closed on October 25.

Vientiane Has the Most Land Conflict Cases in Laos   Vientiane has the most land conflict cases due to lacking of thorough land surveys and feasibility studies prior to granting rights for land concessions. (English and Lao descriptions)

Huay Namkhao Hmongs: No Return To Laos Without UN Involvement   A key leader of Hmongs at Huay Namkhao insists that his people will not voluntarily return to Laos until there is either an involvement of the United Nation or the other international agencies in their repatriation process. (English and Lao descriptions)

Laos: Human Trafficking on the Rise   Laos is a facing the most serious human trafficking problem among countries of Greater Mekong sub-region, and Thailand accounts for about 90% of the human trafficking from this country. (English and Lao descriptions)

Typhoon Ketsana Victims in Attapeu Need Most Help   Attapeu  province’s governor stressed that unless more assistant received, Lao people who are victims of Typhoon Ketsana in his province, will not be able to survive. (English and Lao descriptions)

Laos-China’s Cooperation in Media Development   Laos and China reaffirm that they will continue to closely cooperate in mass media development as China hands over a new television, built with its assistance, to Lao authorities. (English and Lao descriptions)

Laos: Typhoon Ketsana Claimed 14 Deaths in Southern Provinces   Lao authorities reported that Typhoon  Ketsana, which hit southern Laos last week, claimed 14 deaths and caused over 150 people missing.

Laos' Exact Forest Density Is Unknown   A Lao Minister admitted that currently Lao authorities still do not know the real extent of the forest density. Thus, Laos plans to conduct a new forestry survey in 2011, while the illegal logging is on the rise. (English and Lao descriptions)

Thailand: All Hmong Refugees Will Be Sent Back by End Of November.   Thai authorities say they will apply immigration laws on the Hmong refugees at Huay Namkhao Camp in order to repatriate all of them within the next two months.

Effects of Don Sahong Dam on Mekong River   A study reported last month revealed that the proposed Don Sahong Dam in Champasack Province, Laos, could have a negative impact on millions of people in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, as it will threaten a large fish spawning area in Laos.

China Surpasses Thailand As Top Investor in Laos   Lao authorities confirmed that China has surpassed Thailand to become the top foreign investor in Laos, and that their country's total trade values with China have also increased

Thailand Confims Repatriation of All Hmongs and Camp Closure by Year's End   Thai authorities say that they will employ all possible measures to repatriate all Hmong refugees from Huay Namkhao detention camp to Laos and close the camp by the end of the year.   (link to Lao version)

NT2 Dam to Send Power to Thailand by Year's End as Planned   NT2 developers have successfully tested the performance of the electricity generator and managed to link its power transmission line to that of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) between late June and early July.

Laos to Plant Rubber Trees on 300 Thousand Hectares in Nine Provinces   The Lao government has approved a Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry plan to plant rubber trees on 300 thousand-hectares of land in nine provinces including Bokeo, Luangnamtha, Oudomsay, Bolikhamsay, Khammouane.

U.S. Senator Jim Webb Visits Laos   U.S. Senator Jim Webb of Virginia visited Vientiane last week and met with government officials and business leaders to advance U.S. interests in the region. (Link to Lao description)