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Laos

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Laos. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Vientiane

Head of State

President Thongloun Sisoulith

Head of Government

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone

Dignitaries, including city leader John Lee (front centre), gather for a group photo at the launch of the new chamber. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong economy

New Asean Chamber of Commerce launched in Hong Kong will ‘fulfil long-felt need’

New business group launched at the South China Morning Post’s GBA-Asean Summit 2026.

4 hours ago

Asean

Asian Angle | Asean’s side deals in Myanmar risk missing where the power truly lies

27 Jun 2026 - 11:00AM

Singapore

Why Wong-Putin meeting doesn’t mean Singapore’s going soft on Russia

22 Jun 2026 - 6:58PMvideocam

Asean

Can Russia secure ‘third power’ status in Southeast Asia with energy push?

While energy may be ‘a good opening’ for Russia to boost Asean ties, analysts say its relevance in the region is unlikely to grow.

20 Jun 2026 - 3:24PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) with Southeast Asian leaders at the Russia-Asean Summit in Kazan on Thursday. Photo: EPA

Extreme weather

Asia’s shaky food supply shudders as ‘super’ El Nino arrives

Every few years, the Pacific runs a fever. This year, it could be worse than anything seen for decades, scientists warn.

20 Jun 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

Africa

Vietnamese deported to South Sudan under Trump’s controversial scheme goes home

At least seven African nations have agreed to accept deportees who are not their own citizens as part of arrangements with the US.

19 Jun 2026 - 7:13PM

Malaysia

Malaysia and Asean tap Russia for energy security, defying Western ‘prejudices’

At the Asean-Russia summit in Kazan, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim signalled the bloc’s willingness to engage with Moscow on trade.

18 Jun 2026 - 6:29PM

Asean

Iran war ‘stark wake-up call’ for fossil fuel-dependent Southeast Asia: IEA

The agency warns that the region’s energy import bill could triple to US$245 billion by 2035 if it does not quickly look for alternatives.

16 Jun 2026 - 11:02PM

China travel

Panda and pet services: China plans over 160 tourist trains to boost consumption

Beijing eyes themed journeys and new on-board services as part of broader efforts to rebalance the economy.

11 Jun 2026 - 6:36PM

Ebola virus

Asia on Ebola alert: could the virus slip through regional defences?

While the risk of Ebola reaching Asia is low, experts urge governments to prioritise early detection over border controls.

10 Jun 2026 - 11:30AM

A health worker dries gumboots and gloves under the sun at the Mulago National Referral Hospital isolation unit in Kampala, Uganda, on Monday, amid the Ebola outbreak. Photo: AFP

Myanmar

Deformed fish in river, pollution from rare earth mines in Myanmar fuel fears

Russian and Chinese firms are also competing to be the first to reach a tungsten mine in a conflict zone, sparking concerns of NGOs.

5 Jun 2026 - 4:07PM

A drone view shows a gold mine in Shan State, Myanmar, as seen from Chiang Rai province, Thailand, last year amid increased rare earth and gold mining at the Kok River’s source in Myanmar. Photo: Reuters

Singapore

Suspected Filipino scammer reveals how Cambodian ring conned Singaporeans

De Villar Rizalyn Panganiban, accused of taking part in a three-level impersonation scam, gives insights into the gang’s fraud tactics.

4 Jun 2026 - 10:00AMvideocam

China airliners

Why China’s C909 jet is rapidly being deployed in Xinjiang

The Chinese-made jet debuted in Xinjiang as recently as 2023, but is now being used on more than 120 routes in the region.

3 Jun 2026 - 7:00AMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

Japan’s Russia concern, firms pick Malaysia over Singapore: 7 Asia highlights

From Japan’s concerns about Russian military activity to moon bears freed in Laos, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

2 Jun 2026 - 1:08PM

F-15J Eagle fighter aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force prepare for take-off at Chitose Air Base, Hokkaido prefecture, in 2017. Photo: AFP

Video | New flooding in Laos cave threatens rescue of remaining villagers

Rescuers say the conditions will complicate the mission to save two remaining villagers after they successfully freed five men trapped in the cave system.

2 Jun 2026 - 11:42AM

03:04

Video | Villagers rescued from flooded Laos cave

The men emerged weak and dazed to an outpouring of emotion from rescuers and relatives.

31 May 2026 - 12:20PM

Asean

Asian Angle | Where Southeast Asians really want to live, work and travel

While Thailand leads for tourism, Singapore and Japan are the top draws for work, revealing uneven regional soft power dynamics.

31 May 2026 - 10:00AM

Thailand

5 villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave freed after 10-day ordeal

The men emerged weak and dazed to an outpouring of emotion from rescuers and relatives on the muddy topside. Two others remain missing.

31 May 2026 - 11:52AMvideocam

Finnish cave diver Mikko Paasi with the first survivor rescued from a flooded cave network in Xaysomboun province, central Laos, on Saturday. Photo: Josh Richards/dpa

Asean

Opinion | Why the Philippines walks a delicate balance as Asean chair

Manila’s success at the helm will depend on its ability to make the Association of Southeast Asian Nations more operational than before.

30 May 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

Video | Five of 7 villagers trapped in Laos cave found alive

A Thai-led rescue team broke through to an area where they found the 5 villagers on a muddy ledge, but two others from the group remain missing.

28 May 2026 - 11:36AM

Thailand

5 of 7 villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave found alive

A Thai-led rescue team broke through to an area where they found the five villagers on a muddy ledge, but two others remain missing.

28 May 2026 - 9:10AMvideocam

A Thai-led rescue team broke through to an area in a flooded Laos cave where they found five of the seven missing villagers perched on a muddy ledge on Wednesday. Photo: Facebook / Thailand Rescue Diver

Extreme weather

Video | Rescuers race to save miners in flooded Laos cave

Thai teams have joined the mission, as rescuers share photos of the treacherous conditions in the cave tunnel.

27 May 2026 - 4:30PM

A rescuer navigates through a flooded cave in Xaysomboun province, Laos, where seven villagers mining for gold are trapped. Photo: Facebook/Thailand Rescue Diver

02:11

Animals

After years in tiny cages, 27 moon bears finally taste freedom in Laos

The raid on a brutal bile extraction facility disguised as a zoo was believed to be the largest in Southeast Asian history.

27 May 2026 - 2:36PM

Thailand

Search in flooded cave for 7 gold-mining villagers in Laos enters sixth day

Thai teams have joined the mission, as rescuers share photos of the treacherous conditions in the cave tunnel.

25 May 2026 - 4:28PM

Asean

Over 4,300 Southeast Asian species face extinction threat

Tigers, giant catfish, gibbons and pangolins are among the thousands of ‘critically endangered’ or ‘endangered’ species in the region.

23 May 2026 - 3:23PM

Indonesia

Police raids reveal Indonesia as new hub for scam, gambling syndicates

Hundreds of foreigners have been arrested in Indonesia recently following crackdowns against crime groups in Cambodia and Myanmar.

12 May 2026 - 8:11PMvideocam

Foreign nationals suspected of running an online gambling operation at an office building in Jakarta await transport after being arrested in the Indonesian capital on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

US trial hears witness claims of harassment over Chinese ‘secret police station’

Witness testifies he was harassed after holding a protest against the establishment of alleged Fuzhou-controlled facility in New York.

12 May 2026 - 8:52AMvideocam

Indonesia

321 foreigners arrested in Indonesia online gambling crackdown

The foreigners, mainly from Vietnam, were arrested near Jakarta’s Chinatown section that investigators described as a hub for more than 70 online gambling websites.

11 May 2026 - 11:13AMvideocam

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Laos

New Asean Chamber of Commerce launched in Hong Kong will ‘fulfil long-felt need’

New business group launched at the South China Morning Post’s GBA-Asean Summit 2026.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Asian Angle | Asean’s side deals in Myanmar risk missing where the power truly lies

Why Wong-Putin meeting doesn’t mean Singapore’s going soft on Russia

Can Russia secure ‘third power’ status in Southeast Asia with energy push?

While energy may be ‘a good opening’ for Russia to boost Asean ties, analysts say its relevance in the region is unlikely to grow.

Asia’s shaky food supply shudders as ‘super’ El Nino arrives

Every few years, the Pacific runs a fever. This year, it could be worse than anything seen for decades, scientists warn.

Vietnamese deported to South Sudan under Trump’s controversial scheme goes home

At least seven African nations have agreed to accept deportees who are not their own citizens as part of arrangements with the US.

Malaysia and Asean tap Russia for energy security, defying Western ‘prejudices’

At the Asean-Russia summit in Kazan, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim signalled the bloc’s willingness to engage with Moscow on trade.

Iran war ‘stark wake-up call’ for fossil fuel-dependent Southeast Asia: IEA

The agency warns that the region’s energy import bill could triple to US$245 billion by 2035 if it does not quickly look for alternatives.

Panda and pet services: China plans over 160 tourist trains to boost consumption

Beijing eyes themed journeys and new on-board services as part of broader efforts to rebalance the economy.

Asia on Ebola alert: could the virus slip through regional defences?

While the risk of Ebola reaching Asia is low, experts urge governments to prioritise early detection over border controls.

Deformed fish in river, pollution from rare earth mines in Myanmar fuel fears

Russian and Chinese firms are also competing to be the first to reach a tungsten mine in a conflict zone, sparking concerns of NGOs.

Suspected Filipino scammer reveals how Cambodian ring conned Singaporeans

De Villar Rizalyn Panganiban, accused of taking part in a three-level impersonation scam, gives insights into the gang’s fraud tactics.

Why China’s C909 jet is rapidly being deployed in Xinjiang

The Chinese-made jet debuted in Xinjiang as recently as 2023, but is now being used on more than 120 routes in the region.

Japan’s Russia concern, firms pick Malaysia over Singapore: 7 Asia highlights

From Japan’s concerns about Russian military activity to moon bears freed in Laos, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | New flooding in Laos cave threatens rescue of remaining villagers

Rescuers say the conditions will complicate the mission to save two remaining villagers after they successfully freed five men trapped in the cave system.

Video | Villagers rescued from flooded Laos cave

The men emerged weak and dazed to an outpouring of emotion from rescuers and relatives.

Asian Angle | Where Southeast Asians really want to live, work and travel

While Thailand leads for tourism, Singapore and Japan are the top draws for work, revealing uneven regional soft power dynamics.

5 villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave freed after 10-day ordeal

The men emerged weak and dazed to an outpouring of emotion from rescuers and relatives on the muddy topside. Two others remain missing.

Opinion | Why the Philippines walks a delicate balance as Asean chair

Manila’s success at the helm will depend on its ability to make the Association of Southeast Asian Nations more operational than before.

Video | Five of 7 villagers trapped in Laos cave found alive

A Thai-led rescue team broke through to an area where they found the 5 villagers on a muddy ledge, but two others from the group remain missing.

5 of 7 villagers trapped in flooded Laos cave found alive

A Thai-led rescue team broke through to an area where they found the five villagers on a muddy ledge, but two others remain missing.

Video | Rescuers race to save miners in flooded Laos cave

Thai teams have joined the mission, as rescuers share photos of the treacherous conditions in the cave tunnel.

After years in tiny cages, 27 moon bears finally taste freedom in Laos

The raid on a brutal bile extraction facility disguised as a zoo was believed to be the largest in Southeast Asian history.

Search in flooded cave for 7 gold-mining villagers in Laos enters sixth day

Thai teams have joined the mission, as rescuers share photos of the treacherous conditions in the cave tunnel.

Over 4,300 Southeast Asian species face extinction threat

Tigers, giant catfish, gibbons and pangolins are among the thousands of ‘critically endangered’ or ‘endangered’ species in the region.

Police raids reveal Indonesia as new hub for scam, gambling syndicates

Hundreds of foreigners have been arrested in Indonesia recently following crackdowns against crime groups in Cambodia and Myanmar.

US trial hears witness claims of harassment over Chinese ‘secret police station’

Witness testifies he was harassed after holding a protest against the establishment of alleged Fuzhou-controlled facility in New York.

321 foreigners arrested in Indonesia online gambling crackdown

The foreigners, mainly from Vietnam, were arrested near Jakarta’s Chinatown section that investigators described as a hub for more than 70 online gambling websites.

Asian Angle | Asean’s side deals in Myanmar risk missing where the power truly lies

Video | New flooding in Laos cave threatens rescue of remaining villagers