Pandemic Readiness: Laos, with FAO and UNICEF, launched ALERT-LAO with a US$17.59M Pandemic Fund grant to strengthen early warning, lab systems, One Health workforce, and surveillance across all 18 provinces. Mekong Power Watch: Satellite imagery points to construction underway on Laos’ Pak Beng Mekong dam, a 912MW project aimed at boosting “Battery of Southeast Asia” exports while raising concerns over ecosystems and village relocations. Digital Fraud Crackdown: OpenAI says it disrupted a Southeast Asia scam network by shutting down coordinated ChatGPT accounts used to create fake identities, translate scam messages, and run “Ping, Zing, Sting” operations. Regional Tech & Policy Links: Vietnam and Laos stepped up cooperation in political theory and social sciences, including a 2026–2030 scientific cooperation MoU between Vietnam’s VASS and Laos’ NAPPA. Digital Economy Training: Sookmyung Women’s University trained 110 women from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam in digital skills and entrepreneurship using blended learning. Water & Environment Cooperation: K-water and partners held a Mekong-Republic of Korea reporting session tied to the Han River–Mekong River Declaration, focusing on water management know-how transfer. Biodiversity Conservation: A study found 74% of 54 Asian oak species lack living backup in botanical collections, including species in Laos, underscoring urgent conservation gaps.