AI Governance in the Global South: Bangladesh has joined the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) as an observer, signaling wider regional interest in AI rules and digital-divide goals as the Shanghai-based body was formed on July 16 with founding members including Laos. AI Fraud Watch: OpenAI reportedly shut down Cambodia-linked ChatGPT accounts tied to crypto “pig-butchering” scams, where scammers use AI to craft convincing messages and steer victims to fake trading sites. Cybersecurity Focus: Asean’s next security challenge is cyber, with regional leaders warning that future conflicts will increasingly target data and critical services, not just physical infrastructure. Laos Tech & Skills: Laos is strengthening cybersecurity and digital skills through a national training programme, while a separate Party-led push reviews draft human resource development plans to better match workforce needs in a fast-changing tech economy. Education Partnership: Laos and Vietnam launched a child protection education partnership aimed at improving early skills to prevent sexual abuse, including risks in the digital age. Regional Connectivity: Along the China-Laos Railway, new jobs and shorter journeys are reshaping local life, with Lao graduates from joint training now taking up technical roles on the line. Mobility Innovation: Vietnamese all-electric taxi operator Green SM debuted in Copenhagen with a company-owned fleet, bringing its app-based, driver-managed EV model into Europe. Scam-Safety Research: New research finds AI chatbots can build exploitable trust faster than humans in romance scams, and major safety tools reportedly missed the scam patterns in tests.