Illegal Timber & Oversight: A new Environmental Investigation Agency report says illegal timber from Cambodia and Laos keeps slipping into Vietnam’s supply chains via falsified paperwork, quota manipulation, and intermediary networks—prompting calls for tighter verification and independent regional oversight. Agri-Exports & Value Chains: FAO and Lao authorities are convening stakeholders to unlock Lao chili pepper export potential and attract sustainable investment under the Hand-in-Hand initiative. Rail Trade Boost: China’s Kunming Customs says the China–Laos Railway has handled over 90.28 billion yuan in imports and exports since 2021, with freight trains topping 22,000 runs. AI-Ready Infrastructure: Comin Asia and Nokia plan AI-ready data centre infrastructure across Southeast Asia, flagging Laos as a potential regional hub thanks to surplus power and growing cross-border connectivity. Digital Trust for Cross-Border Trade: Frost & Sullivan highlights a shift from standalone e-signatures to broader digital trust platforms that bundle identity checks and secure assurance—relevant as Vietnam and Laos pursue digital signature cooperation. Smart Agriculture Deals: Laos and South Korea signed MOUs in Vientiane for pilot exports of Lao chili peppers and cabbage to Korea, plus tissue culture technology cooperation for smarter farming. Mekong Biodiversity Hope: Cambodia reports renewed sightings of the critically endangered Mekong giant salmon carp, with recent records suggesting the species may still persist in the lower Mekong basin.