ASEAN STI in Vientiane: Ministers and officials met in Laos to push the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) for 2026–2035, with calls for stronger research, education, and innovation ecosystems. Regional AI infrastructure: Comin Asia and Nokia announced plans to deliver sovereign, AI-ready data centre infrastructure across Southeast Asia, targeting deployable models for markets like Cambodia and Laos. Semiconductors push: Thailand proposed an ASEAN CHIPS Act to build a more integrated regional semiconductor ecosystem, including shared research, workforce development, and common standards. Transboundary haze risk: Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone warned that El Niño-linked heat is raising forest and peatland fire threats, with hotspot counts up about 8% in the Mekong region. Dengue control know-how: A regional push for Wolbachia scaling highlights the need for clear roles on supply, release methods, and baseline mosquito monitoring. Public-sector AI governance: A forum on balancing AI efficiency with public interest focused on transparency, data protection, and meaningful human involvement in decisions. Tech + real estate ties: Vietnamese and Lao firms signed a strategic cooperation deal for a large real estate project in the Long Thanh–Vientiane SEZ, including a 99-year land lease and foreign home-ownership policies. Safety testing for alcohol: Researchers developed a non-invasive laser-based method to detect toxic methanol in sealed bottles, aiming to improve routine screening beyond specialist labs. Online wildlife trafficking: AFP reviewed social media listings showing illegal wildlife trade activity, with NGOs accusing Meta of enabling the market through ad revenue and platform tools. Drug and scam security: Reports flagged rising synthetic drugs and intensified cross-border efforts against trafficking and online scams, including regional border security cooperation discussions.