National Statistics Strategy: Laos held a consultation on the Draft Strategy for the Development of the National Statistical System 2026–2035 and Vision to 2040, with the Lao Statistics Bureau stressing research, consultation, and alignment with international standards. Agritech Monitoring: China is expanding insect-tracking radars that can identify tiny migratory pests in the field, aiming to strengthen crop protection for rice-growing regions. Tourism Tech & Policy: PATA and Content With Purpose launched “Pacific Asia: Tourism with Purpose,” a digital film series highlighting climate action, community participation, responsible innovation, and workforce development across Asia-Pacific. Digital Divide in Laos: A report highlights that Laos’ mobile internet adoption lags behind regional peers, pointing to affordability, skills, and confidence gaps that limit real participation in the digital economy. Cybersecurity: GoldFactory’s Gigabud Android banking trojan has been upgraded with Vwork to better evade detection by cloning banking apps into a separate managed environment. Health Skills for Laos: Australia formally handed over the updated English for Lao Government Officials (ELGO) curriculum, adding new student books, teacher guides, and audio resources for practical government English. Regional Cooperation: Vietnam and Laos’ Champasak and An Giang provinces reviewed cooperation and signed an MoU for 2026–2030 to deepen locality-to-locality ties. Energy & Mobility: Graphion Energy Solutions announced a partnership with Manny Pacquiao Ventures to push electric mobility and clean energy projects across ASEAN, including solar-backed charging and microgrids.