Russia-ASEAN Summit: Putin is hosting ASEAN leaders in Kazan to expand trade, investment and industrial cooperation, with energy security expected to be a key focus as Western pressure on Moscow continues. Cybercrime Warning: Interpol says illegal cyber activity makes up about a third of recorded crime in parts of Asia and the South Pacific, with scams and phishing the most damaging and increasingly aided by AI. Rural Development Agenda (Laos): Laos is drafting a national agenda to boost rural development and poverty alleviation, aiming for coordinated implementation and targets before submission to the National Assembly. Laos–China Education Push: China will provide 3,000 scholarships and training opportunities for Lao students and officials under the “Thousand and Ten Thousand Program,” including digital learning and AI. Laos–Vietnam Justice Cooperation: Lao and Vietnamese justice leaders met in Hai Phong to review border legal cooperation and strengthen enforcement coordination. Mekong-Lancang Fund: Laos and China signed agreements for seven projects worth US$3.31 million under the Mekong-Lancang Special Fund, covering agriculture, water, health and poverty reduction. Laos–Russia Nuclear Deal: Russia and Laos signed an agreement on peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, paving the way for feasibility work toward a Russian-designed nuclear power plant. Scam Centres Spotlight: Reports highlight the human cost of scam centres across the Mekong region, where victims are coerced into large-scale online fraud operations.