Passport Power: Laos sits at 89th in the Henley Passport Index 2026, with visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 65 destinations—below Vietnam (87th), Cambodia (88th) and ahead of Myanmar (91st). ASEAN Diplomacy: Serbia’s foreign minister Marko Đurić says deeper ties with ASEAN—including Laos and Vietnam—are a strategic priority, citing trade of over €1.3 billion with ASEAN last year. Regional Security & Scams: A UN report warns Southeast Asia’s online scam economy cost victims about $88.3B–$114.1B in 2025, as criminals shift operations and use tech to scale fraud. Human Trafficking Online: NAPTIP and UNODC warn traffickers increasingly recruit youth via fake job scams and push them into cyber-enabled fraud. Laos-China Cooperation: China’s Guangxi-aided Laos poverty reduction project has been handed over in Vientiane, moving into long-term operation after completion. Vientiane Governance: President Thongloun Sisoulith urges Vientiane Province to crack down on illegal mining, restore the Nam Song River, and improve Vangvieng’s tourism safety and planning. Economy Watch: The World Bank says Laos’ 2026 civil servant salary rises face fiscal limits, high inflation and debt pressures.