National Arts Spotlight: Laos Arts Digest’s region-wide arts radar lights up with the Philippines naming 10 new National Artists for 2025, including film and broadcast arts honoree Armando “Bing” Lao and visual arts first-ever woman Imelda Cajipe-Endaya—an arts milestone that keeps Southeast Asian creative scenes in the spotlight. Regional Health & Public Policy: Laos is credited with helping lead ASEAN Health Cluster 1, with the ASEAN Smoke-Free Awards recognizing local governments for smoke-free enforcement—showing how policy work can shape everyday public life. Sports & Culture: Laos is preparing for the 14th ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur (Oct 17–23, 2027) with a 12-sport bid, while the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 (Sept 24–Oct 5) sets up a new football stage that includes Laos in Division Two. Arts Beyond Borders: “Scars of War” brings landmine and unexploded ordnance stories to an international audience through photos and contemporary paintings, keeping the human cost of conflict visible through art. Media & Entertainment: Prime Video has ordered a Laos alcohol death docuseries, “Free Spirits: The Backpacker Poisonings,” turning a tragic Southeast Asia case into a global streaming release.