Energy & Diplomacy: India’s Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited Mauritius to sign an oil and gas cooperation MoU and a long-term deal for IOCL to supply the island’s full needs for motor spirit, high-speed diesel and aviation turbine fuel, aiming to cut price and supply disruption risks. Security & Trade: Iran hit back at new US sanctions, calling them arbitrary, extraterritorial and a breach of UN sovereign equality. Power & National Security: South Korea faces scrutiny after US blacklisted Chinese firm CGN was found operating multiple power plants and supplying electricity via access to the grid, raising concerns for US forces and local resilience. Business & Industry: Malaysia reported record trade momentum in Jan–July 2026, with exports surging and a wider surplus, while officials urged its timber sector to move from volume to higher-value branded products. Health & Innovation: BASF opened a Mumbai Global Performance Lab for diapers and superabsorbents to support hygiene innovation for global customers. Sports & Society: Nepal’s archers train amid crumbling facilities and equipment shortages ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, while Nepal’s Olympic delegation heads to Pakistan for SAOC preparations. Regional Connectivity: Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan’s TAP power project is entering active implementation, building transmission lines to expand electricity exports across Central and South Asia.