Asian Games handover & Qatar 2030: The Olympic Council of Asia flag moved from Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya to Doha as Qatar framed its 2030 bid around culture and athlete preparation, with international media spotlighting the new identity. Energy security in ASEAN: The Philippines pushed ASEAN ministers to strengthen regional preparedness for petroleum disruptions amid Strait of Hormuz-linked volatility, calling for better connectivity and diversification. China–Philippines education tensions: About 150 Chinese teachers began leaving the Philippines after security warnings tied to China-linked training and alleged misinformation. MENA expansion for Indian auto services: TVS Automobile Solutions’ myTVS raised Rs 425 crore and is exporting its O2O car-service model to the Gulf and North Africa with backing from UAE-linked capital. UAE investment push: UNCTAD data put UAE outward FDI at $63.353bn in 2025, underscoring diversified bets across tech, energy, ports and healthcare. Crypto settlement in Asia: Payward (Kraken operator) partnered with Singapore Gulf Bank to enable 24/7 institutional crypto settlement via real-time clearing. Wildlife warning: Indonesia’s rhinos face near-extinction, with Sumatran numbers now under 50, highlighting urgent conservation needs. Health & research: An IARC study estimates 2.3m new cancer cases in 2024 linked to infections, led by H. pylori and HPV.