ASEAN Health Diplomacy: Malaysia hosts the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting, launching the ASHA 2026-2030 roadmap with a focus on pandemic preparedness, ACPHEED, and tackling communicable plus non-communicable diseases. ASEAN-EU Linkages: Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong says Singapore’s next ASEAN chair can deepen ASEAN-EU ties with Luxembourg, including cooperation on AI, quantum, space and satellite tech. China’s Economic Openness: China’s back-to-back CIFIT in Xiamen and CIFTIS in Beijing draw record international participation, with doors “opening wider” for services and investment. China-Japan Security Row: An OPCW delegation visited sites in China’s Jilin where Japan’s abandoned chemical weapons are being excavated and destroyed, with sources saying it offers a more “objective” view of Japan’s claims. Japan Flood Aid: Japan will grant $16.4m to Pakistan for flood protection in Sindh, including upgrades to the Old Abad Bund in Larkana. China-Indonesia Industry: Chinese firms dominate Indonesia’s waste-to-energy push, with most bids and partnerships led by Chinese companies as Jakarta targets full waste management by 2029. North Korea Drills Warning: North Korea’s new defence minister calls South Korea-U.S.-Japan “Freedom Edge” drills a provocation, vowing “resolute action.” Japan Weather Disruption: Heavy rain forces closure of 3,661 schools across 11 Japanese prefectures and disrupts rail services for 140,000 people. Tech and Trade: China moves against Japan’s semiconductor supply chain with preliminary anti-dumping deposits on dichlorosilane imports, while Huawei’s U.S. trial over sanctions evasion and trade secrets is set to begin.