US-China AI Safety: Ahead of a Sept 24 Trump-Xi summit, the AP reports global AI safety hinges on cooperation between Washington and Beijing, even as both see the other as the main risk. ASEAN Disaster Resilience: ASEAN ministers in Manila adopted the “Manila Declaration” to speed up AADMER 2026–2030 implementation, strengthen accountability, and set a resilience agenda through 2030. China-ASEAN Trade Geography: China’s Pinglu Canal opening is framed as a strategic shift for southwestern China’s access to Southeast Asia via the Beibu Gulf, cutting shipping distances and logistics costs. South Korea Won Push: Seoul is accelerating won internationalisation by creating an offshore settlement framework for registered foreign institutions, aiming for won use abroad next year. Korea-Central Asia Deals: KOTRA expanded export, supply-chain and infrastructure cooperation with Central Asia, while South Korea and Kyrgyzstan signed 18 MOUs covering critical minerals and digital sectors. Japan Nuclear Restart Setback: Chubu Electric’s leadership resigned and it withdrew restart applications after findings it manipulated earthquake safety data for two reactors. Middle East Energy Pressure: China’s FM Wang Yi urged Iran and the US to resume talks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz as tensions threaten energy supplies. Sports—Asian Games: China’s women’s cricket team was knocked out without a ball bowled after weather abandoned a quarter-final vs Bangladesh; South Korea advanced in men’s basketball to face Iran in the semis.