Strait of Hormuz Tensions: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned ASEAN leaders that any Iranian move to control and toll the Strait of Hormuz would set a dangerous precedent for global trade, as Manila hosts key regional diplomacy amid renewed Middle East fighting. Philippines Politics: A Pulse Asia survey put Vice President Sara Duterte and allies at the top of the 2028 presidential and senatorial race preferences, with Duterte leading in most regions. ASEAN Security Talks: ASEAN foreign ministers met in Manila under the shadow of West Asia hostilities, while Rubio and China’s Wang Yi held talks aimed at keeping US-China relations stable. Scam Crackdown Fallout: UNODC said Asia-Pacific scam losses hit $88–$114 billion in 2025, with Southeast Asia still the epicenter as networks use AI and expand despite crackdowns. Food Security Shock: A UN/FAO report found Africa has overtaken Asia as the world’s hunger hotspot, with hundreds of millions facing hunger and unaffordable healthy diets. India Education Row: India’s opposition and government traded barbs over NEET paper leaks and police action, with BJP minister JP Nadda urging discussion in Parliament. Flood Response in India: Assam and Jammu & Kashmir leaders visited flood-hit areas, inspecting relief camps and promising assistance. Cambodia-Japan Defense Aid: Japan signed about $3m in new security assistance for Cambodia, including military communications gear and patrol boats. Business & Tech: Whale extended its Series C to scale enterprise AI in Asia-Pacific; Delhi cut processing times for 84 services via its single-window system.