Southeast Asia Labor Cooperation: Philippines Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino asked Thailand to back Manila’s worker-centered priorities at ASEAN labour talks, including fair recruitment, fishing-sector labour inspection, and safety in the informal economy, while also pushing ratification of ILO Convention 193 for platform workers. Philippines Defense Industry Planning: Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APECO) offered its Casiguran site to host Pacific-facing defense facilities, pitching “dual-use” infrastructure that could spur manufacturing, maintenance, logistics and investment. Food Security and Tech Lessons: Malaysia’s agriculture minister urged learning from China’s tech-driven productivity and rural development to strengthen agro-food security, after attending APEC’s food security meeting in Hangzhou. Regional Security Drill: Japan, the US and Australia’s “Oriental Shield 26” exercise expands with live-fire and long-range coordination, including the first reported participation of the US Typhon missile system. Markets and Energy: Asian stocks rose as Iran-Oman talks eased near-term Strait of Hormuz disruption fears, with oil prices extending declines. Pacific Sovereignty Clash: A deep-sea mining race is intensifying in the Pacific, with some island states opposing extraction and others weighing economic gains. Disaster Response: Jordan condoled Nepal after flash floods killed at least 95 and left hundreds missing, including many foreign tourists. El Niño Fallout in Central America: Panama and El Salvador declared nationwide emergencies as El Niño-driven drought and flooding threaten crops, water supplies and shipping through the Panama Canal.