Philippines Food Security: A new PIDS paper warns the Philippines still struggles with malnutrition and weak farm productivity, saying food programs are too agriculture-heavy and hampered by poor budget execution. Taiwan Economy: Taiwan’s Q2 GDP grew 12.9% year-on-year, beating forecasts as AI-related export demand powered semiconductor exports. Bangladesh Migration: Bangladesh’s foreign affairs state minister, Shama Obaed, urged wider regular migration routes and ethical recruitment with IOM support, including safer return and reintegration. Bangladesh External Finances: Foreign aid fell 5.8% to $8.07bn in FY25-26 while debt repayments rose, squeezing net inflows and adding pressure on reserves. Vietnam Offshore Energy: PV Drilling took ownership of a new jack-up rig, aiming for commercial deployment in 2Q 2027 after reactivation steps. India Anti-Drug Push: PM Modi launched “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat,” calling for 100 “strong steps” over 100 Sundays to build a drug-free youth movement. India Floods & Weather: Monsoon flooding remains severe in parts of India, with IMD warning of more heavy rain and flash-flood risks. ASEAN Health Focus: ASEAN Month coverage highlights the Philippines’ 2026 chairmanship push to make health systems central to regional resilience. Environment Watch: Invasive Asian needle ants and hornets are being tracked in the US, raising risks to local ecosystems and pollinators.