Southeast Asia EV Push: VinFast opened an early booking program in the Philippines for battery-swapping e-motorcycles, with PHP 3,000 fees and incentives, as it ramps expansion across the region. Middle East Shockwaves: Escalating U.S.-Iran strikes around the Strait of Hormuz are rattling Asian markets and lifting oil prices, with investors watching ceasefire hopes. Regional Security & Diplomacy: Vietnam urged ASEAN to shape global norms at the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi, while U.S. Deputy Secretary Landau heads to Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia to deepen security and economic ties. AI Investment Race: SK Telecom, NTT and Chunghwa Telecom plan a $500m joint AI fund to back startups and infrastructure, and Singapore’s SuperAI 2026 sold out at Marina Bay Sands. Energy & Trade Risks: Crescent Petroleum warned Gulf conflict costs are soaring and described Hormuz as a whole-economy chokepoint affecting food, fertiliser and chips. Climate & Food Pressure: A report links India’s emissions to transboundary pollution impacts in South Asia, while Indonesia’s smallholder farmers face “double exposure” from climate shocks and market volatility. Health Watch: Washington state reported active measles cases in 2026, highlighting high school exemption rates and renewed vulnerability concerns. Finance & Payments: Japan’s biggest banks move toward issuing yen-linked stablecoins by March 2027, signaling momentum for digital payments.