Heat Emergency: South Korea’s record-breaking heat wave is still brutal, with the worst shifting to the west and centre; emergency alerts are in place and authorities are scrambling to protect people as tropical nights continue. Philippines–Korea Food Security: Manila and Seoul reaffirmed cooperation to strengthen the rice supply chain, including seed production and buffer stock management through a Korea-funded ODA project. AI Race: Alibaba unveiled Qwen3.8-Max, pitching it as its most capable open model, as China’s AI price war and rapid model releases intensify. US–Japan Yen Support: Japan confirmed a coordinated yen-buying operation with the US, the first since 1998, with both sides signaling further action to curb volatility. China Energy Push: China started commercial operation of a new Hualong One nuclear unit in Guangdong, boosting clean power capacity for the Greater Bay Area. ASEAN Security: The US Pacific Command said it will keep a presence in the South China Sea, stressing deterrence and ASEAN centrality. Tech & Cyber: CrowdStrike warned that China-linked threat actors can exploit newly disclosed vulnerabilities within a day, using AI-enabled automation to speed attacks. DR Congo Uranium Claims: An investigation alleges uranium exports from DR Congo to China over two decades, raising questions about compliance and end-use. Automotive Shift: VW plans major factory closures and capacity cuts in China as it restructures to hit profitability targets, while Chinese EV makers keep expanding across ASEAN.