Indo-Pacific Security: The US-led RIMPAC 2026 drills are underway with 30 nations, 30 ships, five submarines, and 30,000 personnel around Hawaii, mixing maritime readiness with humanitarian and disaster-response practice. South China Sea: Fourteen countries and the EU reaffirmed the 2016 arbitral ruling as legally binding, rejecting China’s expansive maritime claims ahead of ASEAN talks. Climate & Indigenous Rights: Indigenous leaders from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji and the Solomon Islands told governments to stop “tokenism” and put Indigenous knowledge at the center of COP31 climate decisions. Afghanistan Diplomacy: UN chief António Guterres appointed Rabab Fatima of Bangladesh as Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA. China–Central Asia Ties: Kazakhstan’s Tokayev met Xi Jinping in Shanghai, signing a 2027-2030 roadmap on trade, investment, AI and regional security. Energy: Indonesia kicked off the $21bn Abadi LNG project in the Masela block, with Inpex Masela leading and CCS included. Politics (India): Congress accused the BJP-led government of trying to “engineer a tainted” two-thirds majority in Parliament over the Delimitation Bill. Mobility (Asia–Gulf): Indonesia and Saudi Arabia agreed to expand air links, adding more airports for international flights. Markets (New Zealand): NZX 50 slid for a fourth straight session as tech stocks weighed and local power prices softened, while logistics and some financials gained.