Philippines Sports: Bulacan Dreamers (13–16-year-olds) open their 2026 Senior League Softball World Series campaign in Delaware, after winning the Little League Asia-Pacific and Middle East tournament in Bogor, Indonesia; they’re in Pool A and expected back Aug 11. Malaysia Economy & Health: Malaysia’s Health Ministry says the herbal industry could generate RM30–50 billion in value over the next decade, with plans for priority plant cultivation, clinical validation, AI-assisted discovery, stronger IP protection and export-ready halal products. West Asia Tensions: Iran says it’s negotiating with Oman for a temporary safe route through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, while denying talks with the US as Trump pushes for Gaza disarmament and warns Iran against “total surrender.” Markets & Currencies: The US and Japan’s yen-buying intervention signals broader worries about global financial stability; the yen rebounded after months of weakness. FIFA Fallout: Infantino’s re-election bid faces mounting resistance as federations including Serbia, Sweden and Wales withdraw support over governance and a controversial World Cup private-investor plan. ASEAN/Philippines Digital Push: The Philippines’ ASEAN chairship is framed as a chance to turn digital transformation and resilient supply-chain goals into measurable outcomes, while DTI backs STT GDC’s AI-ready data center expansion in the country.