Australia–Vietnam Defence Push: Australia and Vietnam agreed to deepen military cooperation during President Tô Lâm’s visit to Canberra, including maritime security, joint training, and closer information sharing as both weigh China’s growing reach. Pacific Missile Divide: China’s nuclear-capable missile test has exposed cracks in Pacific diplomacy, with foreign ministers unable to issue a joint condemnation despite widespread concern about militarisation. Oil & Inflation Pressure: Oil prices climbed as US–Iran talks stalled over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with markets watching for inflation signals that could shift rate expectations. Colombia Earthquake Response: A 7.4 quake struck western Colombia, killing at least 132 and injuring hundreds, prompting a national emergency and urgent rescue efforts. FIFA Leadership Fallout: UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF renewed calls for Gianni Infantino to quit over a World Cup commercial-rights plan, escalating the football governance crisis. Digital & Data Centres in Vietnam: Vietnam’s ruling party resolution flags faster digital infrastructure and large-scale data centres to power a national data platform. Malaysia MSME Support Rebuffed: A senior opposition adviser says six proposed cost-relief measures for Malaysia’s MSMEs were rejected by the government. Fiji Digital Wallet Launch: Bank South Pacific rolled out Fiji’s first bank-backed eDollar electronic wallet with QR payments and mobile transfers.