BRICS Diplomacy: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will become the first Philippine leader to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi, using Manila’s 2026 ASEAN chair role to engage the bloc’s expanding membership. India-China Business Gap: Xi Jinping’s expected India visit after seven years may ease political friction, but Reuters reports firms still face visa delays, regulatory hurdles and equipment import bans. India Politics at BRICS: Congress leader P Chidambaram questioned what India gains from BRICS, drawing a BJP rebuttal that framed the dispute as a clash over how to view diplomacy. ASEAN Health & Digital Policy: Malaysia launched ASHA 2026-2030 to strengthen ASEAN health systems, while Malaysia also pushed for ASEAN digital growth that goes beyond connectivity into public services and local value. Japan Security & Defense Education: Japan will mobilise about 10,000 police for Asian Games opening security, and published rules for foreign entry to its National Defense Academy. US-China AI Fight: The US alleges Chinese AI firms used industrial-scale distillation to extract US model capabilities; China’s commerce ministry calls it groundless. Energy & Markets: Oil above $100 is weighing on Asian stocks as Middle East tensions around the Strait of Hormuz keep inflation risks elevated.