Asian Games Wrap: Aichi-Nagoya 2026 closed after 16 days, with China topping the medal table for a 12th straight time and Japan setting a national record; the Olympic Council of Asia flag was handed to Doha for 2030. Doha 2030 Build-Up: Qatar’s campaign ended with a historic 18-medal haul and Doha’s new identity and slogan drew major international attention after the OCA handover. Sports Spotlight: India’s men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh celebrated direct LA Olympics qualification after defending Asian Games gold, while Yu Zidi and Zhang Zhanshuo starred in swimming with record-breaking performances. Regional Football: Indonesia won the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, beating Thailand on penalties after a 2-2 draw, as leaders praised the team’s “never give up” spirit. Health & Borders: Several Asian countries tightened quarantine checks over a suspected plague case linked to Russia’s Irkutsk region. Crypto & Finance: Payward partnered with Singapore Gulf Bank for 24/7 institutional crypto settlement, while Metaplanet added 1,000 bitcoin to reach 44,000 BTC. ASEAN+3 Outlook: AMRO slightly lifted its 2027 growth forecast to 4.1%, citing stronger AI-related exports and investment. Malaysia Business: A proposal for a dedicated AI training scheme targets upskilling Malaysia’s workforce, especially MSMEs.