Malaysia Trade & Timber Upgrade: Malaysia says total trade hit RM2.16 trillion in Jan–July 2026, up 24.7% y/y, with exports surging 29.2%—and the government is pushing the timber sector to move from selling volume to higher-value, design-led products under its Merdekapenter Programme. ASEAN Haze Preparedness: Malaysia is urging ASEAN-wide action to prevent transboundary haze, calling for tighter monitoring, hotspot surveillance, enforcement against open burning, and better firefighting readiness as dry conditions and El Niño-linked risks build. India Court on Elephants: India’s Supreme Court orders stronger elephant corridor protection, including stopping obstructions and banning “hulla parties” that use fireballs and burning stakes. India–Russia Talks: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Russia Aug 23–24 to co-chair the India-Russia trade and cooperation commission and meet Sergey Lavrov. ASEAN Mobility Skills: Vietnam is rolling out the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework via a workshop on referencing reports to help qualifications recognition and labour mobility. China–Indonesia Dialogue: China and Indonesia agreed to expand cooperation on trade development and AI, and to work toward an ASEAN code of conduct for South China Sea conflict prevention. Evergrande Founder Sentenced: China’s court sentenced Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan to life in prison, ending a dramatic fall from “Asia’s richest” status. Sports—ASEAN Final: Thailand and Vietnam kick off the ASEAN Championship 2026 final first leg, with Vietnam aiming to defend its title and Thailand pushing for home advantage.