Digital Infrastructure Push (Vietnam): Vietnam’s Politburo resolution calls for modern digital infrastructure, wider high-quality internet access and large data centres to power a national data platform and the wider innovation ecosystem. Cybersecurity Costs (SEA): An IBM study says data breaches in Southeast Asia hit a record average cost of about $4.12m in 2026, up 12%, as AI makes attacks cheaper and faster. Renewables Finance (Malaysia): Malaysia’s RE sector says projects still struggle to become “bankable,” urging lenders to rethink risk checks for different clean-energy technologies. Women’s Finance Code (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka released its first annual report on the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code, tracking early progress after adopting the scheme nationally in March 2025 with ADB support. Regional Trade & E-commerce (Turkey): Istanbul will host IGEXX 2026, a summit bringing major e-commerce platforms and Turkish exporters together to expand digital trade into Asia. Geopolitics & Rights (India-Pakistan): India urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable over alleged PoJK rights violations and condemned embassy defacement. Space Ambition (Vietnam): VinSpace signed with SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027. Health Tech (Taiwan): China Medical University Hospital plans to price a care robot below nurse hiring costs to ease staffing pressures. Sports & Diplomacy (Myanmar/ASEAN): Myanmar’s stance on ASEAN pressure over Suu Kyi remains a live flashpoint as regional engagement continues.