Arctic Shipping Shift: After Hormuz, China is eyeing the Arctic’s “ice silk road” as Sea Legend starts scheduled northern sea route container service, cutting China–Europe transit time but raising environmental and political risks. Middle East Energy Pressure: Oil edges higher as Israel-Lebanon strikes and US moves on Iran keep Strait of Hormuz uncertainty alive, with markets bracing for tighter supply. AI Chips & US-China Tech Ties: US tech firms are reportedly testing Chinese memory chips from CXMT despite Pentagon blacklisting, underscoring how AI and data-centre demand is reshaping chip supply politics. Wealth & Markets: Asia’s wealth industry is hiring aggressively for client-facing roles, while Singapore’s equities lead APAC gains on bank wealth-management strength; investors also increasingly use brokerage AI tools to track tariff and portfolio moves. Regional Security Bloc: Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign the “Mecca” collective defence pact, signalling a realignment as confidence in US guarantees appears to fade. Health Milestone: Cambodia hits the 95-95-95 HIV targets, showing how leadership plus community partnerships can drive measurable outcomes. Singapore Liveability & Growth: Sentosa unveils the Greater Sentosa Master Plan, expanding the island playground and sanctuary over two decades.