PBA Finals: Barangay Ginebra ended TNT’s run with an 88-76 Game 7 win to clinch the Commissioner’s Cup, with Scottie Thompson taking Finals MVP after battling through a bruised eye and posting 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Philippines-Russia Diplomacy: Vladimir Putin met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Kazan as Russia-ASEAN ties take center stage, with both sides highlighting trade, tourism and humanitarian cooperation. US-Australia Security: Australia’s defence minister said the US Marine Corps is expanding its crisis-ready logistics footprint in Australia, including new prepositioning arrangements tied to Bandiana and ongoing exercises in Darwin. Energy Infrastructure Finance: I Squared Capital and the US DFC plan a $3 billion platform to back critical energy infrastructure across South and Southeast Asia, aiming to close Asia’s connectivity gaps. Crypto & Stablecoins: Binance APAC leadership said stablecoins are becoming a standalone liquidity layer, while regulation and liquidity will shape 2026’s crypto cycle. AI Startups: Singapore’s Acrab emerged from stealth with $350m to build hardware/software infrastructure for agentic AI, targeting edge and robotics use cases. Markets & Trade: Asia markets stayed cautious as investors weigh US-Iran peace hopes and the Fed, with oil edging up. West Asia & India: PM Modi told Trump at the G7 that seafarers’ safety and keeping the Strait of Hormuz open are vital, praising US efforts toward West Asia peace. Infrastructure Asia: The group signed four MoUs at AIF 2026 to boost project bankability and financing across the region.