Middle East Energy Shock: Oil prices climbed as uncertainty over whether the Strait of Hormuz will reopen deepened, with Iran saying any reopening depends on US conditions and shipping still running at a trickle. Markets Watch: Asian shares were mixed-to-higher after a softer US jobs report eased rate fears, while investors tracked oil and West Asia headlines; emerging-market assets also gained as the dollar eased. Semiconductors & AI Infrastructure: Brewer Science completed its acquisition of Heraeus Epurio’s semiconductor chemicals business to strengthen supply-chain control, while Silicon Motion unveiled an AI-focused MonTitan SSD reference kit for agentic workloads. Wealth & Finance: UOB agreed to let Allianz Global Investors acquire UOB Asset Management across eight Asian markets, alongside a long-term distribution partnership. Maritime & Logistics: Malaysia Maritime Week 2026 will bring 1,000+ policymakers and industry players to Kuala Lumpur, spotlighting decarbonisation, digitalisation and maritime talent. Regional Security: Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Mecca joint defence pact, framing an attack on one as an attack on all amid shifting West Asia alignments. Environment: Haze returned to Malaysia’s Sarawak and Selangor as Indonesian wildfires burned, pushing air quality into unhealthy ranges.