ASEAN Diplomacy: Foreign ministers meet in Manila as renewed Middle East tensions and the Strait of Hormuz sit high on the agenda, with Malaysia’s Mohamad Hasan leading talks on Myanmar’s Five-Point Consensus and regional security. Middle East Flashpoints: The Houthis declare a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia after attacks on Sanaa and Abha, while Israel’s embassy in Australia criticises Labor’s draft national platform over how it assigns responsibility in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Military Readiness: Exercise Pitch Black 2026 kicks off in Australia’s Top End with aircraft from 21 nations, aiming to strengthen real-world interoperability. Markets & Energy: World shares are mixed as US-Iran strikes push oil back into focus; Brent stays above $90 and investors weigh the risk of wider Persian Gulf disruption. Australia & Trade/Industry: Wine Australia reports the smallest winegrape crush since 2000, pointing to weak demand and a deliberate tonnage reset; Suntory Oceania marks a year in Australia with faster scale-up in RTDs. Science/Health: Actinogen Medical says its Xanamem proof-of-concept trial results were published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, showing antidepressant activity but no cognition benefit. Travel & Visas: Oman offers visa-free entry for up to 14 days for nationals from over 100 countries, including eight African nations.