US-ASEAN Diplomacy: Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to Manila for ASEAN and East Asia Summit talks, aiming to deepen Washington’s “free and open Indo-Pacific” agenda as Myanmar and the South China Sea stay on the agenda. Afrophobia Fallout in Southern Africa: Nigeria and Ghana condemned anti-immigrant violence in South Africa and are pushing for “Afrophobia” to be debated at the next African Union summit, after mass repatriations. Iraq-U.S. Economic Pivot: Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi wrapped a Washington visit pledging implementation of dozens of economic deals and a strategic shift toward deeper investment ties, while Iran-aligned factions warn of political consequences. EU Social Protection Watch: Cyprus is flagged as a low spender on disability support, with people with disabilities reporting much higher poverty and inability to cover emergencies than the EU average. EU Competition & AI: The EU forced Meta to reopen WhatsApp access to ChatGPT after antitrust action, reshaping how AI services compete in Europe. Food Safety: Taylor Farms expanded a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce shipped to 27 U.S. states over possible cyclospora contamination. UK Politics & Growth: Britain’s new PM Andy Burnham faces a tight fiscal reality as he tries to deliver “good growth in every postcode” amid weaker forecasts. Trade Deadlines: The U.S. is racing to replace expiring global tariffs after a Supreme Court setback, with Section 301 options looming. Wildlife Protections Cut: The Trump administration moved to weaken Endangered Species Act protections, drawing warnings of accelerated biodiversity loss.