Shangri-La Dialogue Watch: China’s defence chief Dong Jun skipped Singapore again, sending a low-profile PLA delegation as the forum opened with the big question “Where is China?” and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth pressed allies on spending while avoiding Taiwan by name. ASEAN Trade Corridors: ASEAN defence ministers reaffirmed UNCLOS transit passage and the free flow of trade through routes like the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, amid renewed regional flashpoints. AUKUS Undersea Tech: Hegseth said the AUKUS Pillar Two push will develop unmanned undersea vehicles, including multi-mission payloads, as part of Indo-Pacific deterrence. Japan–NZ Defence Talks: Japan pitched export of its stealthy Mogami-class frigate to New Zealand in trilateral talks with Australia, aiming to boost interoperability. AI in Healthcare: AstraZeneca and Roche Diagnostics will expand AI-powered digital pathology and biomarker testing for breast and lung cancer across nine Asian markets, including Singapore. NUS Neuroscience: NUS researchers found caffeine can restore a social-memory pathway impaired by sleep deprivation, pointing to new ways to tackle sleep-loss brain effects. Local Industry Expansion: VSIP got approvals for five new industrial parks in Vietnam, pushing its “VSIP 2.0” model toward greener, tech-linked manufacturing ecosystems.