FIBA U18 Asia Cup: Gilas Pilipinas Youth roared back to beat Thailand 91-62, hitting a 33-0 run in the third quarter to clinch second seed and set up a knockout crossover. National Budget Watch (Philippines): The House of Representatives kicked off scrutiny of the ₱7.2-trillion 2027 National Expenditure Program, with lawmakers promising to track not just spending levels but real implementation and results. Airport Efficiency (Thailand): Suvarnabhumi plans to expand automated passport gates to 31 more nationalities, potentially letting about 53% of arrivals use the system and easing peak-hour congestion. Energy & Markets (Europe): European gas prices hit 62.14 euros/MWh, the highest in three weeks, as low storage and geopolitical supply worries keep pressure on demand. Renewables (South Africa): Research says the country is on track for a record 2026 renewables run, with 1,920 MW of IPP projects already in commercial operation in the first half. Tech & Connectivity: Nelco partnered with Elveo to bring direct-to-device satellite and IoT connectivity to India and South Asia, targeting remote coverage gaps. Drone Delivery (US): Uber and Zipline plan to scale drone delivery across the United States via Uber Eats, aiming for one million deliveries per day by end-2029. Diaspora & Development (Malaysia): TalentCorp launched MyHeart Global Connect to link Malaysians overseas with structured pathways to support local talent and economic growth.