Visa Rules Update: South Korea released a full list of 116 countries and territories whose citizens can enter with K-ETA instead of a traditional visa, including major markets like the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan and several African states. Regional Diplomacy: Seoul will host the first Korea-Central Asia Summit in a week, with one-on-one meetings for five Central Asian leaders and a “Seoul Declaration” aimed at long-term partnership. Security & Trade Routes: South Korea and Iran held phone talks on Middle East tensions and Strait of Hormuz security, with Seoul stressing freedom of navigation and safety for its nationals. Human Rights in Hong Kong: A Hong Kong court jailed three Tiananmen vigil activists for national security crimes, with sentences ranging from 5 years 2 months to 7 years 3 months. Migration & Education: Pakistan’s medical regulator ordered universities to expel Afghan medical students, leaving many with days to leave. Climate Watch: ISRO’s Oceansat-3 satellite data points to a sharp drop in equatorial Pacific marine productivity as El Niño develops. Indo-Pacific Drills: Japan, South Korea and the US wrapped Exercise Freedom Edge 26, expanding trilateral maritime, air, cyber and medical readiness. Central Asia Finance: EDB and IsDB Institute discussed ways to attract Islamic capital to Central Asia, including a possible regional investment platform using AIFC infrastructure.