1. China is nearly done building the $10 billion Pinglu Canal to boost trade between its southwest provinces and Southeast Asia. Now, it plans an even bigger canal project further inland to deepen ties. 2. Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, former Hong Kong media boss, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday for violating the national security law. This marks a key moment in China-West tensions. 3. China aimed to reduce its reliance on imported soybean meal by 2025 but recent data shows little progress. A new US-China deal may make cutting imports harder. 4. The Li Ka Shing Foundation and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will give 5,000 domestic helpers free park tickets this year as part of an expanded program. 5. Cambodia continues working with China, the US, and UK on the case of Chen Zhi, a tycoon accused of running a huge global scam, according to a Phnom Penh minister. 6. Ngo Bao Chau, the famed Vietnamese mathematician and Fields Medal winner from 2010, will join the University of Hong Kong as a chair professor in June. 7. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned against letting disputes over so-called "illegal" temples cause racial or religious clashes. The police detained 19 people linked to a banned rally that could have sparked tensions in Kuala Lumpur.