Japan Land Market: Japan’s average land prices rose for a fifth straight year, led by Tokyo/Osaka/Nagoya and tourism-linked demand, while growth outside major metros stayed weaker. Japan Tax & Cost of Living: Japan approved a plan to cut the consumption tax on food and non-alcoholic drinks to 1% for two years from April 2027, alongside income-based benefits. China Property & Growth: China reported narrowed home-price declines in August and weak retail/consumption signals, with policymakers pushing for more domestic demand. China Travel Curbs: New exit/entry rules tied to “industrial or technological security” took effect, with potential exit bans for people deemed to threaten national interests. China AI Governance Clash: China rejected Anthropic’s warnings about AI risks and urged cooperation, as US-China AI competition intensifies. India–Nepal Power Aid: India approved 18-hour daily power exports to flood-hit Nepal through year-end, supporting damaged hydropower capacity. India Online Safety: Meta agreed to report child safety cases to India’s cybercrime portal, as the government presses platforms for proactive safeguards. India Semiconductors: India cleared 12 semiconductor projects across six states with investment commitments above Rs 1.64 lakh crore ahead of SEMICON India 2026. Indonesia–China Housing Deal: Indonesia’s housing ministry outlined a China-backed plan to build apartment blocks, with a key unresolved issue over which construction technology to import. Malaysia Cyber Readiness: Malaysia ranked Tier 1 in ASEAN’s post-quantum cryptography migration readiness assessment. Pakistan–India Sports Clearance: Pakistan’s Asian Champions Trophy participation in India is set to depend on government authorization, with the tournament scheduled for late October to early November. Air India Oversight: India’s authorities questioned Air India after three passengers bypassed immigration on a hub-and-spoke route, prompting a show-cause notice and MHA scrutiny. China Trade Route Boost: China’s Pinglu Canal opened for navigation, shortening inland waterway routes for goods from southwest China to global markets.