Hydrogen Rail & Infrastructure Push (India): PM Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train on the Jind–Sonipat route and used the launch to announce Haryana projects worth Rs 14,700 crore, while also reiterating the Centre’s commitment to Punjab’s development despite state politics. Space & Industry (India): Modi also hailed the maiden orbital launch of Skyroot’s Vikram-1 as a milestone for private space, as India moves to scale commercial launch capability. Disaster Response (China): A landslide near Chongqing’s Pengshui County killed at least eight and left 34 missing, with evacuations and warnings of further collapse risk under extreme weather. Digital Payments Policy (India): India is considering bringing back MDR charges on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, with exemptions for smaller merchants—an issue likely to reshape costs for big-ticket payments. Human Rights & Civic Space (India): UN experts urged the release of Indigenous human rights defenders detained in Assam over protests tied to a luxury tourism project near Kaziranga. Protest Under Pressure (India): Reuters reports Delhi authorities moved fasting activist Sonam Wangchuk to hospital after his 21-day hunger strike worsened, as court orders and police scrutiny continue. ASEAN Diplomacy (Philippines/US): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Manila for ASEAN-led foreign minister meetings amid ongoing West Philippine Sea tensions. China–Philippines Friction (South China Sea): Beijing said a China Daily video portraying Filipinos as “monkeys” was not a government production, while again rejecting the 2016 arbitral ruling. Cambodia Tech Investment (Cambodia/China): Chinese firms including ZTE signaled expanded investment in Cambodia’s telecom and AI ecosystem during PM Hun Manet’s China visit. Pakistan–China Border Cooperation (Pakistan/China): Islamabad and Beijing agreed to deepen immigration and border security coordination, including a joint working group and faster immigration procedures. AI Race (China): Moonshot unveiled Kimi K3, claiming it is the world’s largest open-weight model, intensifying competition with US AI systems. Regional Governance Watch (Japan): Japan’s Fukuoka faces backlash over costly overseas “research trips,” as scrutiny grows over local spending during higher household costs. Thailand–China Press Freedom (Thailand/China): NGOs and UN experts urged Thailand not to forcibly return detained Chinese journalist Bai Zhaodong to China. Trade & Sanctions Signals (Hong Kong/US–China): The US said it will not renew an order revoking Hong Kong’s special trading status, after China signaled restoration of privileges.