ASEAN Digital Trust: Malaysia’s M360 ASEAN 2026 urged faster connectivity plus stronger public trust so rural and remote communities aren’t left behind, with Indonesia stressing open-access infrastructure and spectrum support. India Energy Storage: India added 8.2 GWh of battery storage in 1H 2026, lifting cumulative capacity to 9.3 GWh as utilities push storage for grid balancing and renewables. Japan Opposition Shake-up: Japan’s Centrist Reform Alliance dissolved after merger talks failed, with lawmakers splitting into Komeito and a new centrist bloc ahead of the autumn session. India–France Space Deal: India and France signed agreements on satellite launches, space surveillance and microsat tech, including contracts for India’s planned 52-satellite surveillance constellation. China Jobs Focus: China reiterated “employment-first” as a development and stability cornerstone, citing large-scale urban job creation. Nepal Flood Response: Nepal’s army used China-donated drones to deliver aid to flood-hit, hard-to-reach communities as deaths rose and supplies shortages were reported. Green Hydrogen Ranking: WRI India named Gujarat India’s top green hydrogen hub prospect, led by renewables, grid access, and water availability. Japan Nuclear Revival Debate: Japan’s plan to replace aging reactors faces utility caution over costs and long timelines. US–China AI Tensions: US agencies accused Chinese AI firms of industrial-scale “distillation” to extract US model capabilities; China denies and counters. India Food Labelling in Court: India told the Supreme Court it is open to tougher red warning labels on food packaging, potentially tightening rules beyond an earlier two-phase approach.