Typhoon Dolphin: China’s most powerful storm of the year made landfall on the east coast near Yuhuan in Zhejiang, triggering red alerts, torrential rain and flooding/landslide warnings; authorities moved offshore workers to safety and ordered vessels back to port, with evacuations topping a million. AI Companions Crackdown: Chinese regulators tightened rules on AI companion services, forcing major platforms like ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent to shut down features; users say virtual partners vanished without goodbye. India-Bangladesh Diplomacy: India’s envoy says a Modi-Rahman meeting could ease strains after Sheikh Hasina’s media remarks sparked backlash in Dhaka. WhatsApp Glitch: Users across multiple countries reported media-sharing failures—photos, videos, stickers and GIFs stuck or delayed—while text messaging often worked. oOh!media Takeover: I Squared Capital agreed to buy Australia’s oOh!media in a A$1.04bn deal, valuing equity at about A$898m and offering a cash premium. FCRA Bill 2026: India’s US ambassador pushed back on “myths” around the NGO-focused Foreign Contribution Amendment Bill, saying it targets transparency and safeguards rather than religion. Taiwan Drills & Budget: Taiwan simulated repelling a Chinese air landing in Han Kuang exercises and plans a record 2027 defense budget, as mobile internet “throttling” is set for the first time. Pacific ECE Investment: A Pasifika early childhood education professor calls for more investment to make Aotearoa New Zealand a Pacific hub for the region. Cricket Injury Fallout: BCCI CoE chief VVS Laxman defended injury management as reports allege IPL franchise pressure contributed to players playing through injuries.