India-Opposition Politics: INDIA bloc leaders met in Delhi, with Rahul Gandhi stressing the need to defend the Constitution as parties accuse the BJP-led NDA of misusing agencies and tilting the “electoral playing field”; DMK’s boycott marked a major rift, while AAP escalated attacks on Congress ahead of the bloc’s next steps. Japan-Taiwan Security: Taiwan condemned China’s “law enforcement” maritime operation east of the island as “provocative” and “expansionism in disguise,” deploying patrol vessels after Japan-Philippines boundary talks. Indo-Pacific Deterrence: AUKUS expanded with steps to boost allied undersea warfare, including deployment frameworks for U.S. Virginia-class submarines in Australia and deeper tech cooperation. Disaster & Public Safety: A 7.8 quake off Mindanao triggered tsunami advisories and minor waves in Japan, while Japan suspended classes after a first-ever bear sighting in a city. Energy & Trade: India urged West Asia de-escalation and issued travel warnings for Iran; it also secured EU clearance to export aquaculture products, honey, eggs and animal casings beyond Sept 2026, and pushed for a competitive interim trade deal with the U.S. Weather Infrastructure: Lucknow inaugurated a Regional Meteorological Centre as India accelerates Mission Mausam radar expansion toward nearly 100 sites. China-Regional Moves: Xi met Kim in North Korea, reiterating closer China-DPRK ties, while China broke ground on the Three Gorges new waterway project to expand Yangtze shipping capacity.