Australia Immigration Policy: Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended Labor’s slower rollout of its immigration plan, saying the party “worked through all the policy issues” and blaming the Coalition for unmet legislative preconditions, as housing and infrastructure pressures remain central to the debate. Japan Cabinet & Tax: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi kept key ministers in a reshuffle while pushing ahead with a looming food tax cut, arguing fiscal “responsible, proactive” policy must be paired with growth. India-New Zealand Trade: New Zealand’s parliament approved the India-NZ FTA, with both sides aiming to operationalise it in late October—giving Indian exporters duty-free access across 100% of exports and a sprint to adjust pricing and supply chains. China-AI & Security: The US said a Chinese AI model was used on the Federal Register’s website, as Washington and Beijing race over AI governance and safeguards; meanwhile, experts urged nuclear-incident protocols for autonomous cyber risks. UN Iran Sanctions Deadlock: Russia and China vetoed a US-backed UN Security Council move to extend the Iran sanctions panel, with Pakistan abstaining and the monitoring mandate effectively stalled. China-ASEAN Expo Focus: The China-ASEAN Expo opened in Nanning with CAFTA 3.0 and AI cooperation on the agenda, as China-ASEAN trade keeps climbing. Regional Flashpoints: Japan saw a sharp drop in Chinese visitors; China-backed waste-to-energy projects expand in Indonesia; and India’s Punjab farmers’ rail blockade disrupted 20 trains before talks were scheduled.