UPI Fee Shift: India’s NPCI will introduce a fractional Merchant Discount Rate on certain UPI payments above ₹2,000 from Oct 15, while keeping consumer payments fee-free up to the threshold and capping MDR at ₹300 per transaction. AI Rivalry & Governance: US House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected an AI pause, warning it would cede advantage to China, as China pushes tighter AI “guardrails” and new entry/exit rules tied to tech and national security. China Travel Crackdown: China’s updated entry-exit regulations can bar departures for people who violate export controls or pose “technological security” risks. Property Signal: China’s pre-owned home prices in top cities rose for a sixth straight month, highlighting a shift toward secondary markets. Health Diplomacy: China’s PLA Navy hospital ship Auspicious Ark arrived in Mauritania for a medical mission. Trade Modernisation: India and MERCOSUR signed a protocol to enable electronic Certificates of Origin for paperless trade. Public Health Push: India reported 80 lakh HPV vaccine doses administered since the campaign began, with full coverage in several states. Regional Security: US confirmed “on-orbit space control weapons,” prompting China warnings against a space arms race. NGO & Water Rights: An Indian NGO urged a review of the Indus Waters Treaty at the UNHRC through a human-rights lens. Sports & Culture: Nepal’s sports journalist Nabin Aryal will launch a book on Nepal-Japan sporting ties in Nagoya.