Aviation Connectivity: Oman Air launched direct services to Tashkent (two weekly flights) and Singapore (four weekly), aiming to deepen Central Asia and Southeast Asia links and boost Muscat’s hub role. Migration & Humanitarian Concern: Pope Leo XIV marked his message from Lampedusa by urging Europe and the world to confront migrant suffering at the “Gateway to Europe,” calling indifference deadly. Maritime Strategy: India’s Great Nicobar Project is framed as a bid to cut reliance on foreign transhipment ports and strengthen security near the Malacca Strait—while balancing fragile ecosystems and indigenous rights. Health & Regulation: Indonesia is pushing to become an Asia-Pacific ATMP hub, expanding stem-cell and advanced therapy use with GMP-backed manufacturing and tighter safety rules. Energy Policy Debate: India’s E20 ethanol rollout drew pushback online; officials and industry leaders say it’s backed by rigorous testing and show only small fuel-consumption changes in controlled trials. Business & Industry: Chery took over Nissan’s Rosslyn plant in South Africa, targeting exports and nearly 3,000 jobs as Chinese automakers expand across Africa. Sports Spotlight: India’s 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a record-setting T20I debut at Old Trafford, becoming India’s youngest-ever international debutant. Urban Weather Disruption: Mumbai’s heavy monsoon brought waterlogging and a major road cave-in on LBS Marg, prompting safety warnings from civic leaders.