Okinawa Politics: Japan’s Okinawa governor race swings conservative as Genta Koja, backed by PM Sanae Takaichi’s ruling bloc, defeats incumbent Denny Tamaki—potentially clearing the way for smoother US base relocation and wider defense posture in the Taiwan Strait era. North Korea Watch: Despite a Russia bridge opening, North Korea keeps private car travel closed to foreign visitors, while Pyongyang also touts “huge destructive power” after missile-and-drone live-fire drills. Central Asia Diplomacy: South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung kicks off a Central Asia summit series with Uzbekistan, aiming to deepen ties on transport, healthcare, climate response, critical minerals, AI and defense. BRICS & India-China: At BRICS, Xi pushes an open-source AI and “Greater BRICS” agenda as India remains wary of China expanding the bloc’s reach—while ASEAN’s Marcos urges unity and rules-based order. AI & US-China Tensions: China’s state media attacks calls to slow AI as a “Cold War” tactic, as US leaders resist pacing amid fears of falling behind. Disaster Response: Malaysia says 55 citizens remain uncontactable after floods and landslides in Nepal and China, with searches ongoing. Sports (Asia Games): Gilas Pilipinas seeks quarterfinal entry against China in men’s basketball, while South Korea tops Japan 100-83 in group play. Tourism & Daily Life: Japan sees record inbound spending and also faces complaints that garbage rules are confusing for foreign visitors.