Publishing & Culture: India’s Cannes Lions 2026 push added nine more shortlists, with Film Craft leading (three) and wins across Design, Direct and Media—another sign of how creative publishing and brand storytelling are driving regional visibility. Books & Reading Habits: A Japanese study argues paper still beats screens for reading, feeding the ongoing debate over formats as publishers and platforms chase attention. Tech & Supply-Chain Security: Microsoft links the Mastra AI npm supply-chain attack to North Korea’s Sapphire Sleet, after attackers compromised 140+ npm packages—an urgent reminder for Asia’s fast-moving developer ecosystems. Vernacular Literature: A piece on Punjabi fiction highlights a shift toward vernacular languages as serious modern literary tools, spotlighting Ijaz’s Sameyan Toon Paar as a marker of that change. Local Governance & Environment: Tamil Nadu revoked DMK-era clearance for a Rs 2,000 crore housing project near Chennai’s Pallikaranai Ramsar Wetland, setting up a legal fight and raising stakes for publishing-adjacent civic debate. Global Diplomacy: U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Switzerland with Pakistan and Qatar mediators to advance a 60-day interim deal framework—watch this space for knock-on effects on regional stability and trade.