AGP Executive Report

Japan Book Charts: Fuyumi Ono’s fantasy sequel Yumei no Kishi: Juni Kokuki topped Billboard Japan’s Book Hot 100 for a second straight week, while film buzz lifted Yu Nagira’s Nanji, Hoshi no Gotoku. Children’s Publishing: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Gruffalo Granny is driving record sales, keeping the Gruffalo franchise roaring 26 years on. Fantasy Watch: Goodreads’ “Most Anticipated October” spotlights a packed month for Asia-Pacific readers, from romantasy returns to demon-bargain debuts. AI & 3D Creation: Tripo AI’s Yanpei Cao discussed how the company is pushing real-time 3D generation after major SIGGRAPH 2026 visibility and funding. Indonesia’s AI Infrastructure: Indonesia’s AI data-center push is moving from plans to megawatt-scale builds, raising the question of resource rules and grid readiness. Bangladesh Media Loss: bdnews24.com editor Toufique Imrose Khalidi died in London at 59, marking the passing of a digital journalism pioneer. Philippines Media Exchange: Inquirer Interactive CCO Arlene Burgos joined a US IVLP program on AI innovation and security. India Silver Update: India’s silver imports rebounded after licensing eased, setting up festival-season demand.

China–Indonesia Publishing Ties: Chinese publishers are finding new momentum in Indonesia as Mandarin children’s titles get rights talks at the Indonesia International Book Fair, with interest in interactive formats and China’s printing know-how. India Food Safety Crackdown: India’s food labelling and enforcement push is intensifying, with regulators taking action over misleading claims and mislabelling—another sign readers are demanding proof, not promises. Banking Talent Pipeline: Two top Indian private-bank CEOs were ICICI-trained, underscoring how one group’s leadership network keeps feeding the boardroom. Indonesia Diploma AI Controversy: A fake diploma claim around ex-president Joko Widodo is being challenged with court submissions and AI-generated image allegations. Anime & Manga Publishing: CyberAgent cast Yuichi Nakamura in the Kagurabachi anime, while English digital releases for the manga continue to expand. Travel & Loyalty Tech: Agoda appoints Riisa Naka as Japan brand ambassador and partners with Marina Bay Sands on a bespoke booking storefront. Sports Spotlight: Wang Xiyu wins women’s tennis gold for China; India’s hockey and wrestling results keep the Asian Games medal race hot.

Manga & Publishing: Marvel teams up with Japan’s Kadokawa for an original manga line featuring Spider-Man and Spider-Gwen (plus Daredevil and Punisher), launched on Kadokawa’s KadoComi with print collections planned, while Kaoru Mori’s A Bride’s Story gets a new volume this winter under a new publisher. Japanese Culture & Food Books: Naoko Takei Moore’s Simply Donabe spotlights the clay pot tradition ahead of a Cookbook Live event, and a Japanese head spa trend keeps spreading via viral “ASMR-coded” salon treatments. India Food Safety Crackdown: India’s regulators are raiding and shutting down eateries and branded restaurants, pushing front-of-pack warning labels as part of a wider food safety push. Tech, Media & AI Governance: Trump’s “super intelligence” pact promises internal and external checks from major AI firms, but critics flag vague rules and weak enforcement. Crypto & Consumer Tech: Fujifilm takes over Google Photos printing operations in the US, while a $320m bitcoin heist on Blockstream’s Liquid Network highlights how asset recovery may hinge on where stolen funds land. Sports & Books/Events: The Asia Bookshelf also flags Asian Games coverage and book-adjacent cultural programming, including a community printmaking anniversary in Hawai‘i and a new Prime Video series inspired by Meredith E. Bagby’s book about the Challenger disaster.

India–China diplomacy & culture: Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim thanked outgoing Chinese ambassador Ouyang Yujing for ties across economy, tech, education and culture, and noted a gift from China’s premier: a book about Hangzhou. UPSC centenary publishing: Modi marked the Union Public Service Commission’s 100th anniversary by releasing a commemorative coin, stamp and a book of “100 Landmark Judgements,” while also highlighting Bose’s 1920 UPSC exam in Sanskrit. Civic education in textbooks: NCERT added personal income tax to Class 9 with “Understanding Society India and Beyond-Part 2,” pushing slab-wise calculations and a message about paying taxes honestly and on time. Transport policy debate: TERI’s study argues no single fuel wins everywhere in India’s clean-mobility transition—electricity helps small vehicles, CNG looks best for many segments, and heavy trucks face weight limits for EVs. Tech & media: Square Enix shut down Final Fantasy XIV Mobile (China-only) permanently, while Vivo rolled out the X Fold6 globally with a 200MP camera and a reported India launch date. Publishing & books in the spotlight: A new book on classic arcade games, The Arcade 1971-1999, spotlights creators behind retro hits. Sports with a books-and-culture angle: India booked the men’s cricket gold-medal decider vs Pakistan after crushing Sri Lanka, and India’s women’s hockey team set up a historic final vs China.

Publishing & Books: NCERT’s new Class 9 Social Science “Understanding Society: India and Beyond — Part 2” links India’s governance mottos—“Satyameva Jayate” and “Yato Dharmastato Jayah”—to the Mundaka Upanishad and Mahabharata, and highlights the Sengol as a symbol of good governance, alongside Gandhi’s “Ram Rajya.” Trade & Publishing Policy: Korea’s publishers move toward voluntary AI rules for books, aiming to curb “click-to-publish” practices. Literary Culture: A new “Adventure Time Deluxe Comics Library” Kickstarter from Oni Press spotlights Paul Pope’s exclusive excerpt and compiles more than 100 issues. India Sports & Reading Culture: India’s compound archery sweep at the Asian Games adds an Olympic quota, while Room to Read India’s summit celebrates 53 lakh participants and a record read-a-thon. Business/Logistics: PE firm TPG continues trimming Shadowfax via a ₹113.6 crore open-market sale, following earlier block deals as the stock surges. Environment & Travel: A rare Super El Niño could disrupt travel for months; experts urge flexible, refundable bookings.

Publishing & AI Policy: South Korea’s Korea Publisher Society unveiled “Principles for the Use of AI by Publishers and Authors for Readers,” aiming to curb “click-to-publish” mass books and clarify human responsibility across the publishing chain. International Translation Day: UN-backed International Translation Day spotlights translation as a trade and art that supports dialogue and peace, with reading recommendations for translated fiction. Literary Prizes: The Goldsmiths Prize shortlist includes Missouri Williams, China Miéville and Polly Barton, underscoring fiction that “breaks the mould.” Book Culture & Events: Korea launches “NEXT RUN Travel Festa,” turning road races into multiday regional trips with packages, recovery programs and local “hubs.” Sustainability & Carbon Accounting: Meta Materials’ Cercarbono-approved ELV methodology offers carbon and circular-economy accounting for recycling end-of-life vehicles. Business/Logistics (publishing-adjacent): KKR backs Cisternina Logistics to expand pan-India bulk liquid storage and logistics.

AI & Publishing Policy (South Korea): Korean publishing groups unveiled voluntary “Principles on AI Use by Publishers and Authors for Readers,” aiming to protect author creativity and reader trust while setting norms on transparency, accountability and compensation. Secondhand Book Trade (Japan): Japan’s used bookstores are booming, but owners fear bulk buyers are buying by the ton for AI scanning and book destruction. Open Science Collaboration (China): China’s National Science Library and PLOS signed an MOU to advance the UNESCO-endorsed OS10 open-science infrastructure sharing programme, including research and open data capacity-building. Urban Governance (China): Beijing’s “Swift Response” public complaints forum (Oct 12-13) will spotlight hotline-style governance with thousands of participants and international guests. Travel & Culture (Asia-Pacific): “Drama hotels” in China are turning stays into role-play experiences, while Japan’s used-book boom and AI scanning fears show how tech is reshaping reading culture. Airline Premium Upgrades (US-Pacific): Alaska and Hawaiian announced major lounge expansions and new premium cabins, rolling out from 2027-2028.

Publishing Policy: Sri Lanka’s PM says the 2027 Budget will revise VAT on books, spotlighting the Colombo International Book Fair and scholarship support for students. Book Industry & Culture: Penguin-published The Big Book of Kashmiri Literature launches in Srinagar, with translators and editors discussing how Kashmiri writing moves into English and why institutional support for translation matters. Publishing & Business (IPO): India’s JB Ecotex files a DRHP, hinting it may do a pre-IPO placement before the red herring prospectus, with proceeds earmarked for debt repayment and corporate purposes. Media & AI in News: A new database, Jindex.ai, maps how newsrooms adopt AI worldwide, finding patterns like hyperlocal outlets leading adoption and synthetic anchors skewing female. Fashion & Luxury (cross-industry): Giorgio Armani’s future stake sale talks begin as Bottega Veneta sheds layers in Milan, a reminder of how publishing-adjacent culture industries keep shifting. Sports (Asia Games): India’s boxing surge continues as Ankush Panghal reaches the final and Parveen Hooda storms into gold-medal bouts.

AI Governance & Safety: Pope Leo XIV pushed back on “fake news” claims, urging serious action on AI safety risks as AI agents target sensitive systems. US–China Trade Truce: The Busan Agreement was extended to Jan. 10 with lists for potential tariff cuts, but soybeans for food/crushing were excluded and no new ag commitments were announced. AI Policy Spotlight: RegulatingAI and Knowledge Networks unveiled “The AI Policy 100 (2026),” naming key rule-makers shaping global AI governance. Publishing/Tech Industry: Nippon Ichi/NIS America hinted at moving toward more worldwide, simultaneous game releases after criticism of staggered launches. Maritime Capacity: India’s GRSE plans to expand shipbuilding capacity to 32 vessels concurrently and chase global markets. Books & Culture: A “Taiwan Review” magazine closed after 75 years, raising questions about what happens to its archives. Regional Diplomacy: Canada’s PM Mark Carney said he can’t guarantee India won’t be linked to crimes in Canada, despite closer ties. Privacy-First Apps: Japan’s Memori Baby launches as an ad-free, family-only tracker with encryption options.

Publishing & Books: Manjula Padmanabhan completes her decade-long ‘Meiji’ trilogy with “Zone,” published by Hachette India, sending her heroine into a future “Africa” called the Zone and sharpening the series’ gender and survival themes. Literary Awards: Korean fantasy “The Bird That Drinks Tears” (Lee Young-do) wins France’s Prix du livre Cultissime, boosting the series’ international profile after its 2003 Korean debut. Film & Distribution: The Guardian and mk2 Films announce global release plans for documentary “NAZA,” with theatrical rollouts in 56 territories and a free online release later in November. Media Freedom: Myanmar reports 65 journalists arrested from Feb 1 to Apr 15, with many charged under sedition provisions, while some are still detained. Tech & Reading Habits: A report says South Korea’s foldable market got a short-term lift after Apple’s iPhone Duo reveal, while Japan sees growing digital manga readership among teenage girls. Business/Fintech: IFC invests $20m in Malaysia’s Boost to scale digital lending and financial solutions. Sports Nutrition: Herbalife India partners with the Indian Olympic Association as official nutrition partner for Team India at Asian Games 2026.

Publishing & Culture (Pakistan/Germany): Tahira Rabab’s new Urdu poetry book Qaleed-e-Hijab was launched at a Hamburg Mushaira, alongside an exhibition by Pakistani artist Farrah Mahmood Rana—highlighting Urdu literature’s push abroad. Libraries & Education (India): The 27th IIM Libraries Consortium meeting at IIM Ranchi brought together librarians from 20 IIMs to expand shared acquisitions, collective negotiations, and the Union Catalogue of IIM Libraries. Books & Learning (Classics): Dorothy Sayers’ take on classical education argues it’s less about a fixed canon and more about the learning “method” students need to recover. Media & Press Freedom (US): A US judge ordered the White House to restore press credentials after a dispute over a Trump-era media ban—raising fresh questions for independent journalism. Travel & Layovers: Travelers should watch for “STPC” on boarding passes, a code tied to carrier-paid stopovers that can include hotels, transfers, and transit visa help. Sports (NRL): Debate flared after a hip-drop tackle injured Nathan Cleary, with calls for tougher action as the league weighs how to handle the technique.

Olympic Qualification (Sports): Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng and Sivasangari Subramaniam won Asian Games squash gold to become the first players to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, beating India’s Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh respectively. Publishing & Culture (Books): A Georgian-language edition of a 19th-century French travel classic on the Caucasus—published for the first time in Georgian—marks a major cultural publishing milestone. Security & Geopolitics: Reports say speculation is rising that Vladimir Putin could test NATO resolve with a limited attack on Baltic states, with intelligence assessments flagging Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as likely targets. Arts & Design (Theatre/Books): Es Devlin’s “everythingist” approach is profiled as she becomes a go-to designer across theatre, pop, fashion runways and Olympic-scale work. India Elections & Media (Policy): A debate heats up over foreign-funded NGOs and digital media’s role in India’s electoral discourse, with ADR’s court cases and funding links at the center. Sports (India at Asian Games): India’s PV Sindhu exits badminton at the Asian Games, while squash finals still offer medal chances. Books & Memoir (South Asia): Speaking Tiger publishes a new collection of Assam women’s Hajj memoirs, preserving “Hajj kathas” that were once shared privately. Business/Publishing Adjacent: Cars24 says it expects to file its India IPO DRHP by April after a reverse flip process.

Esports Breakthrough (Japan): 11-year-old Yuki Kurihara won Japan’s first Asian Games esports gold, taking the Puyo Puyo Champions puzzle final after a semifinal win over Thailand. Publishing & Prizes (France): A Haitian-Canadian author was kicked out of France’s top Prix Goncourt race over claims of AI-written text, with detectors producing conflicting results. Books & Power (Tech/Policy): A September book roundup spotlights how copyright, propaganda, genomics, military AI and mass surveillance shape modern power. Community Reading (India): Shashi Tharoor released Debashis Chatterjee’s first poetry collection, Seven Shades of Love, via Penguin Random House India. Justice Access (India): India’s CJI Surya Kant inaugurated Bihar’s Victim Rights Centre and launched related helplines and a book on the initiative. Asian Games Medal Push (India): India hit 30 medals at Aichi-Nagoya, adding kabaddi golds and more shooting and squash medal chances. Digital Life (India): Aaj Ki Rasoi, a free Hindi-English meal-planning app, launched on app stores with WhatsApp sharing and no-repeat scheduling. Cybercrime (Crypto/Asia): North Korea-linked hackers are suspected in a Bitget hack reportedly worth about $388m.

Asian Games (Esports): Japan’s 11-year-old Yuki Kurihara won the Puyo Puyo puzzle final, beating South Korea 10-2 to claim Japan’s first esports gold at Aichi-Nagoya. Asian Games (Squash): India’s Anahat Singh stormed into the women’s singles final after a comeback win over Japan’s Satomi Watanabe, while Abhay Singh reached the men’s final, keeping LA 2028 qualification hopes alive. Asian Games (India medal haul): Day 8 delivered India’s best showing yet, including women’s kabaddi gold, men’s marathon silver, and multiple squash medals as finals and assured podium spots stacked up. Publishing & culture (Japan fiction): A translated Japanese fiction boom continues in the UK, with Japanese titles dominating top lists and genres like “weird girl” and “healing” fiction drawing readers. Games industry (Korea/Japan): NCSoft opened global testing for its new magic RPG “Astra: Knights of Veda Oratio,” with a closed beta starting Oct. 2. IPO watch (India): Baanganga Gold & Diamond filed a DRHP for an up-to Rs 720 crore IPO, combining fresh issue and offer for sale.

US–China Press Freedom Row: Trump’s Xi visit included a Constitution display and friendly camera moments, even as the administration has clashed with independent US media access. Japan–Publishing & IP Deals: Dentsu is partnering with Kodansha to route brand tie-ins for major manga franchises across North and South America. India–Books & Culture: Chennai’s 50th Book Fair is set for 7–19 Jan 2027, with a new fair website and plans to expand reading culture via local libraries. Pakistan–Creator Tax: Pakistan’s tax authority set a special procedure to tax non-resident social media creators based on audience thresholds. Publishing/Industry Notes: BMG’s Jim Selby elected to ASCAP’s board as AI and licensing pressures mount. Sports & Spotlight: India’s Suruchi–Kamaljeet won 10m air pistol mixed team gold at the Asian Games; India also added multiple medals on Day 6. Pacific/Community Reading: A new event highlights Micronesian wayfinding traditions in an updated edition of The Last Navigator.

Pacific Media Summit: Pacific newsrooms urged to protect editorial values while reaching remote communities, using community networks and collaboration without compromising standards. Pacific Leadership: New PINA president Neville Choi takes over as Moala steps down, with priorities including fact-checking and verification for Pacific media. Vietnam Culture Policy: Vietnam’s cultural development steering committee calls for faster rollout of Resolution 80, citing publishing-law changes and new decrees while flagging sector bottlenecks. Japan Publishing & Manga: New data shows 48% of Japanese teenage girls read manga digitally vs 28% of boys, highlighting a shift in youth consumption. Anime IP Deal: Dentsu and Kodansha partner to let brands across the Americas access major anime/manga franchises like Attack on Titan and Ghost in the Shell. Tech-to-Books/Media: Navana.ai launches Bodhi TTS, an Indian text-to-speech model in 10 languages, priced far below rivals. India Science & Publishing: IIT-Delhi researchers claim a working indigenously designed micro-GPU for low-cost graphics/display uses. Disaster & Books/Stories: Darjeeling hit by 153mm rain and a landslide affecting a rural hospital, with no patient injuries reported.