AGP Executive Report

Publishing & Books in India: Lucknow’s Gomti Book Festival 2026 opens at Lucknow University with CM Yogi Adityanath, featuring 250+ stalls from 120+ publishers, author sessions, a children’s pavilion, and e-library access over nine days. Manga Industry: Kodansha says Kei Urana’s Gachiakuta will stay on hiatus for research, while J-Novel Club’s The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power manga adaptation ends in the next volume. Book Events: Third Place Books hosts mystery novelist Margaret Mizushima with J.A. Jance on Sept 30 for a public signing and Q&A. Media & Reputation: The Hindu apologises after backlash over a front-page ad defending convicted rapist Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Games & IP: Konami and Netmarble reveal Tokyo Game Show 2026 lineups, including playable demos for Castlevania, Silent Hill, and Suikoden, plus Netmarble’s Shangri-La Frontier demo. Culture & Identity: A new Jewish-focused runway during New York Fashion Week spotlights how fashion can claim space without explanation.

BRICS Culture Diplomacy: India used the 18th BRICS Summit to spotlight craft and publishing-adjacent soft power via the BRICS Bazaar at the National Crafts Museum, with artisans and traditions from across the expanded bloc (textiles, embroidery, leatherwork and more) running Sept 10–15. Reparations Debate in Media: UK director Nikkhil Advani’s Amazon Prime drama The Revolutionaries renews calls for Britain to pay India trillions, tying on-screen brutality to a reparations argument. Digital Payments Book Launch: RBI ex-governor D. Subbarao helped release Cashless Nation: How UPI Changed Everything, framing UPI as an open payment ecosystem that reshaped financial inclusion. Literary Festival in Lucknow: Lucknow’s Gomti Book Festival (Sept 12–20) opens with ~250 stalls and 121 publishers, pushing Hindi and multilingual reading culture. Tech & Publishing Ecosystem: Apple’s Siri AI rollout comes with region and usage limits, while Apple Intelligence expands language support—another reminder that platform rules shape what readers and creators can access. Philippines Literary Memory: Cebu historian Resil Mojares is remembered for scholarship and the Cebuano Studies Center, after being named National Artist for Literature.

AI Safety & Misuse: Anthropic says bad actors used Claude for state-style surveillance, propaganda and weapons-adjacent work, including a SIM-snooping system in Mali and drone software in Russia. Health Innovation: A Madhya Pradesh doctor couple’s low-cost sickle-cell screening and genetic counselling card has been featured in a Harvard University Press book, spotlighting grassroots care for tribal communities. Markets & Regulation: SEBI proposes changes to derivatives expiry settlement and closing auction timing, aiming to reduce abrupt price swings after pushback on the new framework. Banking & FX: India’s forex reserves hit a record $785.7B as RBI measures boosted dollar inflows, extending a tenth straight week of gains. Publishing & Culture: India’s Gomti Book Festival in Lucknow draws 120+ publishers and highlights the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya digital library. Tech/Consumer Electronics: Apple published multiple iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Duo launch dates but left many markets unnamed, complicating what buyers see locally. Sports: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to reach the Women’s Asia Cup final against India.

AI Misuse Exposed: Anthropic says bad actors used Claude for state surveillance, drone software, and weapons-related work, adding fresh pressure on AI safety as Asia’s tech race accelerates. Lunar Data Rivalry: NASA’s Artemis workshop gave 71 signatories a shared lunar data setup, but the approach sidelines China and Russia—setting up a split in how moon science gets shared. Market Jolt: South Korea’s KOSPI slid below 7,000 amid a broad Asia selloff tied to oil, inflation worries, and Fed rate-hike expectations. Digital Rights Slip-Up: Reporting says Google’s transparency pipeline for sex-crime takedown requests exposed victims’ identifying details, including in Korea and beyond. Publishing & Media: VIZ will release an English manga adaptation of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None; Winsing Animation heads to MIPCOM with Into the Mortal World and new GG Bond titles. Sports & Culture: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan to reach the Women’s Asia Cup final; India’s Asian Games 2026 contingent and schedules were also published.

AI & Biosecurity: Anthropic says it blocked attempts to use Claude for biological weapons, plus other misuse like espionage and surveillance, detailing cases from Dec 2025–Aug 2026. Publishing & Copyright: India’s Copyright Office rejected an AI system as author for a work, saying only a human can be the statutory author. Books & Memoirs: HarperCollins launched Arundhati Bhattacharya’s Hindi memoir Aparajita at the Bombay Stock Exchange. Literary Spotlight: Jiangsu Writers Association’s short-story collection Sounds and Faces spotlights seven young Jiangsu authors. Trade & Markets: NSE set its IPO price band at Rs 1,700–1,785 (OFS) to raise up to Rs 22,562 crore. Sports (Asia Cup): Pakistan and Sri Lanka meet in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final, with the winner to face India. Stationery Retail: Kokuyo opened its first Singapore store, bringing Campus notebooks and Harinacs staplers to local shelves. Regional Politics (Book): Dennis Hardy’s War or Peace? The Indo-Pacific on the Cusp argues US–China rivalry is reshaping the region.

Women’s Asia Cup: India beat Bangladesh by 40 runs in the semi-final in Dubai, with Shafali Verma’s 64 and Deepti Sharma’s three wickets sealing a 149/5 total and restricting Bangladesh to 109/7. AI Safety & Biosecurity: Anthropic says it blocked potential misuse of its AI models by researchers who may have been exploring biological weapons, citing the hard line between legitimate science and dangerous pathogen engineering. Fintech Regulation: RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra urged fintechs to treat user data as a fiduciary duty, not a monetizable asset, warning that trust erodes when consent and protection fail. Publishing/Media & Rights: A Hong Kong court convicted the Wall Street Journal publisher for trying to deter a reporter from taking a union role, underscoring pressure on press freedom. Tech & Cybersecurity: A roundup highlights malicious browser extensions and phishing tactics targeting financial users, with attackers exploiting trust and weak edges. Books & Culture: Korea kicks off a 10-day literature festival with a global writer lineup, while K-Book Week in Paris marks 140 years of Korea–France ties.

Korea Literature Festival: South Korea kicks off a 10-day Korea Literature Festival in Seoul, with global writers including Chile’s Benjamin Labatut and South Africa’s Damon Galgut, plus a theme of identity and “emotional healing.” Publishing & rights in Hong Kong: A Hong Kong court convicted Dow Jones Publishing (Asia) for deterring Wall Street Journal reporter Selina Cheng from taking a trade-union role, while clearing it of unlawful firing—another flashpoint for press freedom. Foldables hit a new phase: Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, priced from $1,999, with preorders starting Oct. 16 in 70+ markets; Samsung immediately responded with social-media roasts as analysts expect foldables to heat up. Tech meets books: “The Odyssey” film’s success is driving a surge in Greek-myth and adult classics sales at Korea’s Kyobo Book Centre. Sports (youth): India thrashed Pakistan 19-0 to reach the Women’s Junior Asia Cup semifinals. Business/markets: Oil above $100 and inflation fears weighed on Asia stocks, while South Korea’s KOSPI hovered just above 7,000.

ASEAN Health Policy: Malaysia is pushing its “Mai Kurang” initiative—cutting daily sugar, salt and calories—to help tackle non-communicable diseases, and is promoting it via a recipe book shared with ASEAN partners. Cybersecurity & Messaging Apps: WeChat’s operator says it has fixed software weaknesses after a US firm demonstrated an AI-assisted “worm” that could exploit contacts, with Tencent claiming no users were affected. Tech & Consumer Electronics: Apple unveiled AirPods 5 with open-ear active noise cancellation and new sound features, while also teasing a foldable iPhone “Duo” ahead of its September event. Publishing & Books-to-Screen: A film adaptation of Buzz Bissinger’s WWII book “The Mosquito Bowl” is set for Netflix, and “Practical Magic 2” is targeting a global theatrical start. Sports & Identity: Naomi Osaka hit back at US Open outfit hate, saying her Haitian roots shape her style. Finance: India’s RBI is draining a record rupee cash surplus using FX swaps after foreign deposit inflows exceeded expectations. Maritime Cooperation: India’s INS Sudarshini held a PASSEX with Italy’s ITS Palinuro in Livorno, underlining growing India-Italy naval ties.

Digital Identity Gap: A World Bank report says 2.8 billion people worldwide still lack access to government-recognized digital IDs, with big gaps across APAC and gender disparities in ownership. Vietnam Cultural Push: Vietnam’s lawmakers are reviewing a draft cultural-industry law that could include VAT refunds for foreign film crews and new incentives for publishing and IP, aiming for an October vote. Meta’s Muse AI: Meta has launched Muse, an AI agent that can autonomously send emails, make payments and book travel via apps and WhatsApp, with opt-outs and plans for an encrypted version. Korea Market Access Reform: South Korea’s KRX plans longer trading hours and a shift toward faster settlement (T+1) to improve foreign investor access. Publishing & Manga: Kadokawa will reboot Shiden Kanzaki’s Black Bullet with new content and a revised release schedule, while two Taiwanese manga artists won gold and bronze in a Tokyo wordless manga contest. Design Recognition: Kweichow Moutai’s Osaka Expo baijiu packaging won an A’ Design Award gold in packaging. Local Governance & Rail: Central Valley cities are pushing back on California’s high-speed rail station-area changes, demanding clearer plans to protect local development.

Pakistan Publishing/Finance: The Bank of Punjab shareholders have unanimously approved a Punjab government equity injection of up to Rs30 billion, aimed at boosting capital for growth across corporate, SME, agriculture, housing, digital and Islamic banking, plus a planned overseas wholesale unit. Gaming & IP: Nintendo confirmed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remade for Switch 2 will launch Nov 5, with a major visual and cutscene overhaul tied to the franchise’s 40th anniversary. AI & Platforms: Meta launched “Muse,” an AI agent that can access connected apps to handle tasks like emailing, payments and travel bookings, raising new questions about safety and sensitive data handling. Media Industry: Toledo’s The Blade owners say the paper will stop publishing by year-end if a buyer isn’t found, echoing broader press-and-production squeeze. Traditional Craft Science: Kyushu University research links Japanese igusa (rush grass) mats with higher concentration-related brain activity and lower reported tension. Sports/Logistics: India’s Asian Games cricketers will stay in designated accommodation in Nagoya rather than five-star hotels due to scarcity, with BCCI saying arrangements are comfortable.

China–Palau Info Warfare: Palauan lawmakers faced viral claims that Taiwan allegedly paid cash to influence politics, with the story spreading fast and raising questions about Beijing-linked “irregular warfare” tactics. Japan Food Culture: TaiKouRou Tokyo near Tokyo Station is going viral for its jumbo gyoza, a decades-old dumpling obsession turned into a must-try photo-and-dining stop. Southeast Asia Travel Disruption: After days of ash-related disruptions, Singapore-bound flights from Jakarta resumed smoothly at Changi, but travellers reported last-minute rerouting costs. Australia Rugby: Wallabies flyhalf Carter Gordon’s fractured leg spotlights Australia’s long-running playmaking depth concerns ahead of major tests. Tech & IP: China plans to refine IP rules for AI, algorithms and platform-economy content as it updates its copyright regime for 2026–2030. India Food Safety: India’s crackdown is pushing hygiene checks and stricter packaging scrutiny, with regulators also pressing for front-of-pack warning labels. Publishing/Media: HarperCollins India is set to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging” on Nov 10 after a Penguin India dispute. Games & Pop Culture: Capcom says Onimusha: Way of the Sword topped 1 million sales on day one, helping the franchise cross 10 million cumulative units. Retail Tech: Rainbow opened a digital-twin-enabled supermarket in Shenzhen, aiming to link real-time store sensing with better execution. Smartphones: Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 18 Fold in China with a Leica-tuned camera setup and a 6,000mAh battery.

LPG Policy Shift (India): India’s petroleum ministry has cut the rural LPG refill booking gap from 45 days to a uniform 25 days, citing improved supply and lower refill backlogs, with OMCs told to implement immediately. HarmonyOS Update (China): Huawei opened the HarmonyOS 7 public beta to 50+ device models, but the big catch remains: apps must be rebuilt for HarmonyOS or they won’t run. Para Sports (India): India’s para archers in Ahmedabad booked multiple finals and medals across recurve, compound and W1, including Sheetal Devi’s progress and team gold-medal matches. Manga Distribution (South Korea): Manta struck global deals to distribute 300+ manga titles from KADOKAWA, Square Enix and Manga UP!, expanding its single-platform webcomics/webnovels/manga lineup. Publishing & Power Reform (Philippines): A new book marks EPIRA at 25 years, revisiting whether the 2001 power reform law delivered more generation and better electricity outcomes. Tech/AI & Chips (South Korea): South Korea’s “AI for all” push is set to roll out free, unlimited general-purpose AI to ~51–52 million citizens, boosting demand signals for local chip and infrastructure partners.

Sino-Mao Memory Shift: China’s “last Maoist village” in Henan shows how Mao nostalgia is fading as younger residents treat the ideology as history, not a blueprint. K-Book Week (Publishing): South Korea brings Korean books to Paris for “K-Book Week” marking 140 years of ties with France, with picture-book showcases and rights/co-publishing talks. Japan Libraries Get Louder: A new municipal library in Akashi is drawing crowds by allowing conversation and smartphone use, challenging the “quiet library” norm. Trade & Legal Capacity (Hong Kong): Hong Kong launches a training course on international trade and investment legal practice to strengthen foreign-related rule-of-law skills. Asia Markets & AI Mood: Asian tech shares lift on chip optimism as investors watch US inflation for Fed timing, with OpenAI’s next model rollout adding fuel. Semiconductor Supply Chain (India/Japan): Japan’s Nikkei jumps as chip-related stocks track US strength, while K-Book Week and library reforms underline the region’s publishing push. Energy Policy (S. Korea): Seoul proposes merging KNOC and Kogas into a new “Energy Resources Corporation” as part of public-institution reform.

Nintendo Switch 2 access dispute: Reports say some Switch 2 owners can’t reach Nintendo online services after seeing error code 2124-4508, with complaints spreading across Asia, Europe and the US—even from buyers claiming they used legitimate cartridges. Japan publishing charts: Oricon’s August rankings put Yasuhisa Hara’s Kingdom Vol. 80 at #1 in manga, while Reki Kawahara/abec’s Sword Art Online Material 1: Sugary Days leads the light-novel list. Sonia Gandhi memoir publishing shake-up: After a Penguin India row, HarperCollins India is set to publish Sonia Gandhi’s Belonging in India on Nov 10, stepping in after Penguin backed out. Tech & chips: A new wave of coverage argues Nvidia’s AI profits could scale to levels rivaling major national economies by 2029, while China’s chip race is framed as falling further behind. UN map debate: A UNGA “Correct the Map” resolution backed by 164 countries urges equal-area maps for teaching and policy, with India voting in favour and critics warning it won’t fix economic problems by itself. Sports-to-books angle: Iraq’s U20 Asian Cup qualification win over Thailand is noted alongside the week’s broader Asia sports and media chatter.

Publishing & Rights in India: HarperCollins is set to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging in India on Nov 10 after a dispute with Penguin India over edits, turning a publishing decision into a high-profile legal-and-market fight. Book Culture & Social Issues: A new children’s picture book from Duckbill/BLUE tackles caste through story and emotion rather than a lecture, aiming to open space for conversations families often avoid. Literary Voices: Meena Kandasamy discusses writing as a calling, cancel culture, and the ethics of separating art from artists in a wide-ranging interview. Regional Publishing & Media: Japan’s student newspapers are pushing back as costs and staffing shortages squeeze campus reporting. China’s Cultural Memory: A report on Mao nostalgia in Henan’s “last Maoist village” shows how political memory is being reinterpreted as the economy slows. Books & Knowledge Access: Lanzhou’s digitisation project is bringing the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) into public view via an exhibition of selected images. Urdu & Bookshops: In Lucknow, an Urdu bookstore survives by relocating, reflecting how rising costs and shrinking margins are reshaping local literary life.

Pentagon Leak Hunt: US investigators reportedly gave polygraph tests to about 50 Joint Staff members after reporting on diminished munitions, signaling a tougher line on press leaks. US–China Energy Clash: The US moves to restructure Venezuela’s debt and block China’s claims tied to new oil output, turning Caracas into a new front in Washington’s push for hemispheric dominance. Asia-Pacific Media Cooperation: A Thai journalists leader says cross-border fact-checking and shared reporting across the region can build consensus amid AI-driven misinformation. India Economy & Spending: India’s Q1 FY27 GDP growth hits 7.8%, while PM Modi urges less foreign travel, overseas weddings and gold buying—fueling debate over household spending and the numbers. Housing Finance Shift: A report finds Tier 2/3 cities drive 64% of home-loan volumes and digital processing is rising fast, reshaping India’s mortgage market. Publishing/Books: HarperCollins is set to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging” in India on Nov 10 after a Penguin India dispute. Book Culture: A festival in Odisha blends literature and travel through “Walking BookFairs,” including an “Allen Ginsberg in Odisha” photo exhibition.