Retail Expansion in China: SM Prime is investing ₱1.5 billion to expand its Xiamen mall with the CHAO Block, a “neo-urban” retail concept aimed at younger shoppers; the first phase opens Sept 2026 and the second is due Q4 2027, with space planned for independent founders and local brands. Consumer Protection Crackdown: India’s CCPA launched suo motu action against 41 restaurants for adding service charges by default without consent, including Chaayos, and ordered software billing changes and reimbursements. Digital Commerce Push: Reliance Retail says it’s prioritising dark stores and hyperlocal delivery to scale digital commerce, accepting margin pressure now for better cash generation over the next two years. EU–China Trade Tensions: France and Germany want a joint roadmap by September to tackle China’s trade practices, including subsidies and currency concerns, pushing the EU Commission to move faster on market investigations. AI Companions Under Pressure: China’s new rules on emotional AI companions led major platforms to remove/suspend features, leaving users with “farewell” messages. Next-Gen Batteries: China signals sodium-ion and solid-state batteries as priority, while lithium-ion faces a new consumption tax timeline starting Sept 1, 2026. Consumer Heatwear Trend: With Europe’s heatwave demand rising, Chinese cooling products like fan hats, handheld fans, cooling towels and patches are seeing strong orders and sell-outs. Space for Consumers/Industry: India’s Skyroot successfully launched its first private orbital rocket, Vikram-1, reaching orbit with customer payloads.