Banking & Inflation Watch: The Bank of Japan lifted its policy rate to a 31-year high of 1.0%, warning that higher crude prices from West Asia and a weak yen could push inflation above target. China Consumer Signals: China’s May retail sales fell 0.6% year-on-year for the first time since late 2022, while industrial output rose on high-tech manufacturing—an uneven mix that matters for consumer-facing brands. Retail & Food Safety: Sam’s Club China replaced its chairman after a regulator interview tied to food-safety concerns, with a compliance overhaul planned across procurement, logistics and stores. AI Shopping in India: Nykaa partnered with OpenAI to bring beauty and fashion discovery into ChatGPT via connected apps, plus OpenAI tools for Nykaa’s internal teams. Air Travel Pricing: Air India launched a pilot “basic fare” on select domestic routes with no complimentary meals, targeting price-conscious travellers. Auto Service Push: Isuzu Motors India rolled out a nationwide pre-monsoon service camp (June 18-24) with discounted labour/parts and free multi-point inspections. Luxury & IP Tourism: Shanghai Disney marked its 10th anniversary, unveiling a Spider-Man-themed expansion as global IP brands keep betting on China’s services demand. Foodservice Deal: Yum Brands agreed to sell Pizza Hut for $2.7b—Pizza Hut China to Yum China and the rest to LongRange Capital. Health Policy: India restricted Telegram until June 22 ahead of the NEET-UG re-exam, aiming to curb exam-related scams. Japan Agriculture Tech: A report pegs Japan’s agriculture drone market at $104.8m in 2025, forecast to reach $357.8m by 2034 as farms adopt sensor-led monitoring.