UPI fee shake-up in India: India will start charging a 0.4% merchant fee on UPI payments above ₹2,000 from Oct 15, ending six years of zero-cost for businesses; retailers warn it could push some customers back to cash and squeeze margins during the festive season, while a Supreme Court petition seeks to suspend the framework. China-ASEAN trade push: China’s 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and Business and Investment Summit will spotlight economic trade cooperation with AI as the “protagonist,” expanding exhibition space to 170,000 sq m and adding a new Nanning AI zone. China consumer slowdown: August data points to weaker consumption and a property slump, even as AI-linked manufacturing and exports stay resilient. Amazon Alexa+ lands in India: Amazon rolls out Alexa+ with more conversational AI, Hindi/Hinglish support, and shopping/entertainment integrations—aimed at making smart assistants feel more natural for Indian households. Food safety crackdown: India’s FSSAI suspended Ganesh Products’ licence after serious sanitation and pest-control failures at its premises. Japan retail/auto signals: BYD launched its kei-car RACCO in Japan, while Bosch says Chinese auto innovation is creating faster, more open supplier opportunities globally.