Philippines Connectivity Push: Globe Telecom activated Starlink Mobile in Japan with KDDI support, aiming to cut “dead zones” for Filipino travelers via direct-to-device roaming and terrestrial coverage. National Day Travel Surge (China): China’s railways logged a record 25.2M passenger trips on Oct 1 for the week-long National Day holiday, with 1,462 extra trains and expectations of 284M trips by Oct 8. Tourism Awards (Philippines): TPB Philippines won Best National Tourism Organization for a 4th straight year at the TTG Travel Awards, alongside multiple Philippine category wins. Japan Entry Rules: Japan published an official list of eight countries whose citizens can use an ePassport instead of applying for a visa in advance, including Thailand and UAE. Pacific Pre-COP31 (Cook Islands/Tuvalu/Fiji): PM Mark Brown heads to Tuvalu and Fiji to push for faster, simpler climate finance and stronger ocean and resilience protections ahead of COP31. Security at Borders (India-Nepal): SSB seized gold and silver worth at least several lakh rupees at the New Mechi Bridge, detaining four people. Scam Warning (India): Authorities and consumer voices flagged “Rent a Garba Partner” and other festive holiday offers as potential cyber traps. Travel Tech & Planning: A new Smart Travē eSIM deal targets Filipinos with up to 40% off data packs for international trips. Trade/Policy Watch (US-China): US filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions on certain amine compounds from China, alleging very high dumping margins.