Skills & Hiring: Japan’s FamilyMart is recruiting amid staffing shortages by featuring Lady Gaga in a part-time worker campaign, aiming to attract and retain staff across its 16,000+ stores. Workforce & Education: Punjab’s “Punjab Sikhiya Kranti” initiative is equipping five government polytechnics with Innovation Labs to make students more job-ready through technical exposure, curated internships, and mentoring. Jobs & Mobility: India’s hybrid learning debate is shifting toward formats that fit working professionals, as global surveys show younger candidates still prefer in-person while older workers want structured human contact without full-time disruption. Economic Growth & Jobs: India’s industrial production rose 8% in August, led by manufacturing (9%), with the report linking momentum to job creation for engineering graduates. Cross-border Talent: A Confucius Institute at Kabul University is drawing Afghan students who see Chinese language skills as a pathway to scholarships and professional opportunities. Corporate Expansion: YKK India broke ground on a new Tamil Nadu plant near Chennai, investing $150m and targeting jobs as construction runs to a planned February 2028 completion. Policy & Labor: US lawmakers urged Trump to press China to repeal its “Ethnic Unity” law, warning it could enable broad prosecutions of minority groups. AI & Work: Ireland’s reported job losses tied to AI highlight how automation pressures can hit younger, digitized sectors.