National Day Eve in Malaysia: Crowds packed Kuala Lumpur’s Dataran Merdeka for a 69th countdown concert mixing music, dance and history, while Putrajaya staged midnight fireworks and film screenings. Arab Book Award: Qatar’s Arab Book Award says it received 835 nominations for 2026, with linguistic and critical studies leading the submissions. Jewish summer camps: A post-camp survey highlights how Jewish kids’ confidence and belonging grow at camp, with resilience against criticism flagged as the next focus. Kerala diaspora culture: Kuwait’s Kerala Press Club Kuwait held an Onam celebration, stressing how younger generations now learn heritage through tech like AI. Wadi Rum astro-tourism: Jordan’s Wadi Rum is banking on dark skies for astro-tours, estimating at least JD3 million in added annual income. USS Pueblo story: A new multi-part series revisits the USS Pueblo “Pueblo Incident,” told through a veteran crewman’s memories. The Human Company: Humans of Bombay rebrands into a full-stack content and brand solutions firm, aiming to connect strategy, production and distribution. Black culture in marketing: Former Spotify exec Jay Norman launches Verse + Hook around the idea that Black culture is mainstream culture. Dolly Parton TV special: “Remembering Dolly: A Rhinestone Life” airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+. AI and healthcare debate: A JAMA-fueled conversation asks whether AI could replace physicians by 2030, but patient choice and the doctor relationship remain the sticking point. Meta kids’ safety settlement: Meta agrees to major changes and a $17B+ settlement tied to claims about keeping children hooked. Sydney Marathon protests: Pro-Palestine demonstrators protested Israeli soldiers running the race, with at least one finisher verified by Al Jazeera. Plushie Planet funding: Plushie Planet raises US$10M to expand AI companions and its “emotional healing” collectibles strategy. KHOONTA trailer: The Hindi film KHOONTA unveils its official trailer ahead of a September 18 theatrical release. The Batman: Part II: New set footage shows a high-speed Batmobile chase through Gotham PD cars. Casual sex op-ed: A new piece argues hookup panic is built on old scripts, not the reality of relationships. Korean pop culture expo: KPEX planning continues, with more details pointing to a major K-culture push.