Malaysia Trade Momentum: Bank Negara Malaysia said policy consistency is keeping investor confidence steady as Malaysia’s Q2 GDP rose 6% y/y and H1 trade hit RM1.79tn, with June exports at a record RM340.9bn. Philippines Blue Economy: Manila secured €200m ($230m) from France’s AFD for marine ecosystem protection and blue-economy projects, targeting livelihoods for 3m+ coastal workers. Digital Trade for MSMEs: Grab and the International Trade Centre launched a nationwide push to help Filipino micro, small and medium firms use digital tools and track how training boosts sales. UK Labor Costs Debate: A UK business group warned Andy Burnham’s Employment Rights plans could deter hiring temporary workers, pushing firms toward overtime or offshoring. US-Iran Economic Pressure: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US will roll out “economic isolation” measures “never seen before,” alongside an indefinite naval blockade. Trade Talks Under Strain: India-US negotiations continue even as a US Senate bill proposes up to 100% tariffs on Russian oil buyers, raising uncertainty for India’s energy-linked trade. Housing as Growth Lever: Rhode Island’s Quonset plans workforce apartments to tackle recruitment and retention bottlenecks tied to the housing shortage. Tourism as Backbone: Nepal’s tourism leadership urged tighter public-private coordination, with airline and tourism-board reforms aimed at boosting foreign-currency earnings.