Malaysia GDP Watch: Malaysia’s economy grew 5.8% y/y in Q2 2026, up from 5.4% in Q1, with services leading and agriculture contracting; inflation stayed contained and Bank Negara kept rates at 2.75%. Regional Growth Strategy: RHB Investment Bank points to five “regional growth centres” (Selangor, Penang, Johor, Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur) as the backbone of high-value output and exports, arguing for more talent, R&D, digital infrastructure, and industry-academia links. Nepal Export Push: Nepal is betting on churpi (yak cheese dog chew) to scale exports, rolling out a 5-year national action plan after export volumes and values surged. Nepal Property & Spending Strain: Real estate remains sluggish and policy instability plus low capital expenditure left FY2082/83 growth at 3.85% vs a 6% target. Electricity Bottleneck: Nepal’s industry faces unreliable power due to transmission and distribution lag, forcing higher generator costs. Iraq Ranking: Iraq placed 88th in a global economic development ranking, ahead of Algeria and Jordan. AI Economics: McKinsey says the next GenAI phase is about agent economics—scaling decisions now hinge on ROI and the cost of verifying and refining responses. US Consumer Signal: US retail sales rose just 0.2% in June as tax-refund tailwinds faded, while inflation cooled. Trade & Geopolitics: Gulf economies face sharper downturns amid Hormuz disruptions; Pakistan PM warns West Asia escalation could hit its economy. Digital Economy Funding: Nigeria’s NEPC disbursed ₦979.8m to 128 women-owned export MSMEs via a digital economy grant program. Aviation Link: Air Niugini resumes Auckland–Port Moresby service after 26 years, aiming to boost business and tourism ties. SEZ Leadership: PNG appoints a new CEO for its Special Economic Zones Authority, with more zones in the pipeline. Rare Earth Supply Risk: A rare-earth “killer chokepoint” narrative highlights how China’s control of processing and niche metals could reshape semiconductor supply chains.