World Bank Upgrades Philippines: The Philippines has been reclassified as an upper-middle-income economy after GNI per capita hit about $4,850, with President Marcos calling it proof of policy effectiveness and a boost for investment and jobs. EU–Türkiye Trade Push: EU Economy Commissioner Dombrovskis says closer ties can strengthen economic security and value-chain integration, with plans to modernize the customs union and expand cooperation in procurement and services. AI Financial-Stability Warnings: Economists and central bankers at the ECB symposium in Portugal warn AI spending could raise leverage and debt, increasing systemic risk and job disruption. Sri Lanka Recovery Milestone, Inflation Watch: Sri Lanka regained upper-middle-income status after 2025 growth of 5%, but Bloomberg Economics expects inflation to keep rising toward ~7% in late 2026 before easing. Korea Fiscal/Skills Agenda: OECD says Korea must shore up fiscal institutions and invest in education and lifelong learning to manage ageing pressures and regional economic gaps. Nigeria Governance/Impersonation Alert: Nigeria’s Presidency warns of a fake “Presidential Economic Advisory Council” scheme tied to forged appointment letters and visa requests. Regional Growth & Trade Deals: Indonesia signals more investment-led downstreaming with Australia; Sharjah and Ethiopia discuss reciprocal trade missions; Georgia and Uzbekistan plan a roadmap to deepen trade, transport, logistics, and investment. Local Economy Signals: Spokane Hoopfest estimates ~$47M impact; Odisha approved a ₹2,295 crore deep-sea fishing/blue economy mission; Hollywoodbets Durban July targets nearly R1B for eThekwini. Digital Fraud Risk: A Shufti report finds identity fraud signals are highest in Asia-Pacific’s most digitally advanced economies, driven by higher remote onboarding volumes.