Philippines Infrastructure Push: President Marcos urged investors at the Luzon Economic Corridor forum to turn commitments into funded, operational projects—measuring success by what gets built and jobs created. AI & Markets: Israel’s government report says the country ranks among top AI commercialization players, with a 53% jump in high-tech capital raised in H1 2026 and improved inflation and deficit targets. FX Watch (Nigeria): The naira weakened at the official window to about N1,329/$ as FX demand rose, while reserves edged up. Ghana Growth: Ghana’s economy grew 6.5% in June and 6.0% in Q2, with services and ICT driving momentum despite slower agriculture. Energy & Inflation Pressure: Brent rebounded toward $100 as US-Iran tensions and tanker attacks raise supply-risk fears. Trade & Investment (Sri Lanka): A US maritime regulator chief urged Sri Lanka to set up an independent maritime regulator to prevent cartel behavior and attract investment. Local Economy Policy (US): Homer, Alaska weighed short-term rental rules—registration vs zoning limits—to protect neighborhood character. AI Economy Debate: Anthropic warns AI could boost output while squeezing jobs and widening wage gaps, with wealth accruing more to capital owners. Bilateral Deals (UAE-Germany): UAE and Germany are deepening cooperation in renewables, hydrogen, AI, and advanced manufacturing.