Global Markets & Rates: Global markets opened the week cautious as US retail sales and consumer confidence weakened, while Middle East tensions kept risk appetite under pressure. Middle East Security & Gaza: Iran condemned Israeli ministerial remarks about a “nightly assassination quota” in Gaza, escalating diplomatic and legal backlash. Trade & Shipping Tech: WaveBL and Coneksion are deepening collaboration to connect ocean booking and trade document workflows, aiming to cut portal-by-portal manual work. Philippines Fisheries Governance: The Philippines’ Supreme Court fight over vessel-tracking rules is back in focus, with transparency groups backing appeals to protect anti-illegal fishing efforts and export access. Malaysia Economy & Finance: Malaysia’s inflation eased to 1.8% in July; banks and investors are also recalibrating forecasts amid stronger growth momentum and continued current-account support. Housing & Infrastructure: UK housing delivery faces headwinds, with officials citing dampened demand linked to Middle East conflict, while Indonesia marked Independence Day with disaster-prayer appeals. Road Safety Costs: Malaysia says road accidents cost up to RM30bn a year and highlights human factors as the dominant cause.