Renewables & Industry Tech: Malaysia’s NUR Power won runner-up at the National Energy Awards for a pilot battery energy storage system at its West Substation in Kulim Hi-Tech Park, aiming to boost grid flexibility and renewable integration. Corporate Earnings: Vstecs reported 2Q net profit up 50% to RM30.31m on higher revenue across ICT distribution, enterprise systems and cloud services. AI & Security: New Zealand officials warn generative AI can “exaggerate” threats—helping radicalisation at scale and speeding up weapon-related guidance—pushing a resilience-focused approach. Pakistan-UN Ties: President Asif Ali Zardari urged stronger Pakistan-UN cooperation on sustainable development, climate, poverty, education and social protection, praising OCHA’s disaster coordination. US Economy Watch: US inflation cooled in July (3.4% year-on-year) but prices remain elevated, keeping rate-hike odds alive. Digital Money & Trade Finance: The Bank of England’s Digital Pound Lab tested stablecoin and simulated digital pound settlement in one cross-border transaction, while Japan-Korea firms signed an MoU to bypass the dollar in yen-won trade via a blockchain corridor. Elections & Misinformation: Zambia warned of AI-generated fake videos and messages ahead of elections, urging voters to stay alert. Regional Trade Deals: India and SACU signed terms of reference to negotiate a preferential trade agreement within a year. Energy Storage/EV Supply Chain: ELEKTROS pitched hard-rock lithium and EV charging as part of the “new energy economy,” linking batteries to grid and data-center power demand.