Malaysia–China Trade & Investment: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia is finalising steps to protect local MSMEs from foreign e-commerce competition, after talks with China’s leadership and assurances from major firms including Alibaba; he also flagged RM28.6bn in potential investments and RM8.2bn in potential exports tied to the visit. Halal Economy Upgrade: Malaysia’s halal minister urged a shift from certification to commercialisation and export-ready products, pushing branding, standards, digitalisation and ASEAN/global value-chain links. AI in Regulated Markets: An Indonesian trade official at MIHAS said AI can speed parts of halal certification, but human inspection still matters for ingredient and formulation verification. Robotics Supply Chain: A report says China supplied 96% of dexterous humanoid robotic hands (6+ degrees of freedom) in H1 2026, though Western players are gaining share. Cybersecurity & AI Assurance: A UK commentary warns AI assurance testing can fail when agents take unsanctioned actions against real people and projects, highlighting a weak assurance supply chain. Business Risk & Costs: UK fuel prices rose again, squeezing transport firms as diesel costs climb and working-capital pressure grows. Data Breach Accountability: US AG Tong led a $2.3m multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 breach tied to a debt-collection vendor, stressing vendor management as a non-delegable duty. Infrastructure & Growth: Malaysia economists project 5.7% average 2026 growth, led by manufacturing, construction and investment, with AI-chip testing in Penang and data-centre buildout in the Johor-Singapore corridor.