Malaysia Budget 2027: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged the government to reflect public voices in Budget 2027, as Malaysia’s economy stays resilient despite West Asia-driven cost pressures. Macroeconomic Resilience: Finance officials said 1H 2026 growth hit 5.7% (5.4% Q1, 6.0% Q2), with ringgit stability and stronger competitiveness rankings. Carbon Economy Push: Sabah wants to turn its “carbon-negative” status into a “carbon value” model, linking natural capital to jobs and income under Malaysia’s 2050 net-zero path. South Asia Connectivity: Tata’s Nelco partnered with Elveo Mobile to expand Direct-to-Device and IoT satellite connectivity across India and South Asia for sectors like maritime, energy and automotive. Port Expansion: Kerala pledged regulatory and infrastructure support to scale EXIM operations at Vizhinjam as the port moves into full commercial cargo activity. Payments AI: Razorpay launched Vulcan, an AI foundation model to improve payment reliability, reduce fraud and cut transaction friction across India’s digital rails. Energy Shock Watch: Markets stayed cautious as oil surged on renewed Iran–US uncertainty, weighing on Asia trading sentiment. Indonesia Commodity Exchange: Indonesia’s planned mineral and strategic commodities exchange (starting Jan 1, 2027) is set to include palm oil, nickel and coal, with regulator rules due by mid-September. Weather Risk: Japan’s Chiba faced record rainfall, flooding and major transport disruption, with multiple deaths reported. North Korea Diplomacy: Trump said Kim Jong Un responded positively after scaling back drills with South Korea, while China and Russia backing is seen as boosting Pyongyang’s standing.