Philippines Gun Safety Push: Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged Congress to repeal a 1997 law after a Zamboanga school shooting, arguing “loose firearms” and bailable rules leave families and owners too exposed. Electricity Prices, VAT: Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian says VAT on “system loss” charges can be removed via regulation without new law, aiming to cut electricity costs. SEBI/NSE Market Access: India’s NSE is seeking SEBI approval to let its shares trade on its own platform under a “permitted to trade” route, potentially boosting visibility ahead of an IPO. Trade & Industry—Malaysia: Malaysia reported a July trade surge, with exports and imports both up sharply and a wider surplus, while analysts say Taiwan ties should stay resilient thanks to deep semiconductor supply-chain integration. Trade & Industry—Armenia/Azerbaijan/Uzbekistan: Armenia’s exports to the EU jumped over 80% in H1 2026; Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are targeting $1B mutual trade by 2030. Public Services & Safety: A library in Derry will close for mold remediation; Metropolis council advances lead service line work; India’s Himachal saw dozens of students sickened after a school lunch. Rights & Identity: Kansas transgender men staged a “compliance crew” protest under a restroom law, highlighting confusion and enforcement friction. Global Markets: Germany’s trade surplus narrowed as imports rose faster than exports, with US tariff uncertainty and China demand shaping the picture.