AGP Executive Report

FIFA Power Struggle: Gianni Infantino apologized after a Morocco emergency meeting over a controversial World Cup rights stake plan, but Luis Figo says “Infantino must go,” keeping pressure on the FIFA president as the March 2027 election nears. Ukraine–Serbia Diplomacy: Serbia confirmed Zelenskyy’s Aug. 8 visit to Belgrade—his first since the full-scale invasion—highlighting shifting regional alignments. Trade Tensions: Canada’s PM Mark Carney called U.S. tariff talks “nasty,” warning the fight is about Canadian jobs and businesses. Anti-Dumping Moves: Malaysia launched an anti-dumping probe on coated steel from China, Taiwan and Vietnam, while also starting an expiry review of anti-dumping duties on steel coils from China and Vietnam. Small Business Pressure: Raleigh’s New Bern Avenue BRT construction is disrupting local shops, while New York’s labor commissioner toured Sunnyside businesses and pointed to tariff-driven cost strain. Workforce & Health: A survey-backed push argues women’s health support is a productivity issue, not just wellbeing. Digital Economy & Awards: Sarawak announced IDECS 2026 and Digital Economy Awards categories, with submissions open until Sept. 6.

FIFA Crisis: Gianni Infantino survived another storm after emergency talks in Morocco, with FIFA apologising for mistakes tied to a shelved plan to bring private investors into World Cup rights—while pressure for him to quit keeps mounting. Iran Leadership Signals: Iran’s president said communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “extremely difficult,” adding to uncertainty around Iran’s top decision-making. Nigeria Security: Nigeria’s president hailed the “largest ever” single-day rescue, freeing 308 abductees from northern attacks, with details of the operation still limited. Kosovo Governance: Kosovo’s parliament convenes on the final deadline, but the president vote remains unresolved, raising fears of a constitutional gap. Business & Deals: Hearst agreed to buy Disney’s 50% stake in A+E Global Media for about $1.2bn; KKR is set to buy Medicover’s India hospital business for $1.39bn; Newmark acquired Germany’s L+P Immobilienbewertung to expand valuation services in Europe. Tech & AI: Anthropic confirmed it plans to design its own AI chips amid global supply shortages, while Saudi Arabia’s LEAP 2026 is set to spotlight AI leaders as Riyadh pushes its “Year of AI.” Trade & Travel: Gulf Air opened bookings for direct Bahrain–Kuala Lumpur flights from Sept 29, 2026, boosting regional connectivity.

South Africa Health & Environment: President Cyril Ramaphosa officially opened the King Nyabela Hospital in Mpumalanga, a 220-bed facility meant to serve more than 240,000 people, while Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts launched an e-waste recycling pilot in Welkom to push circular-economy waste recovery. Governance & Rule of Law: South Africa’s Justice Minister stressed respect for court rulings as essential to the rule of law, as the High Court invalidated the suspension of Public Investment Corporation CEO Patrick Dlamini—raising fresh questions about governance and process. Jobs, Skills & Women’s Economic Power: The Western Cape’s “Cabinet Meets Business 2026” focused on turning ambition into jobs and investment, and the Regenesys Women in Business conference backed an inclusive economy agenda linking government, business and academia. Youth & Social Protection: Deputy Minister Yusuf Cassim said TETA will clear nearly 300 outstanding student bursary payments, and Youth in Action Expo programming targets education, skills and employment. Foreign Policy & Regional Talks: DIRCO set media briefings on South Africa’s foreign-policy priorities ahead of the 46th SADC Summit in Durban. Middle East Security: Iraq’s and Saudi’s foreign ministers discussed security and efforts to protect oil routes, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Business & Trade: Malaysia’s foreign minister met the UN resident coordinator, while Dubai’s SUMEAWORLD opened a global trade hub in Jebel Ali to consolidate sourcing and distribution across 75+ countries.

Trade & Supply Chains: The Strait of Hormuz disruption is still denting global trade, with ITC/WTO data showing sharp drops in LNG and urea exports and higher energy, shipping, and insurance costs. Energy & Markets: Azerbaijan’s Azeri Light crude price fell to $91.68 a barrel, while global gold demand held steady at 1,269 tonnes and the LBMA benchmark averaged about $4,506/oz in Q2. Asia Growth Watch: Indonesia’s Q2 growth eased to 5.3% but beat forecasts on stronger household and government spending. Business & Investment: Malaysia-EU talks are pushing for a “high-quality” free trade deal in 2027, with firms urging less red tape and better investment rules. Tech for Development: The World Bank says AI could help developing economies achieve in a decade what might take a century—if governments close gaps in power, internet, skills, and institutions. Regional Politics: Montenegro’s PM says it will reject EU-backed migrant centre plans. Diplomacy: Brazil downgraded ties with Argentina after President Milei insulted Lula. Corporate Moves: HMM launches an India–East Africa container service from September, using a hub-and-spoke route.

Food Safety Crackdown (Maharashtra): India’s Maharashtra FDA suspended Tewari Bros Mithaiwala’s licence after an Aug. 1 inspection found serious hygiene and sanitary violations. Water & Industry Planning (Kenya): Kenya began public participation on a Lake Baringo irrigation plan aimed at creating about 100,000 jobs and generating nearly Sh40bn by diverting excess water via tunnels and canals. Trade & Carbon Costs (Malaysia): Malaysia says EU-CBAM could cost its iron and steel sector RM970.7m in 2026, while framing it as a push toward lower-carbon production. Tech & Legal Fight (AI): OpenAI publicly rebutted Apple’s trade-secrets lawsuit, publishing private emails as it challenges Apple’s claims. Global Business Deal (Media): Hearst agreed to buy Disney’s 50% stake in A+E Global Media for about $1.2bn, set to close in September. Energy Demand Signal (China): China’s power grids hit new summer load records as AI infrastructure and EV charging drive sustained electricity growth. Sports Governance Pressure (FIFA): Prince Ali accused FIFA leadership of “blackmail” over withheld prize money from Jordan’s Arab Cup run. EU Migration Security (Ceuta): EU interior ministers warned about foreign “information interference” tied to images circulating during the Ceuta migration crisis.

US Trade Fight: A coalition of 25 Democratic-led states sued President Trump over new tariffs, arguing they exceed his legal authority. Middle East Diplomacy & Energy: Trump escalated rhetoric on Iran, while oil prices and global shares tracked a Wall Street rebound as investors weighed possible US-Iran talks. Corporate Governance: South Korea’s push to modernize its stewardship code is framed as the next lever to unlock undervalued markets and strengthen pension-linked oversight. AI, IP & Regulation: Malaysia’s lawmakers said copyrighted material for AI training needs copyright-holder approval and licensing terms. Tech Policy: Malaysia also invited public feedback on a national framework for its “low altitude economy,” aiming to scale drones, AAM and AI-enabled services. EV & Charging Funding: Malaysia is studying an EV sales levy to fund public charging, after incentives failed to deliver enough infrastructure. Business & Markets: Sabic completed sale of its thermoplastics business in the Americas and Europe; Indonesia reported a June trade deficit as oil and gas imports surged. Sports Business: MLB’s deadline delivered major pitching trades, including Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers, reshaping contenders’ odds. WhatsApp Product: WhatsApp is testing a separate folder for business messages to cut inbox clutter.

MLB Trade Deadline: The Phillies went for offense and bullpen help, acquiring Luis Arraez from the Giants and adding reliever Brooks Raley from the Mets, while the Red Sox landed Adley Rutschman from Baltimore in a major in-division swap. Playoff Push Moves: The Orioles traded Taylor Ward to the Mariners for prospects, the Blue Jays picked up Jose Soriano from the Angels, and the Pirates bolstered a leaky bullpen by acquiring Luke Weaver from the Mets. Global Markets & FX: The U.S. and Japan intervened to support the yen after a sharp slide, as Washington seeks stability with Tokyo. Energy & Trade: Indonesia and Thailand backed a roadmap aiming for $20B in bilateral trade by 2030, while Malaysia emphasized energy security through diversified gas and crude supply options. Regional Diplomacy: Qatar’s PM held calls with Gulf and regional partners, urging dialogue and implementation of a U.S.-Iran MoU tied to Strait of Hormuz navigation. Business & Society: Kuwait pushed reforms to improve women’s legal status rankings, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll found Democrats leading on the economy as Trump’s approval slips. Environment & Tourism: Fiji’s Savusavu faces tourism risk as landfill smoke continues, hurting the town’s image.

FIFA Power Struggle: Wales became the first national association to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino, citing governance and leadership failures as UEFA also moves against him. Argentina Politics: Javier Milei says he has picked a 2027 running mate but won’t name them yet, amid a public rupture with vice president Victoria Villarruel. South Asia Governance: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif calls Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi the “most powerful minister,” sparking fresh debate over cabinet influence. India Law & Society: Maharashtra’s anti-conversion law has taken effect after President Murmu’s assent, criminalizing conversions via force, fraud, coercion or deception. Energy & Markets: Oil prices slid after Trump called off a planned Iran strike, while UK business warnings point to recession risk if Hormuz stays disrupted. Myanmar Rights: Detained Aung San Suu Kyi met the ICRC’s Red Cross representative, the first public meeting with a foreign official since the 2021 coup. ASEAN Business: Malaysia is considering limited exports of unprocessed rare earths under strict conditions as investor interest grows. Sports/Trade: MLB’s deadline reshuffled rosters with Dodgers landing Tarik Skubal and Cubs acquiring Kevin Gausman.

MLB Trade Deadline: The Mets agreed to trade ace Freddy Peralta to the Rays for three prospects, while the Dodgers landed Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal—another reminder that pitching is the hottest commodity as Monday’s deadline hits. Sports & Business: The Rays’ rotation boost and the Dodgers’ blockbuster move underline how teams are spending big to chase titles, even as fans debate the cost. Domestic Violence Policy: Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney pledged “strongest personal leadership” on male violence against women after new figures showed domestic homicide doubling. Health & Rights: Queensland ordered a review of fertility guidance after reports that lesbian couples were treated as separate “families” under donor limits. Governance & Markets: Kuwait issued a decree-law to crack down on commercial concealment, aiming to improve licensing and market transparency. AI & Growth: Taiwan’s economy grew faster than expected in Q2, driven by AI-related exports, while Zimbabwe hosted leaders pushing for responsible AI and stronger governance. Trade & Borders: India-China border trade resumed via Lipulekh Pass, expected to lift local economies in Uttarakhand.

MLB Deadline Shock: The Detroit Tigers traded two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for River Ryan, Zyhir Hope and Brady Smith, reshaping the playoff picture as fans react to a “Dodgers always win” narrative. Middle East Tensions: US President Donald Trump said he suspended planned US-Israeli strikes on Iran, calling it conditional on rapid deal talks, while Iran warns any attack would be met with a decisive response. Canada Security Push: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre urged Ottawa to list Kata’ib Hezbollah as a terrorist entity after US arrests tied to alleged attacks including a Canadian synagogue shooting. AI and Jobs Debate: Economist Steve Hanke argues AI won’t be a cheap job-killer, stressing massive power, water and chip costs. Trade and Investment: Azerbaijan’s Karabakh and East Zangezur tout tax-and-customs incentives to pull in investors, while Bangladesh and Myanmar discussed boosting trade and shipping links. Regional Business Moves: Qatar launched a Pillar Two minimum-tax registration service, and Malaysia backed easier business setup via a new guidance office.

FIFA Power Struggle: UEFA says it has “no confidence” in Gianni Infantino and rejects a FIFA plan to bring in private investment for the World Cup, after backlash from federations. Gaza Ceasefire Tensions: An Israeli minister called a Trump-brokered “complete disarmament” deal with Hamas “tantamount to agreeing next October 7 massacre,” as sequencing and demilitarisation remain deadlocked. Migrant Surge in Europe: Ceuta’s shops shut and bread runs short as thousands of migrants cross from Morocco, prompting an EU interior ministers’ video meeting. Colombia Security Shock: A truck bomb near a police station in Cúcuta injured at least 11 people ahead of President-elect de la Espriella’s inauguration. Trade & Growth Watch: WTO data says world merchandise trade rose in Q1 2026, with AI-linked electronics lifting Asia. Regional Economy Moves: Egypt’s state economic authorities reported a big revenue jump; Malaysia plans a pilot to tackle ageing; Sabah expects a 40% stake in a FLNG project. Local Governance & Housing: In India’s Ratlam, EWS residents protested eviction notices tied to PMAY dues. Business & Regulation: Kuwait Municipality launched a campaign urging firms to comply with trade rules. Sports Deadline: MLB trade season heats up with major bullpen and prospect swaps, including Camilo Doval moving to the Pirates.

FIFA Power Play: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has scrapped plans to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights after backlash and internal resignations, saying the proposal “created divisions” and won’t proceed. Energy & Industry: Nigeria’s power minister says fixing electricity means overhauling the whole value chain—generation, transmission, distribution and payment—under the “Resetting the Sector” push. Global Trade: Türkiye and the Maldives’ preferential trade deal entered into force, cutting duties on hundreds of tariff lines and aiming to lift bilateral trade. Migration & Borders: Migrants who reached Spain’s Ceuta from Morocco are returning to Morocco, citing closed businesses and food shortages as they plan another attempt. Security: Türkiye arrested a FETO suspect tied to the 2016 coup attempt against President Erdogan. Business & Skills: IIT Kanpur opened applications for a six-month online certificate in AI/ML for business analytics; RPG Life Sciences is restructuring its API unit and investing up to Rs 700 crore. Climate Risk: Spain’s heat and wildfire conditions are worsening as Western Europe warms faster, with evacuations reported this summer. Sports Economy: Lockheed Martin will keep F-35 production at 156 jets a year, citing sustained global demand.

Global Trade & Business Sentiment: Philippines business confidence in June bounced to neutral (0 from -25.2 in May) as easing oil prices helped, but firms still flagged tight credit, weak demand and competition. Energy Costs & Subsidies: Malaysia said Petronas fuel supply is stable until September, while it has spent nearly RM1.25bn on LPG subsidies Jan–May 2026 and is tightening controls to curb leakage. Digital Access & Compliance: One year after the EU Accessibility Act, most businesses are still catching up—EU sites show far more accessibility issues than U.S. sites, across industries. Cross-Border Payments: Maldives and India move closer on a Free Trade Agreement push as Favara links with India’s UPI for faster, cheaper remittances and trade/tourism payments. Tech, AI & Trust: The U.S. apologized after an AI-made Africa map at an AIDS conference mislabelled six countries, raising questions about oversight of global health messaging. Wildfire Economic Fallout: Wildfires in Europe may be hitting more than property—Guy Carpenter warns of growing costs from business interruption, smoke, evacuations and supply disruptions. Sports, Politics & Sovereignty: Argentina’s president reignited the Falklands debate via football celebrations, arguing politicians shouldn’t mix sport with sovereignty claims. Markets & Rates: U.S. bond yields surged to 19-year highs as Fed dissent and Big Tech earnings reshaped expectations for future rate moves. Automotive Industry Milestone: Tesla says it has produced its 10 millionth pure electric vehicle worldwide, with Shanghai still a key driver of output. Regional Agri-Trade: Philippines and Cambodia plan to expand agriculture and fisheries trade to attract investment and build more resilient regional food supply chains.

Global Markets & FX: US Treasury says the yen is “very undervalued” and that Japan may have intervened after yen volatility; APAC stocks mostly firm and investors watch upcoming inflation, jobs and GDP prints. Middle East Security: After a brief respite, the US and Iran resumed missile strikes, raising fears of wider spillover across the region. China Economy & Tech: Beijing outlined priorities for H2 2026, while Moonshot AI fully open-sourced its Kimi K3 model, pushing China’s open-source AI push further into global developer use. Trade & Business Regulation: China’s SAMR is expanding digital food-delivery licensing to shut down “ghost” outlets; Malaysia reported Q2 growth at 5.8% with services and manufacturing leading. Energy & Industry Transition: Germany’s Salzgitter is converting steel production toward greener output with funding aimed at major CO2 cuts; BP is also moving to sell its North Sea business. Sports & Deals: MLB trade deadline pressure hits the Yankees as they struggle offensively; the Mets sent reliever A.J. Minter to the Twins for prospects. Local & Community Business: Soddy-Daisy launched a matching grant to help storefronts improve accessibility and appearance. Migration Pressure: Ceuta faces a “humanitarian and security emergency” as migrants cross from Morocco, with Spain planning support and deportation measures.

Quantum & Telecom Infrastructure: A “quantum node economy” is taking shape in U.S. regions like New York, Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and Arizona, with fiber connectivity seen as the backbone for linking quantum devices. Corporate Power & Co-ops: A Fordham Law professor warned that monopoly power is reshaping wages, healthcare and housing, arguing for cooperative economies that keep more value local. Big Tech Earnings: Amazon beat expectations as AWS AI and chip units topped $25B run rates, sending shares up more than 9%—even as free cash flow fell on heavy AI spending. Markets & Trading Rules: The SEC is exploring 23-hours-a-day stock trading, with a Sept. 17 roundtable on liquidity and protections. Sanctions & Security: The U.S. sanctioned networks tied to Iran’s IRGC and Mahan Air, warning companies that doing business with sanctioned carriers carries major risk. Trade Uncertainty: Canadian agriculture leaders say tariff threats are prolonging uncertainty for investment and market access. Local Business Climate: A Moldova PM met business leaders in Bucharest to push back on bottlenecks and improve procurement rules. Disaster & Resilience: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly asked FEMA for a major disaster declaration after storms and flooding. Small Business Support: A New Orleans incubator pitch contest awarded a $5,000 prize to a local salon, backing growth plans.

Semiconductor Boom: The US Semiconductor Industry Association says the global chip market has topped $1.5 trillion for the first time, with AI data-center demand driving a huge jump in 2026 sales expectations. Aviation Pressure: IATA reports global air passenger demand fell 1.7% in June, with Middle East tensions and weaker domestic markets weighing on travel. Trade Watch (Philippines): The Philippines’ trade deficit widened to $4.9B in June, but exports hit an all-time high, keeping the gap the smallest in four months. Energy & Growth (Japan): Japan cut its growth outlook to 0.9% for the fiscal year as higher oil prices and a weaker yen squeeze households and firms. Regional Business Push (Malaysia): Malaysia says MSMEs are ready to tap Asean’s 680M consumers under a digital economy framework, while trade data shows a 2025 surplus and strong export gains. Middle East Diplomacy: US VP JD Vance met Saudi defence officials as Riyadh urges de-escalation with Iran amid recent strikes. Defense Stocks: Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems lifted profit forecasts on surging defence spending worldwide. Power Policy (Philippines): A senator challenged Meralco’s case for keeping system loss charges, arguing utilities should absorb losses instead of passing them to consumers. Markets Mood (NZ): New Zealand stocks slid after the Fed kept rates steady and Middle East conflict added inflation risk.