NATO Defense Funding: NATO chief Mark Rutte urged allies at the Ankara summit to submit “clear, concrete and credible” plans to hit defense spending targets, as the U.S. leans back in Europe and pressure mounts on laggards. UK Housing Turn: Lloyds/Halifax data shows UK house prices rose 0.2% month-on-month in June (first gain in four months), with annual growth edging to 0.6%, while affordability still bites. Croatia Market Split: Croatia saw property sales drop 42% year-on-year even as home prices climbed 14%, with fewer transactions driven by high prices and limited supply. Cape Town Court Risk: Cape Town’s planned sale of the Good Hope Centre faces fresh political and legal heat after a Constitutional Court ruling on the Tafelberg site. Qatar M&A Oversight: Qatar’s financial regulator (QFMA) received five acquisition/merger applications worth QR1.322bn in 2025, using a single-window process to streamline reviews. Singapore Property Fraud Case: Aperia Group CEO Alan Wei Zhaolun was charged over alleged laundering tied to a S$55m Good Class Bungalow purchase, with bail raised to S$1.25m. UAE Clean Energy Certificates: Abu Dhabi’s Ewec opened registration for its 20th Clean Energy Certificates auction, supporting certified clean-energy consumption for sectors including real estate. Global Luxury Cost Index: Julius Baer’s report put Singapore at the top for luxury spending costs for the rich, while Dubai fell to 14th mainly due to currency moves elsewhere.