Philippines Energy Investment: Finance chief Frederick D. Go met Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners to push the 901MW San Miguel Bay offshore wind project toward financing and the upcoming Green Energy Auction—aiming to lock in long-term energy security. Anti–Money Laundering Cooperation: Qatar’s QFIU signed an MoU with Canada’s FINTRAC to boost cross-border financial intelligence sharing as FATF meetings in Paris focused on virtual assets, DeFi, and social-media-linked terrorist financing. Iraq Governance Scrutiny: A former Iraqi deputy finance minister urged a full review of decisions and spending under the al-Sudani government, as security forces sealed Baghdad’s Green Zone and arrested officials in corruption probes. Crypto Market Catalyst Watch: Prediction markets cut the odds of the CLARITY Act passing in 2026 to 42%, raising uncertainty for XRP’s main legislative driver. US Trade/Finance Policy: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled “economic statecraft,” tying trade and financial dominance to national security with stricter rules. Wealth Tax Politics: California’s Newsom faces a high-stakes wealth tax fight as unions and political rivals push for a broader billionaire tax agenda. Nepal Finance Bill & Fuel Outlook: Nepal’s HoR passed Finance Bill 2083, while the finance minister said fuel prices should ease as Middle East tensions cool, though domestic effects may lag. India Debt Market Warning: Deloitte says India’s debt market isn’t ready for the next growth phase and calls for reforms to improve liquidity, price discovery, and investor participation. Africa Trade Finance Gap: Afreximbank put Africa’s trade finance shortfall at about $74bn in 2025, with small firms hit hardest and new SME-focused financing deals expanding access.