Geopolitical Trade Risk: The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint for global shipping and energy flows, with disruptions rippling into prices and production far beyond the Middle East. Parliament & Policy: Malaysia’s parliament is set to probe Strait of Hormuz trade disruption impacts, inflation risks, and haj management upgrades, while also weighing an AI governance bill on misuse and deepfakes. Corporate & Investment: India’s asset-backed securities market hit a record as foreign banks stepped up purchases, while waste-tech startup Recykal raised $23M to scale circular-economy deposit return systems. Shipping Decarbonization: Fortescue and CMB.TECH signed a milestone deal for up to 12 ammonia-capable vessels, targeting major emissions cuts if green ammonia is used. Local Growth & Infrastructure: Nepal’s Nagdhunga–Muglin road expansion faces further delays, and Raskot Municipality unveiled a Rs 56.67 crore budget for current and capital spending. Macroeconomic Outlook: Standard Bank Research expects Ghana growth of 5.9–6.1% in 2026, supported by infrastructure and gold mining expansion. Tech, Jobs & Skills: Thailand plans to lift growth potential to 3% by 2030, and the UK’s Workforce North initiative aims to connect people to jobs from major regional investment. Business Sentiment: A Lloyds survey finds Yorkshire firms are still planning to grow despite global uncertainty, with cost and supply-chain pressures driving strategy changes.