US–South Korea Energy Deal: Trump unveiled a package of up to $200bn from Seoul for U.S. energy projects, including $54bn for Alaska LNG, a $22.3bn Texas gas plant for AI data centers, and plans for eight nuclear reactors—an effort tied to tariff reductions and now moving into implementation. Regulatory Crackdown: The SEC charged private fund advisers over alleged pre-IPO schemes involving OpenAI and SpaceX, saying investors’ money was misused and fees were hidden, while the companies themselves were not accused of wrongdoing. Banking Oversight Warning: The Basel Committee warned that as global regulatory cooperation frays, risks are becoming more intertwined—spanning climate, cyber, geopolitics, and tech—raising the chance of faster cross-border stress. Market & Rates Watch: Oil prices were nearly flat as investors weighed US-Iran peace talks and Gulf export signals; in the UK, EY forecasts bank lending growth slowing to a three-year low in 2027, while the Bank of England weighs further hikes against lingering inflation risks. Cross-Border Finance Links: Standard Chartered said it deepened Việt Nam–US financial ties via MoUs to mobilize $1bn+ for trade finance, payments, FX, and cross-border funding. Public Investment Delivery: Vietnam’s finance ministry will assess a scoring system for public investment disbursement to ensure targets are realistic and obstacles are reported. Local Finance Pressure: California’s Newsom signed SB 895, placing a $7.5bn research bond before voters, while Maryland announced $17.6m to create/preserve 555 affordable rental units.