Cross-Border Trade Boost: Malaysia and Thailand unveiled a new road alignment linking their ICQS/CIQ complexes, aiming to create a special economic border zone to lift trade and jobs. Insurance & Capital Markets: AM Best assigned A- ratings to China Ping An Insurance (Hong Kong), citing strong balance sheet support and cross-border strategy. Port & Industrial Expansion: Port Klang Free Zone says Carey Island’s planned third terminal should complement its role, adding warehousing and port-linked value activities. Manufacturing Outlook: Malaysia’s manufacturing growth forecast holds at 4.5% as input costs ease but producer prices stay elevated. EV Policy Shift: Hong Leong expects faster electrification in 2H 2026 as Malaysia’s revised CBU EV rules push OEM localization. Energy Storage Investment: Vikram Solar will invest INR 15,037 crore in a Tirunelveli BESS plant, targeting thousands of jobs. Corporate Governance: Sri Lanka’s SLID will host Sir Nishan Canagarajah and World Bank talent chief Edith Umole at its 2026 director summit. SME Support in Kenya: President Ruto ordered a two-year business permit waiver for NYOTA beneficiaries and a national ID system to unlock financing. Regulation & Markets: Bangladesh’s BSEC plans to suspend trading in shares of long-closed companies to protect investors. Deal Watch: EasyJet’s takeover battle heats up as Apollo tops Castlelake with a £5.7bn offer. AI & Productivity: Amazon’s CTO says firms are shifting toward cheaper open-source models to rein in AI costs. Corporate Responsibility: Nigeria’s humanitarian minister urged companies to treat CSR as poverty-reduction investment, not a line item. Business Climate Data: A UK census finds 150,000+ mission-led businesses are growing faster and driving at least £37bn turnover annually. M&A/Finance: Arrow Global Group bought MGA Fusion Specialty Group to expand its specialty insurance platform. Macro & Markets: Qatar’s stock index fell 1.18% for the week, with analysts pointing to external pressures but solid banking fundamentals.