US Policy & Food Safety: California lawmakers passed bills raising fines and adding financial requirements for cold storage providers after a Lineage-linked “Big Bear” facility fire left millions of pounds of spoiled food and sparked neighborhood complaints, with the cold-chain industry warning the rules could push up costs and food prices. Embedded Finance for SMEs: DECTA and SAPI launched DECTA Capital, letting UK SMEs access payment-linked working capital inside existing payment flows, with underwriting and compliance handled by SAPI and offers typically available within 24 hours. Consumer Finance Clarity: India’s Finance Ministry said the MDR on UPI transactions over Rs 2,000 is not a tax and pledged talks with traders and banks to prevent charges being passed to consumers. Regulation Meets Tech: ESMA will make AI and tokenization a supervisory priority from 2027, focusing on how firms use these tools in core activities with “investor safeguards.” Geopolitics & Sanctions: The UAE restricted Iran’s Bank Melli from Gulf transactions, citing money-laundering and terrorism-financing violations. EU Support for Ukraine: The EU approved nearly EUR 3 billion under the Ukraine Facility, citing 84 of 95 reform steps completed. Digital Finance Expansion: Remita unveiled a new mobile app aimed at moving deeper into everyday consumer money management in Nigeria. Housing Finance: New Jersey’s NJHMFA approved financing for affordable senior apartments and additional affordable homes in Irvington, using bond and LIHTC-backed structures.