Wealth Tax Debate (Malaysia): Malaysia’s Finance Ministry says it has no plans to implement a 2% wealth tax, arguing the revenue would be limited and exemptions would shrink impact, while pointing to a more targeted approach via capital gains on unlisted shares and higher dividend/profit-distribution taxes. BNPL Regulation (Malaysia): BNPL use keeps rising, with 8 million active accounts and RM5.3B outstanding balances in Q1 2026; overdue amounts are RM181M (3.4%), and licensing standards for providers are now in force with applications due by Nov 30, 2026. AI + Banking Oversight (Philippines): The BSP issued AI governance principles for banks and supervised firms, using the STARS framework (sustainability, transparency, accountability, responsibility, security) to guide innovation while protecting consumers. Fed Signaling Shift (US): Newly appointed Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is pushing to move away from forward guidance, raising the odds that markets won’t know rate expectations until meeting days. Wealth Tax Politics (UK): UK PM contender Andy Burnham refused to rule out a wealth tax, saying he wants to assess public finances first and stressing “fairness.” Digital Construction Finance (South Korea): CI Guarantee will launch an AI-powered platform on Aug. 1 using KakaoTalk for mobile guarantee applications, contract drafting, and 24/7 chatbot support. Deposit Rates (India): Unity Small Finance Bank lifted its 501-day FD offer to 8% (general) and 8.5% (senior citizens), as small banks compete harder for deposits. Local Finance Planning (US): Floyd County received long-term financial projections to spot future funding gaps before they become critical. Construction of Trust in Finance (Australia): ASIC updated its financial advertising guidance, warning that misleading impressions can’t be fixed later and highlighting how AI will be treated under existing rules. Wealth Management M&A (Ireland): SYS Financial acquired Q Financial, adding €120M to managed assets and expanding its national footprint.