Nepal Central Banking: Finance Ministry proposes keeping Nepal Rastra Bank’s board at seven members, arguing a larger board would be less agile, while also defending the Finance Secretary’s seat to coordinate fiscal and monetary policy. Banking Sector Push: Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle meets CEOs of 20 commercial banks to align implementation of budget reforms, urging confidence-building despite weak loan demand despite low rates and excess liquidity. Public Spending Scrutiny: A parliamentary committee questions Nepal Oil Corporation employee allowances and orders “cylinder mapping” to curb misuse, after flagging tens of crores in overtime, travel, medical and incentive payments. Infrastructure Delivery: Narayangadh–Butwal road upgrade nears completion after delays tied to coordination and cash-flow issues, with ADB financing covering 85% of the ~Rs 20bn project. Energy Storage Deal: Advantage Renewables buys three early-stage Michigan battery storage projects from 5 Rivers Energy to boost grid resilience and peak management. Digital Finance & Education: Unlimit partners with Mattilda to digitize Mexico’s tuition payments, adding fraud controls and scalable integration. UAE Growth: UAE real GDP rises 3% in Q1 2026, with non-oil activity driving 79.4% of output. Crypto & FX: US-Japan yen intervention steadies bitcoin near $63,600 as carry-trade risks remain in focus. Retail Crime Tech: London’s Met expands a digital shoplifting reporting platform after a pilot quadrupled positive outcomes. Commodities: Gold firms in Bahrain as wedding-season demand lifts sales, while silver demand drops sharply. Housing Investment Trend (India): ANAROCK says major Indian cities show a rare “dual-return” pattern—capital gains and rental yields rising together since 2019.