Central Banking & Rates: Japan’s finance minister said BOJ Governor Ueda’s two-week hospital stay won’t derail next week’s policy meeting, with deputies set to run the session. Public Finance & Governance: Hawaii’s budget director will serve as acting governor while the governor and key officials are out of state, keeping executive authority in place. SME Credit Push: Cambodia’s finance leadership is spotlighting SMEs as a jobs engine, but the forum also flags persistent financing gaps and weak access to technology and markets. Eurozone Stability: Bulgaria joined the European Stability Mechanism ahead of euro adoption, deepening its integration into eurozone financial backstops. Household Pressure: UK GDP contracted 0.1% in April as US-Iran tensions squeeze household finances via higher energy costs. India Fiscal Watch: Reports say India may miss its fiscal deficit target for the first time since the pandemic as Iran-linked energy subsidies strain budgets. Energy Project Finance: South Africa’s Mulilo reached financial close on a 308 MWh battery storage project, with major banks providing debt and a 15-year power purchase framework. Fraud Crackdown: The US House passed Utah’s “ghost students” bill to stop identity fraud that steals federal education aid. AI in Finance: Cathay Financial is fine-tuning small language models to better classify customer intent in financial services. Compliance Deadlines: SEBI extended deadlines for firms to move non-permitted activities into Separate Business Units, citing implementation hurdles. Retail Banking Growth: ESAF Small Finance Bank crossed ₹50,000 crore in total business, reporting deposits and advances growth.