Cross-border finance & governance: Qatar’s central bank chief met Algeria’s finance minister to deepen banking and financial cooperation, while Qatar Chamber joined Azerbaijan’s investment forum in Baku to line up new trade and banking links. Islamic finance expansion: Bangladesh Bank cleared IPDC Finance to launch shariah-based financing via a new Islamic Finance Wing, with governance and accounting segregation steps required before final rollout. Market plumbing upgrade: South Korea’s securities depository will let institutions post stocks and bonds as collateral for settlement guarantee deposits, easing a cash-lockup bottleneck. Tokenized collateral momentum: Citi says 77% of institutions expect to use tokenized collateral in 2026, as blockchain settlement moves from pilots toward live use. Liquidity policy in focus: Nigeria’s CBN saw OMO subscriptions jump to N20.6tn in September after widening access to more investors. Energy investment & grid demand: Korea’s US power project is expected to trigger a second wave of orders for energy storage and grid equipment as AI data centers drive electricity needs. Investor protection & fraud: Bank of Korea impersonation scams are spreading via social media chat rooms, and police warn buyers to run proper checks before purchasing used cars under finance disputes. Corporate finance deals: ADB approved a $100m concessional loan to expand affordable, resilient housing finance in Bangladesh, targeting women and hazard-prone areas. Regulatory risk spotlight: Reports say Manchester City was found guilty on most Premier League financial charges, with appeals expected.