AI in Banking: Visa launched an AI Financial Assistant that lets cardholders ask questions about spending in plain conversation, monitor patterns, and trigger security actions—pushing banks to embed AI inside their own apps rather than rely on third parties. Regulatory Crackdown (India): RBI fined five cooperative banks a total ₹44.80 lakh for KYC and governance lapses, including board conflicts and housing/BR Act compliance failures. Market Integrity (India): NSE warned investors off Telegram and Facebook “dabba trading” channels offering unauthorised account handling and promised returns, urging people not to share trading credentials. Inflation Watch (India): India’s WPI rose to 9.87% in June as food and fuel kept producer costs elevated, with food inflation jumping sharply. Corporate Finance (Ghana): Finance Minister Ato Forson is set to present Ghana’s 2026 mid-year budget review next week, including updates on the IMF transition and fiscal reform roadmap. Energy & Power Costs (US): A PJM monitor says data-center power demand could add $23B in costs for consumers across 14 states through 2028, raising the question of who pays for grid upgrades. Venture Funding (AI/Fintech): Flex raised $70M in a round valuing it around $1.2B, bundling AI agents with private credit and business finance for mid-sized firms. Renewables Financing (UAE): Masdar reached financial close on a $5.1B Abu Dhabi solar-plus-storage project (5.2GW/19GWh), targeting operations in 2027.