Gulf Payments Freeze: Saudi banks have reportedly blocked or delayed transfers to UAE accounts since mid-May, raising fresh alarm over a widening Riyadh–Abu Dhabi rift that’s starting to hit real businesses. Iraq Power Crunch: Iraq may need 20–25 million solar panels to add roughly 12GW and close a widening electricity gap as demand outstrips generation. Iraq Anti-Corruption Finance: Iraq’s Finance Ministry says any repayment mechanism for corruption cases must fully recover state funds, while judicial amnesty remains in the courts’ hands. Banking Reshuffle: Rafidain Bank has moved leadership across compliance, risk and audit roles in an internal restructuring. Saudi Credit Watch: Fitch affirmed Saudi Arabia’s A+ rating with a stable outlook but warned growth will slow in 2026 as US-Iran war risks disrupt trade via the Strait of Hormuz. Iran–US Sanctions Clash: Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi accused the US of breaching the US-Iran MoU after Treasury sanctioned Ali Ansari and alleged shadow exchange networks tied to Iran’s leadership. Energy Markets: Renewed Strait of Hormuz tensions are again rattling crude and LNG flows, keeping oil volatility elevated for the region and beyond. Egypt Subsidy Overhaul: Egypt plans to replace its decades-old food subsidy “tamween” system with a cash-card model, aiming to better target support. FinTech/Payments Regulation: Remitly secured a CBUAE license to launch financial products in the UAE, signaling continued expansion of regulated cross-border money services. Startup Nation Angle: Analysis asks whether Kurdistan can build an investor-trust “startup nation” model like Israel, despite banking and institutional constraints.