Philippines-Japan Deal: President Marcos secured about P56.3B in Japanese investment pledges spanning shipbuilding, electronics, semiconductors, AI and green maritime, targeting ~10,300 jobs. Energy Security Repricing: The IEA says Middle East disruption and Strait of Hormuz risks are reshaping global energy investment, with grids/storage/low-emissions still set to draw most new capital in 2026. AI Investing Outlook: BlackRock’s global investing chief tells Khaleej Times that AI buildout and strong earnings keep US equities “risk on,” while mega IPOs (SpaceX/OpenAI/Anthropic) could test markets. Canada Defence Push: BDC CEO Isabelle Hudon argues Canada can’t stay “shy” on defence investment as Ottawa backs strategic industries and economic sovereignty. ADB Private Equity Boost: ADB approved at least $50M into a Southeast Asia growth equity fund aimed at mid-sized firms across sectors including healthcare and education. Housing Delivery Gap: Rhode Island’s RIPEC report says $644M+ in housing spending since 2021 isn’t translating into meaningful affordable production, despite rising starts. Corporate Capital Moves: TELUS plans $66B in Canada network investment through 2030; Unilever will spend on a New Haven Global Innovation Center opening in 2029. Market/Portfolio Theme: A piece on machine learning highlights faster, objective-driven portfolio construction as institutional investors move beyond traditional mean-variance methods. Investor Risk Watch: Multiple securities class-action deadlines and alerts continue to circulate, including for Zoetis and several other listed firms.