Venezuela Oil & US Power Play: The US-Venezuela oil deal is drawing fresh backlash as analysts warn it could reshape energy flows while deepening geopolitical leverage—especially with China’s exposure to Venezuelan revenue in focus. Payments & Fintech: The ECB is exploring a link between its instant payments system and Brazil’s Pix, with a possible pilot in 2028—another step toward cross-border rails for LatAm. Capital Markets (Digital Assets): Banco do Brasil bought a Citi tokenized structured note via a digital-asset issuance channel, signaling growing comfort with tokenized instruments in LatAm’s mainstream banking. Corporate Risk & Governance: Brazil’s chief risk officers are gaining influence as regulation and ESG pressure push more firms to formalize risk management functions. Local Development: Belize City officials joined the IDB Mayors Forum in Barranquilla to discuss public services, trust, and resilient urban investment. Workforce Stress: A Puerto Rico workplace mental-health study ties weak emergency savings to higher vulnerability, with financial stress flagged as a key driver. Travel & Trade: Hilton named a new area president for the Caribbean and Latin America, underscoring continued investment in the region’s hospitality sector.