SME Survival & Finance: Standard Bank warns South Africa’s SME failure rate is still around 60%, saying banks must go beyond lending with better advisory, tech and market-intelligence support. Tax & Compliance: Nigeria set up a technical committee to review the 2025 Tax Acts, aiming to simplify compliance and feed recommendations into the Finance Bill 2027. Payments Pressure: India’s new UPI MDR on transactions above Rs 2,000 starts Oct. 15, and Kashmir traders fear margin hits even if only a small share of volumes is affected. Disaster Impact on Small Business: Kauai’s small food businesses say Hurricane Lowell recovery is hurting demand, with layoffs already underway and tourists canceling trips. SME Credit Access: Togo plans an SME financing portal linking small businesses to banks and microfinance, built with IFC support, to help firms submit cleaner loan applications. Customer Discovery in the AI Era: A Malaysia SEO expert says AI Overviews are showing up in nearly half of searches, so “rank #1” on classic Google isn’t enough for customer reach. AI for Operations: Primare AI launches a client-owned appliance “with eight virtual employees,” pitching lower ongoing costs versus rented AI services. Energy Costs: Diesel prices are at record highs in parts of the US, squeezing trucking, farming and other cost-heavy small businesses. Local Tech & Trade: Google’s ad-tech antitrust case ends with remedies that keep its ad exchange intact but force conduct changes.