Spaza Shop Support Fund: South Africa’s DSBD and dtic say the R500m Spaza Shop Support Fund is moving ahead with better application processing and verification, after registration of about 82,000 spaza shops and confirmation of 44,696; still, compliance gaps remain for some applicants. Local Governance & Compliance: A complaint to South Africa’s DILG challenges Iloilo City’s “TLC ni Inday” livelihood program over whether it violates an “anti-epal” rule by tying the initiative to Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu’s name. Tourism-Driven SMB Pressure: Pattaya’s rainy season is slowing the night economy, hitting bars, hotels, and other tourism-linked small businesses as foot traffic drops and workers’ earnings fall. SMB Cybersecurity: A new report warns that fake Anthropic Claude Code pages can lead to credential theft via spoofed installs—an urgent reminder for small firms adopting AI tools. Digital Payments & Loyalty: Qatar’s loyalty apps are expanding fast, turning rewards into app-based, data-driven offers—good news for retailers, but a push toward smarter customer engagement. Disaster Relief for Businesses: FEMA and the SBA updated recovery center schedules for Maui County after March flooding, including help for homeowners, renters, and businesses applying for low-interest disaster loans. SMB Operations & Tech Demand: Canada’s Computation Ltd. reports rising demand for IT support and computer repair as businesses try to cut downtime and protect data. Policy & Cost Watch: Morocco expects fuel prices to drop after Eid al-Adha, which could ease transport costs for small operators.