SME Lending & Inclusion (Philippines): LANDBANK and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) formalized a new MOU to expand credit access for micro, small, and medium enterprises through the LIFTING MSMEs Lending Program, with added focus on digital transformation and financial capability building. Local Market Access (US): The North End Farmers Market is moving to a new Mansfield location at GROW by NECIC, aiming for better visibility and easier access for vendors, shoppers, and food-assistance participants. Disaster Relief (Energy): Papua New Guinea’s MNRE CEO says nearly $1.9M in power-outage compensation has started reaching households and businesses, with most claims processed and only a small number still unresolved. SME Rules Update (Bahrain): Bahrain issued new SME classification rules using staff headcount and yearly turnover, with firms placed into micro, small, and medium bands via an online registration system. Grants to Micro Businesses (North Carolina): Duke Energy Foundation will fund nonprofits with grants up to $25,000, which nonprofits will turn into microgrants up to $5,000 for local small businesses. Tax Reform Watch (Australia): A Senate inquiry is hearing arguments over proposed changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, with business groups and housing advocates split on impacts for affordability and investment. Startup Funding (Hospitality): Italy’s Bestie Bite raised €1.5M to expand its video-review app into the US, targeting restaurant discovery for small hospitality operators. Automation for SMBs (Business Ops): A new push highlights how small businesses are automating invoicing and accounting with AI to cut manual work and speed up reconciliation. Cybersecurity for Public Services (Ohio): Ohio’s election cyber defense program adds no-cost phishing simulations to help local election boards spot threats earlier.