AI Regulation & Creator Protections (New Zealand): Labour unveiled an AI “Action Plan” promising an Office of AI, an online safety regulator, copyright rules so creators get paid, and data-centre rules to stop households absorbing higher power costs—while also pushing for safe AI adoption by small businesses and community groups. Trade War Hits Main Street (U.S.-Canada): Trump ordered federal agencies to remove Canadian-origin products from major procurement lists (“no reciprocity, no access”), as Canada’s retaliatory tariffs took effect—raising new risks for small suppliers tied to government contracts and cross-border supply chains. Small Business Sentiment (U.S.): NFIB’s optimism index slipped to 98.7 in August as owners reported weaker sales and ongoing inflation pressure, even as labor-cost concerns eased. SME Support Simplified (Singapore): Singapore’s BizSG portal will use AI to recommend relevant government grants and services, aiming to cut the time SMEs spend hunting across agencies. Cost Pressure From Energy (Malaysia): Malaysia’s Budi Diesel and Budi95 subsidies are credited with cushioning SMEs from fuel-driven overhead spikes as diesel prices stayed far below market rates. Growth Planning Despite Uncertainty (UK): Novuna Business Finance found more UK small firms are building growth plans, with the biggest jump in Yorkshire & the Humber. Workplace Rules (U.S.): The U.S. Department of Labor is moving ahead on rulemaking affecting independent contractors and joint-employment—another compliance headache for small employers. Funding Boost (Space Startup): Stoke Space closed a $1B round valuing it near $10B, signaling continued investor appetite for high-growth ventures.