Regulatory Reset: FinCEN has issued a final rule exempting U.S. companies and U.S. persons from Corporate Transparency Act beneficial ownership reporting, effectively shelving the BOI requirement even though the law remains on the books. State Budget Power Shift: North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed budget changes that move some authority away from the governor and bolster programs including small-business infrastructure and community revitalization. Cost of Credit Pressure: UK SME borrowing costs are rising as Iran-related market stress delays expected rate cuts, squeezing margins for manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, and construction. Local Contracting Rules: Kansas City is moving to repeal-and-replace its 45-year Minority and Women Business Enterprise program with a broader small-business contracting approach after legal challenges. SME Digital Upskilling: Pakistan launched a Meta-backed Small Business Growth Academy training 1,000+ SMEs across nine cities in AI and digital tools, with extra focus on women-led firms. Data Center Fallout Watch: Communities and small businesses are bracing for higher power bills as Amazon-linked data center expansion meets grid investment plans in Mississippi. Online Visibility How-To: A practical guide urges small firms to optimize Google Business Profiles and reviews to win local search leads in 2027.