SME Digital Push (Pakistan): Pakistan’s IT ministry and Meta launched the Small Business Growth Academy, training 1,000+ SMEs across nine cities with AI and digital tools, with extra focus on women-led firms in textiles, handicrafts and IT services. Payments Policy (India): India’s UPI fee debate is heating up after a law change that enables charges on some transactions—yet officials say consumers won’t be charged for UPI for now, leaving merchants and the future MDR model in limbo. Women-Led Finance (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka released the first annual report on its Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code, tracking early progress after adopting the code nationally in March 2025 with ADB support. Hospitality Funding (New Zealand): New Zealand’s hotel industry renewed calls for a 2.5% accommodation levy and a clearer short-term rental register, as PM Christopher Luxon signaled openness to exploring it after the election. Auto Manufacturing Shift (Africa): Chery’s purchase of Nissan’s South Africa plant signals Chinese automakers moving from exporting to local production, aiming to build EV and hybrid supply chains despite infrastructure and policy uncertainty. Banking Stress (Bangladesh): Bangladesh Bank data shows classified loans rising sharply in industry lending, pushing banks to lean harder into retail and SME lending. Compliance Pressure (China): Small businesses in multiple provinces reportedly shut temporarily to avoid inspections tied to product certification and workplace safety drives. Leadership Turmoil (New Zealand): Prime Minister Christopher Luxon survived a second National Party leadership challenge with less than three months to election day.