SME survival and service delivery: South Africa’s Metsimaholo municipality is facing urgent scrutiny after residents reported up to two weeks of power outages, with claims officials refused to log faults on behalf of residents—raising red flags for business continuity and essential medical support. Tax policy for business: EY Malaysia says Budget 2027 should refine the sales and services tax (SST) to reduce tax cascading, broaden the base, and improve compliance—while stressing clear guidance, consultation, and transition time so companies can adapt. Workforce costs debate: Malaysia’s plan to exempt micro, small and medium enterprises from the next minimum wage increase is drawing criticism for creating two pay classes and potentially stalling wage growth for millions. SME growth in green sectors: Uganda backed 50+ SMEs through green and circular economy bootcamps, aiming to tackle finance access and skills gaps in areas like renewable energy, sustainable farming, waste management, and green construction. Cyber risk for small firms: A new wave of AI-enabled cyber threats is accelerating the pace of attacks, underscoring why SMEs need stronger security planning as vulnerabilities move from discovery to exploitation faster than defenders can respond. Procurement and opportunity: The U.S. Navy is lining up a follow-on contract (expected $50M–$100M) to redesign F-35 mission planning software, with work tied to a small business—an example of how defense tech spending can create contracting openings.