Microcredit for underserved SMEs: MCC Banking launched a 100% digital microcredit service, promising applications in under 10 minutes and automated approval in under 48 hours—no collateral and minimal paperwork. Policy pressure on community banks: Ghana’s community bank leaders are asking the Bank of Ghana to extend the deadline to raise share capital to 5 million cedis by Dec. 31, warning that missing the target could force staff layoffs. MSME liquidity support in India: The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme 5.0 has topped 4.11 lakh guarantees worth ₹1.55 lakh crore, with MSMEs taking 98% of guarantees and 82% of the value. Local vendors vs. big competition: In Rundu, a major tournament boosted small traders’ sales, but vendors complained corporate suppliers crowded them out. Permit transparency sparks protests: Cape Town protesters demanded clearer rules for informal trading permits; the city said it can’t immediately provide permit breakdowns and rejected a proposed 80/20 local-to-foreign quota. Power costs hit manufacturers: Reuters reports data-center-driven electricity capacity charges are spiking factory bills, squeezing U.S. manufacturers’ margins. Spaza support fund slow rollout: South Africa’s Spaza Shop Support Fund has disbursed R179.6m of R500m, with outreach underway and many applications disqualified over licensing gaps. SME-friendly trade deal: Vietnam and EFTA concluded a comprehensive FTA covering SMEs, services, investment, and customs—aimed at improving market access and predictability for cross-border business.