Local Business Protections: New York City officials and partners fanned out along Kingsbridge to share the updated Business Owner Bill of Rights, aiming to close the “don’t know where to find help” gap for merchants. Public Policy & Tourism: UK plans for an uncapped tourist tax drew heavy backlash from hospitality leaders, who warn it could hit jobs and tourism spending. Credit Decisions: A new study proposes a three-way credit scoring approach—accept, reject, or defer—to better handle borderline borrowers instead of forcing a yes/no outcome. Trade & Growth: PM Modi told the BRICS business forum that India is building “economic bridges” as trade barriers rise, pushing more free-trade deals and supply-chain links. SMB Finance & Compliance: Kenya reassured diplomats that its crackdown on foreign participation in small-scale trade isn’t a blanket ban, but requires immigration, work permits, and licensing. Energy for SMBs: FlexEnergi launched its Ora™ DERMS platform and a Capacity-as-a-Service model to help utilities dispatch flexible capacity from residential and SMB customers. Local Market Upgrades: Nairobi says South B and Gikomba Quarry Road projects are nearing completion, expanding safer, dignified trading spaces for thousands of traders. Food Access Grants: Illinois announced $26M more for the Illinois Grocery Initiative, including a new Grocery Rescue Program to reopen closed stores. Business Fraud Case: A Mexican restaurant owner pleaded guilty to PPP/EIDL wire fraud and money laundering, and admitted employing unauthorized workers. Tech for Creators: SoonLab integrated GPT-6 Astra into its game-creation platform, letting creators build playable games through conversation without coding.