Foreign-Trade Crackdowns: Kenya’s president ordered a crackdown starting Sept. 7 on Nigerians and other foreigners running small businesses, echoing Ghana’s tougher retail rules that require big foreign capital and local hiring—raising fresh risk for cross-border SMB owners. Cross-Border Payments: PPMI and Alipay+ enabled Alipay+ on QR Ph, letting Filipino micro, small and medium merchants accept global wallet payments via the local QR network. Heat & Worker Safety: Southeast Asia’s extreme heat is exposing weak enforcement and gaps in protections for outdoor workers who can’t simply change schedules. Rural Broadband vs Antitrust: South Africa’s big telcos are seeking a rare waiver to share limited rollout planning info for passive infrastructure in underserved areas. Township Economy Reality Check: South Africa’s rural and township economy report says much of the activity is survivalist and informal—highlighting why “mass-market” strategies often miss the ground truth. Kenya Manufacturing Push: Kenya courts Chinese investors to set up factories as it drives industrialization under Vision 2060. AI for SMBs: EU officials are debating whether to classify ChatGPT-style tools as high-risk under the AI Act, which could tighten compliance burdens for businesses. Startup Funding: Nigeria opens applications for student venture capital grants—up to ₦50m each for 50 STEM-led ventures. Design & Tech: ToolDance unveiled its X1 smart desktop CNC mill at IFA, aiming to bring professional machining to small businesses.