Consumer Protection Crackdown: California AG Rob Bonta warned federal regulators about predatory nonbank lenders using “sham” partnerships or trying to become national banks to dodge state consumer protections. SMB Tax Relief Update: HMRC is proposing to simplify EMI option-grant reporting so companies report new grants through the existing annual return instead of filing separate notifications—aimed at reducing a compliance trap for SMEs. Local Business & Community: A Saxonburg filmmaker pitched her independent feature “Almost Thirty” to local shop owners, seeking funding, services, and filming locations to keep production money in town. Regulatory Pressure on Pub Operators: The UK’s Pubs Code Adjudicator opened a statutory investigation into Stonegate over how it informed tied pub tenants, including financial projections and compliance with the code. Entrepreneur Support Program: East Central Indiana’s Regional Entrepreneurial Pipeline (REaP) will launch Aug. 13 with hands-on help for new and early-stage entrepreneurs, covering banking prep, marketing, pricing, and formation. Energy Costs for Small Operators: In Virginia’s drought emergency zone, leaders urged water conservation to protect families, farms, and communities as conditions worsen. Payments & Cost Debate: A proposal to exempt sales tax from interchange fees sparked pushback against line-by-line micromanaging of electronic payments that could raise costs for merchants. Business Growth via Solar: PearlX and partners announced a solar “Energy Estate” deal for Golden Sands Apartments, aiming to cut electricity costs for multifamily operators.