Payments Expansion: Mastercard and TeamApt (Moniepoint) are teaming up to expand digital payment acceptance across Africa, with TeamApt operating on Mastercard’s network as a non-bank acquirer to help MSMEs and informal businesses in Nigeria process transactions across channels. SME AI Finance: MYOB is bringing trusted financial insights into Claude and ChatGPT, letting SMEs query balances, overdue invoices, and profit-and-loss using the same data they rely on for payroll, cash flow, tax, and compliance. Retail & Cost Pressure: JB Hi-Fi NZ reported strong gains, but flagged supplier price rises and stock availability issues in tech categories as a headwind for small retailers. SME Hiring/Wages Watch: New Zealand wage growth dipped below zero, with Employment Hero data pointing to real wage losses and rising pressure from the cost-of-living gap. Cybersecurity for SMBs: Kaspersky warns cyberthreats are now AI-native, with attackers using AI agents and long-running compromises that often go undetected for months. Funding for Suppliers: The U.S. SBA launched a $20M Critical Suppliers Prize Competition to help small businesses scale domestic production in advanced metals, materials, and energy systems. Procurement Reform Push: South Africa’s Black Business Council is urging Treasury to finalize Public Procurement Act regulations, saying delays are blocking set-asides and subcontracting targets for black-owned and small enterprises. Travel Payments: PayPal says U.S. users can pay in China at Weixin Pay merchants via the PayPal app, aiming to reduce friction for international travelers.