UK Defence Investment: Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s long-delayed £15bn defence investment plan is back in the spotlight as MPs and opposition leaders argue over a reported £5bn funding gap and whether the upgrade is enough for future threats. AI Governance & Costs: Flexera says enterprises need clear ownership for AI spend as use cases multiply; UBS adds that many firms are “throttling” AI token spending with guardrails to rein in costs. Small Business Finance: Hello Funding says demand for fast working capital is rising, especially among healthcare and service businesses, while Kenya’s Revised MSMEs Policy 2026 puts access to credit and financial inclusion at the center. Startup & Investment Deals: SoftBank completes a second $10bn tranche of its $30bn OpenAI investment; India’s StarlinePS plans INR 160 crore for a 1.2GW solar cell plant; BSR raises up to £130m mezzanine financing for solar-plus-storage growth. Fraud Watch: Malaysia police report a retiree losing RM914,000 to an AI-trading scam that used WhatsApp groups and fake profit screenshots to push more deposits. Geopolitics & Risk: Russian drone strikes hit enterprise sites in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, killing one and injuring three.