SME Support & Skills: Arkansas APEX Accelerator is running a free workshop on government procurement and federal small business certifications, aiming to help owners chase contracts. Cost Pressure for Small Firms: England and Wales business-rate appeals are spiking, with VOA data showing more cases filed but a majority of challengers winning reductions. Entrepreneurship as a Second Career: A Malaysian journalist-turned-coffee caterer is using a neighborhood brand to offset rising living costs, while a separate Malaysian founder is pushing pandan-based foods into India from Pondicherry. Investment Pipeline Moves: Odisha cleared 24 investment proposals worth about Rs 3,793 crore, spanning sectors from renewables to EV components. Regional Capital Push: Qatar says reforms are boosting new company formation with non-Qatari capital and expanding its sovereign investment footprint. Startup Ecosystems: Singapore entered the world’s top 10 startup hubs for the first time, led by fintech and corporate participation. Energy & Deals: Oman’s OQEP signed an MoU with Libya’s investment authority to deepen oil-and-gas investment cooperation. AI & Enterprise Demand: OpenAI is reshaping ChatGPT into a superapp for enterprise clients, while Dell reports strong AI infrastructure orders and a growing AI-Factory backlog. Fraud & Corporate Governance: India’s NCLAT rejected Ligare Aviation’s insolvency case, saying a loan was “round tripping” rather than a genuine financial transaction.