Philippines Tax Relief Push: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 5th SONA is driving a legislative push for expanded income tax exemptions up to ₱350,000, lower rates for other workers, small-business relief from minimum corporate income tax, and tax amnesty—while the House signals it will prioritize the measures. House Moves Ledac Agenda: Lawmakers also plan to fast-track remaining Ledac priority bills, including a Cybersecurity Act and conflict-of-interest rules for state contracts. PPP Fraud Settlement: SoftBank Robotics America agreed to pay $3.64M to settle a PPP False Claims Act case tied to eligibility issues involving affiliated entities. Supply Chain Grants: The U.S. SBA opened applications for up to $9M in SCALE grants to help organizations accelerate domestic supply chains and logistics for small businesses. Financing Deal: InterVest Capital Partners acquired Kapitus, aiming to expand growth capital access for SMBs. Branding in the AI Era: New guidance for small firms stresses that AI can speed content, but differentiation comes from consistent, authentic branding and customer experience. Local Tourism Shift: U.S. tourist destinations report more Americans staying closer to home, boosting demand for regional small businesses. Small Biz Tech Reality Check: Sonary’s survey finds most small businesses track only 1–2 software tools, with median spend around $100/month. Local Wins & Challenges: A Maine family’s “rooster” dispute drew national attention, while a UK bakery sold out within hours after opening a new town-centre location.