Inflation Watch: Nigeria’s headline inflation eased to 15.43% in July, but food prices kept pushing higher, with food inflation still the biggest driver. Rates & Credit Access: A federal fund freeze is limiting small-business loans for low- and moderate-income families, while community lenders warn inconsistent funding is squeezing credit to the hardest-to-serve borrowers. Small-Business Finance: Australia’s banking industry says competition is improving pricing and choice for small firms, alongside record credit levels and broader payment tools. Legal & Courts: West Virginia’s “legal desert” problem is worsening, with attorneys urging higher compensation for court-appointed counsel rather than tougher bar rules. M&A & Deal Risk: Paramount Skydance is seeking a roughly $1.9B bond from state AGs and the WGA to cover costs tied to delays in its Warner Bros. Discovery merger fight. Energy & Investment: Valar Atomics raised $1B to scale miniature nuclear reactors, while German direct investment in the U.S. fell sharply amid policy uncertainty. Trade & Tariffs: Canada-U.S. tariff talk and broader tariff threats are rattling exporters, including beekeepers warning new U.S. tariffs could hurt honey sales. Local Business Impact: GM layoffs in Lansing are raising fears of wider knock-on effects for local suppliers and restaurants. Startup & Tech: Semtech is selling its cellular module business for $62M as it refocuses on data center and LoRa connectivity.