COVID Loan Fraud Crackdown: US VP JD Vance says the SBA has suspended nearly 870,000 borrowers tied to suspected pandemic loan fraud, with officials citing an estimated $39B in taxpayer exposure and urging people to use challenge processes. Local Enforcement on Small Business: Pennsylvania State Police warn “skill games” will be treated as illegal slot machines starting next month, with enforcement that could include machine seizures and criminal charges for small venues. SME Cash-Flow Pressure Relief: China moves to curb large-company payment delays, pushing cash payments to SMEs within 60 days and tightening rules around acceptance and settlement. SME Financing & Growth: Tabby raises $233M to expand beyond BNPL with new consumer and SME licences in Saudi and UAE; and Washington Trust and Moss Pure will discuss SBA 504 financing at a regional manufacturing summit. Fraud Case Hits Small Business Ecosystem: An Auckland man, Martin Kells, gets six months community detention for falsely claiming $70,800 from a COVID small business support scheme. Trade & Market Access: Alibaba’s CoCreate event highlights how Chinese platforms are increasingly acting as business infrastructure for global entrepreneurs, including US sellers sourcing directly from producers. Work Hours Debate: A proposed four-day workweek bill would shift overtime eligibility to after 32 hours, with Yakima employers and workers split on whether it helps or cuts available hours.