Far-right politics: Germany’s AfD surged in Saxony-Anhalt, with Ulrich Siegmund’s social-media-driven campaign style helping the party reach at least 44% in exit polls—raising questions about governance and the impact of its hardline stance on migrants. Local growth push (UK): Chancellor John Healey says growth must spread beyond big cities, with more support for mayors, local government, entrepreneurs and town centres ahead of a Budget on Oct 28. SME costs & compliance (EU-facing): Engineering exporters warn EU CBAM rules could block small firms from exporting to the bloc unless raw-material importers can supply accredited carbon data for certificates. Rural banking access (UK): MPs accuse major banks of “decimation” of rural branches, arguing closures leave small businesses and residents without face-to-face services. Digital finance for women-led SMEs (Africa): AXIAN and the AfDB-backed programme will deliver digital lending and training to 34,000 women-led businesses across five countries. AI and the open web (global): Google’s new “Preferred Sources” button signals deeper disruption to how publishers earn traffic, as search referrals reportedly keep sliding.