Geopolitics & Security: The U.S. says Chinese firms have been plotting clandestine arms sales to Iran, using other countries to hide where weapons came from, with at least one route reportedly involving Africa—details still murky on whether shipments were approved or sent. AI & Politics: A new report finds AI and crypto companies poured $39M into state elections, including New York, as rival pro-regulation super PACs fight over how AI should be governed. Local Business Pressure: In Oak Park, Illinois, a water-and-sewer pipe project is cutting restaurant traffic by about 30% while owners wait for promised help. Small Business Wins: Idaho’s ProTech Fence brothers were named East Idaho Small Business Persons of the Year, and Milwaukee County highlighted new grant-backed openings through its Building Bridges program. Markets Watch: MSCI is removing six Indonesian companies from its index, rattling shares and raising questions about future index access.