Mining Custody Deaths: Nigeria’s ADC and Atiku Abubakar demand an independent, transparent probe into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners found dead in NSCDC custody in Niger State, after the service cited a suspected disease outbreak and later said causes were still under medical review. Energy Subsidy Fight: Atiku warns Tinubu against phasing out electricity subsidies from 2027, arguing palliatives won’t offset rising transport and power costs for households and businesses. Mambilla Corruption Row: APC campaign officials cite an ICC arbitration ruling to argue Atiku is “unfit” over alleged $500,000 bribe links in the Mambilla deal; Atiku counters that the tribunal never found he took a bribe and challenges APC to specify the award paragraphs. Zambia Crackdown: An Anglican bishop, Trevor Mwamba, is detained on treason charges amid opposition arrests after Zambia’s Aug 13 election, raising fears of democratic backsliding. Digital Payments: Access Bank Ghana and Visa launch “Visa Accept” to help nano and small merchants accept card payments via smartphones, pushing more SMEs into the formal economy. Trade Costs: East Africa shippers warn logistics costs and border delays are eroding competitiveness, calling for better corridor performance, not just new infrastructure. Red Sea Focus: The US lifts sanctions on Eritrea’s military and key entities as the Red Sea remains central to regional security and trade. Business & Investment: Tinubu meets Vincent Bolloré in Paris to expand investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy, including film, entertainment, fibre-optic infrastructure and digital services.