UPI in Mauritius: NPCI International says UPI is already accepted for merchant payments in Mauritius (alongside Bhutan, France, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Greece, Cambodia and the UAE), though availability is at participating merchants rather than everywhere. SADC Chair Push: South Africa takes over the SADC chair at the Aug 17 summit in Durban, with migration, trade, critical minerals, industrialisation and security on the agenda, and a push to turn regional commitments into practical outcomes. SADC Performance Gap: A new Sadc assessment scores the bloc 5.06/10, citing progress in security, agriculture and mobility, but weak growth, high youth unemployment, unresolved conflicts and slow integration delivery. Deep-sea Mining Backlash: Mauritius joins Mozambique and Congo and other African states backing a precautionary pause on deep-seabed mining at the ISA, arguing for a science-led, precautionary approach. FEMA Probe Links Mauritius Funds: India’s Enforcement Directorate alleges BPTP received over ₹500 crore in foreign direct investment from Mauritius-based entities (CPI India I Ltd and Harbour Victoria Investment Holding) under put/swap structures, with searches and frozen bank lockers reported. Cybersecurity Skills Strain: INTERPOL warns AI is featuring in 55% of African cybercrime cases, while only 8% of intelligence analysts have advanced skills to fight it. Energy Route Risk: A fresh attack on a UAE oil-linked vessel through the Strait of Hormuz raises fuel-supply risks for import-dependent African economies via higher freight and insurance costs.