BRICS Expansion: Iran’s central bank chief says Tehran will soon join the BRICS New Development Bank, alongside talks on linking payment systems and digital currencies to speed up cross-border transfers. Regional Integration Push: Zimbabwe urges SADC to turn integration promises into real benefits for citizens as South Africa prepares to chair the bloc’s summit in Durban, with focus on industrialisation, infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals. South Africa Jobs Reality Check: After South Africa drove out thousands of foreign workers, unemployment still climbed to 33.6% in the second quarter, underlining how migration crackdowns aren’t fixing labour markets. Crypto Compliance Crackdown: Nigeria’s SEC orders capital market operators to freeze assets tied to six alleged terrorist financiers, while Nigeria also sees SEC directives to cut correspondent banking links with high-risk jurisdictions like Iran and North Korea. Telecom Connectivity Leap: Airtel Africa commercially launches Starlink mobile satellite service in DRC, extending coverage for remote users and emergency response. Automotive Shift to Local Production: Chery’s purchase of Nissan’s Rosslyn plant signals a growing move by Chinese automakers to build in Africa as EV and hybrid demand rises. Energy Transition Bottleneck: South Africa’s renewables buildout faces “gridlock” risks as transmission lines lag behind new generation capacity. SADC Integration Meets Elections: Zambia’s Hichilema holds an early lead in the presidential race, with investors watching continued pro-business reforms. Eskom Restructuring Tension: Unions warn Eskom restructuring or partial privatisation could raise costs and threaten service delivery in power-dependent Eswatini. Finance & Growth Theme: Commentary argues Africa’s next deal cycle hinges on stronger financing and financial architecture, not just policy ambition.