R&D Funding Shift: South Africa’s business sector now funds just 29% of national R&D, down from 41% a decade ago, as a science funding review warns incentives aren’t pulling enough private innovation. Kenya Refinery Scrutiny: A consumer rights group (COFEK) has filed a second legal challenge to Dangote’s $16bn Lamu refinery, demanding transparency on Kenya’s planned stake and government commitments. Fuel Discounts & Prices: Nigeria’s NNPC is rolling out a ₦66 fuel discount via its Fuel App (Oct 1–7), while more filling stations cut petrol prices in Abuja after earlier refinery-linked moves. Blue Economy Push: Nigeria Customs says it will keep plugging revenue leakages while improving port facilitation and bonded terminal operations to support the Blue Economy agenda. Health & Consumer Impact: Stats SA reports cardiovascular diseases drove 17.8% of deaths in 2024, underscoring rising lifestyle and diet pressure. Counterfeit Crackdown: Gauteng police seized R369,000+ of counterfeit and illicit goods, including pharma and poison, in a 27-shop operation. Tanzania Power Access: Tanesco and CRDB launch a scheme to cover rural electricity connection fees (no repayment) and offer urban loans to connect homes. Digital Trust: CSOs demand an investigation into unexplained TikTok disruptions in northern Nigeria, affecting millions of users. Tourism Demand: South Africa welcomed 1,005,286 international tourists in August, up 7.4%, with a push to convert arrivals into investment and jobs.