BRICS Diplomacy: India’s BRICS chairship kicks off in New Delhi as South Africa’s Ramaphosa and Nigeria’s Shettima join leaders to push trade, investment, digital public infrastructure and security cooperation, with India also defending BRICS’ value for the Global South. Regional Politics: Nigeria escalates its dispute with South Africa by suspending National Assembly visits and boycotting SA-hosted legislative events over alleged xenophobic attacks. Women’s Representation: Nigeria ranks 177th of 182 on female parliamentary representation, with women holding just 4.2% of seats—an ongoing governance and inclusion gap. Electoral Governance: Nigeria’s INEC urges parties to move beyond rhetoric on women’s political participation ahead of 2027, while opposition coalition talks continue as Peter Obi rejects stepping down for Atiku. Public Finance & Social Protection: South African pensioners and lawmakers back calls to raise the Older Persons Grant from R2,400 to R5,000 amid cost-of-living pressure. Health Systems: South Africa faces a major global health aid shortfall after US/USAID pullbacks, threatening jobs and trials, as cheaper diagnostic tech from China gains traction. Water & Accountability: A South African commentary argues municipal sewage failures violate the National Water Act and should be treated as criminal pollution, not routine service delivery. Global Map Governance: The UN’s push for a more accurate “Equal Earth” map—backed by the AU—sparks debate, with the US the lone opponent.