Rare Earths & US Strategy: The US International Development Finance Corp has committed up to $62.8m to rare-earth projects in Malawi, Angola, Madagascar and South Africa, but Reuters notes private investors still stay away due to higher risk and China-linked pricing pressure. Madagascar Project Update: A separate report says Washington is backing Madagascar’s Ampasindava rare-earth project, with funding aimed at pilot work, lab testing and environmental programmes. SADC Economic Push: At the Durban summit, SADC leaders renewed calls to stop exporting raw minerals and agricultural goods and instead process them regionally, with South Africa’s Ramaphosa stressing faster integration and industrialisation. Regional Security & Migration: SADC also backed a coordinated regional migration strategy as South Africa takes the chair, while reiterating demands to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe. US Port Security Watchlist: The US Coast Guard says 22 countries remain on its port security advisory list, including Madagascar and Cameroon, meaning extra security requirements for ships calling at affected ports. Health Milestone: WHO says polio transmission has been interrupted in Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Congo and Uganda, with outbreak closures confirmed. Business & Trade Signal: Cameroon’s digital governance forum highlighted the need for national interoperability infrastructure—an issue Madagascar is also pursuing.