Senate Travel Scrutiny (Canada): Canada’s Taxpayers Federation says Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagné and her team spent about $875,677 on international trips since 2023, sparking calls for Prime Minister Mark Carney to hold lawmakers accountable. Press Freedom Pressure (West Africa): The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) urges Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Guinea to stop arbitrary arrests and prolonged pretrial detention of journalists and civil society actors. Cross-Border Trade Risk (ECOWAS): Nigeria’s N945bn onion export pipeline to Ghana is under threat after an indefinite export suspension linked to disputes at Kotoku Market, raising losses for exporters and transporters. Visa-Free Push (Regional Mobility): Chad and the Republic of the Congo plan visa-free entry for all African nationals from Jan 1, 2027, aiming to boost free movement and trade under AfCFTA. Benin Climate Heritage (Koutammakou): Togo and Benin launched a climate-risk assessment for the UNESCO Koutammakou cultural landscape, warning that thousands of earthen sikien homes face damage from heat, rainfall shifts and material shortages. UNIBEN Innovation & Green Belt: University of Benin launched a Campus Green Belt and an innovation ecosystem to link climate action, digital skills and entrepreneurship. Maritime Security Bill (Nigeria): Nigeria’s provisional coast guard committee urges the Senate to pass the Coast Guard Establishment Bill to close maritime enforcement gaps and support jobs and the Blue Economy. Benin Politics (Oredo): Benin youth and socio-cultural groups back APC candidate Dr. Paddy Iyamu for the 2027 House seat after saying origin concerns were resolved. Tourism Leadership (Benin-Nigeria): Benin’s Dine Bouraima named Co-Chair of the African Travel Commission, spotlighting Benin-Nigeria cross-border tourism prospects.