Illegal Mining Crackdown: Nine Mozambicans were arrested in Mashobodo, Mpumalanga under South Africa’s Operation Vala Umgodi, with police recovering pendukas, mining gear and chemicals allegedly used to process gold; suspects face charges and immigration status checks. Agriculture & Food Security: Mozambique President Daniel Chapo urged deeper Mozambique–China agricultural cooperation after visiting Wanbao’s Gaza rice farm, while El Niño-linked dry spells are expected to worsen food insecurity across southern and central Mozambique and Malawi. Mining Finance: Gemfields booked a $125.2m impairment on its Cabo Delgado ruby operation as high-quality recovery outlooks were revised, even as total production rose in H1. Public Finance Oversight: Mozambique’s Administrative Tribunal approved the 2025 General State Account, noting a 0.52% economic contraction and a smaller-than-projected deficit. LNG & Shipping Pressure: TotalEnergies is weighing Mozambique LNG Phase 2 acceleration, as campaigners urge Japanese shipowners to pause LNG carrier orders over human-rights concerns. Local Industry & Services: Techdrilling opened a new Pemba office to bring inspection, testing and HSE training closer to Cabo Delgado oil and gas operations. Regional Trade & Culture: Botswana and Mozambique agreed to elevate ties via a bi-national commission, while regional theatre exchanges brought 150+ artists to Eswatini.