UPI MDR Shake-Up (India): From Oct 15, UPI merchant payments above ₹2,000 will face a 0.4% MDR, but five categories get a flat Rs 5 MDR—railways, telecoms, insurance, fuel and agricultural inputs—while person-to-person stays free and banks are told not to pass the charge to customers. Digital Identity (New Zealand): Westpac becomes the first NZ bank accredited to issue digital ID credentials via the Govt.nz app wallet for business customers, using QR plus SMS verification. Subsea Capacity (Transatlantic): EXA Infrastructure plans EXA Meridian, a 6,552km US-UK cable targeting 2029 service and 500Tbps+ capacity for hyperscalers, finance and governments. AI Data & Security (US-China): A Foreign Affairs analysis warns that efforts to distil US AI models could be exporting sensitive real-world user and industrial data back to the US. Nigeria Fintech Access (Policy): CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso says financial inclusion must deliver real wellbeing, while former CBN boss Sanusi Lamido admits delaying telcos’ entry into Nigeria’s financial services slowed inclusion. Network Growth (Nigeria): NCC reports active internet subscribers hit 157.7M in July and usage rose to 1.66M TB. Satellite Connectivity (Africa): Thales Alenia Space wins a contract for NIGCOMSAT-2A to expand secure broadband and TV services across West/Central to Southern Africa. Regulation & Competition (Trinidad & Tobago): Public utilities minister Barry Padarath defends TSTT chairman Kern Dass and signals legal action against the telecoms union.