Oil & Gas (Angola): Afentra, London-listed, was awarded operatorship of Angola’s Block KON 4 in the Kwanza basin, with plans to restart the legacy Quenguela Norte field using modern redevelopment and near-field exploration work. Digital Entrepreneurship (Congo): The UN Economic Commission for Africa launched a regional project to boost women’s digital entrepreneurship in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Namibia, and the Republic of Congo, targeting 1,000+ women with training and policy capacity-building for 200+ officials. Energy for Jobs (AfDB meetings): African leaders at the AfDB annual meetings in Brazzaville pushed for electricity access that powers livelihoods, including productive-use energy under Mission 300. Tax & Growth (Congo): The African Tax Administration Forum welcomed the Republic of Congo as its 45th member, aiming to strengthen tax cooperation and domestic resource mobilisation. Trade Finance (AfDB): A new AfDB report flags Africa’s trade finance gap at $74–$92bn in 2024 and warns it could exceed $100bn again if global tensions persist. Public Health (Ebola watch): Health authorities in India reported a suspected Ebola case linked to travel from Congo in Ahmedabad, while lab tests for a separate Uganda traveler in Bengaluru came back negative. Wildlife (Congo): A western lowland gorilla rescued from snares in Congo gave birth in the wild, offering a rare conservation success story. Civic Freedoms (Afrobarometer): Afrobarometer finds Africans strongly support media freedom and organising, but perceived freedom of speech is shrinking, with Congo-Brazzaville among the lowest scores.