Youth Jobs Pressure: The ILO says global youth unemployment rose to 12.4% in 2025 (67m jobless ages 15–24) and NEET climbed to 20%, warning 2026–27 stability could still hide a deeper jobs crisis. Energy & Clean Cooking: Tanzania is betting on domestic natural gas to cut reliance on charcoal and firewood, framing gas as energy security and a path to cleaner cooking access. Regional Trade & Logistics: IFC-backed Jumia gets $25m equity to expand digital commerce infrastructure, aiming to reach 60,000 sellers and support thousands of jobs via logistics and payments. Monetary Policy Watch: Namibia’s central bank held its repo rate at 6.75% as inflation pressures ease, keeping borrowing costs steady for households and firms. Banking Update: Kenya’s KCB posted a 20.8% profit-before-tax rise to KSh 49.3bn for H1 2026 and declared a higher interim dividend. Climate Finance Push: ECOWAS moved to validate a regional carbon market platform to help close a $294bn climate-finance gap. Infrastructure & Geopolitics: Ethiopia’s $12.5bn Bishoftu airport project is drawing US–China contractor competition, with Chinese firms prominent on shortlisted works. Tech for Workforces: Staffbase launched Middle East and Africa data hosting, targeting frontline-heavy employers needing locally hosted enterprise tools. Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium: Three more African countries backed a precautionary pause, bringing support to six as governance and science gaps persist.