Banking & Digital Push: Absa’s new Personal and Private Banking CEO Sitoyo Lopokoiyit was auctioned into a charity golf event, but the bigger signal is his mandate: deepen mobile and digital banking and integrate payments, lending and savings rather than treating mobile money as a standalone product. Maritime Security & Jobs: Nigeria is lining up EU support under a €59m West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme to fight illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea, focusing on surveillance, monitoring and enforcement. Cross-Border Payments: HashKey MENA and Aptos, via Daya, launched a stablecoin payment corridor pilot to settle trade between the Middle East and Africa, aiming to cut FX friction, costs and settlement delays. Aviation Decarbonisation Reality Check: IATA says sustainable aviation fuel still covers under 1% of jet fuel use globally, with supply and regulation lagging behind net-zero promises. Ebola Response Strain: A New York Times report highlights leadership gaps and disengagement as Ebola spreads, raising concerns about capacity and coordination. Demographics Watch: Morocco’s fertility rate fell below replacement level in 2024 for the first time, marking a major demographic shift. Infrastructure Boost: Nigeria’s Tinubu-backed Gombe-Biu highway dualisation gets praise after work starts on the N1.245trn project. Tax Administration: South Africa’s SARS confirmed phased 2026 filing dates and more prefilled, simpler digital forms to reduce taxpayer time. Trade & Logistics: Kenya’s Port of Mombasa is advancing the Sh19bn Berth 19B expansion to handle larger ships and add 300,000 TEUs annually. Political Noise: Nigeria’s ADC leadership fight continues as Atiku and Babachir Lawal trade accusations over alleged primary manipulation and ethnic prejudice.