Reparatory Justice & Tech of Memory: Ghana’s Juneteenth was marked outside the US for the first time, with students reenacting the transatlantic slave trade at Christiansborg Castle as part of a three-day Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice, pushing a new reparatory justice framework from speeches toward concrete action. Health Workforce Boost: Merck Foundation says it has funded 2,600+ scholarships for healthcare providers across 52 countries in 44 underserved specialties, and it convened its Africa Asia Luminary 2026 with First Ladies from 12 countries to spotlight training that improves patient care. Local Finance Governance: A Sao Tome and Principe licensing authority explainer argues why licensing and supervision must stay separate in modern financial systems—an issue that matters for compliance, investors, and cross-border services. Ocean Protection for the Eastern Atlantic: West African states are urging the Eastern Atlantic’s Convergence Zone (including waters off Sao Tome and Principe) to be included in the first wave of marine protected areas under a high-seas treaty, aiming to protect 30% of ecosystems by 2030. Currency Pressure: A new ranking flags Sao Tome and Principe’s dobra among Africa’s weakest currencies versus the US dollar, reflecting import dependence and broader economic fragility. Influence Operations: Ukraine’s intelligence claims Russia is expanding “Russian Houses” across Africa, including Sao Tome and Principe, to spread pro-Russian messaging and recruit students and workers. Patent Fight in HIV Medicines: PATAM and TWN filed a Third-Party Observation at ARIPO challenging a Gilead patent application on broad HIV compounds, arguing prior disclosures undermine novelty and inventive step.