AGP Executive Report

AI in Browsers: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, expanding AI help for searching and understanding information across 55 African locales (desktop and iOS first; Android via a power-button shortcut). Climate Watch: New global temperature reporting says May 2026 was the second-warmest May since 1850, with NOAA estimating a ~95% chance 2026 lands among the four warmest years—raising pressure on heat, health and disaster planning. Health & Research Capacity: Merck Foundation is continuing cancer-care training across multiple African countries, supporting clinical training scholarships and building oncology teams to tackle late diagnosis and specialist shortages. Global Leadership Demographics: A Pew analysis notes Donald Trump is among the world’s oldest national leaders as he nears 80, with several of the oldest leaders based in Africa—an angle on how governance experience varies worldwide.

AI in Everyday Browsing: Google expanded “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, bringing more built-in help for searching and understanding information across 55 African locales. Climate Watch: New global reports say May 2026 was the second-warmest May on record, with NOAA estimating a high chance 2026 will land among the four warmest years, raising pressure for local climate planning. Health & Tech for Cancer Care: The Merck Foundation says it’s scaling cancer training across multiple African countries, aiming to grow specialist capacity and improve access through scholarships and awareness materials. Finance & Cyber Readiness: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to stress stronger oversight for emerging risks, including digital fraud, cybersecurity, AI, and climate-linked threats. Startup Push for Portuguese-Speaking Africa: The 929 Challenge and Summit will run Dec 3–4 in Macau alongside AIE Expo 2026, with a new acceleration track aimed at helping startups reach the Greater Bay Area market, including São Tomé and Príncipe. Global Leadership Snapshot: A Pew analysis highlights that Donald Trump is among the world’s oldest leaders, with several of the oldest national leaders based in Africa.

AI in Browsers: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to more African markets, including Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa—and São Tomé and Príncipe—expanding AI help for searching and understanding information beyond a small pilot. Climate Watch: New global analyses say May 2026 was the second-warmest May on record, with NOAA and NASA/Copernicus pointing to record heat and high odds that 2026 will land among the four warmest years. Health & Research Capacity: The Merck Foundation is continuing cancer-care training across multiple African countries, aiming to grow specialist oncology teams and improve early diagnosis and treatment access. Finance & Cyber Risk: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to discuss how regulators should respond to emerging risks, financial digitalisation, and new cyber and climate threats. Startup Push for Portuguese-Speaking Africa: The 929 Challenge is expanding into AIE Expo Macao and launching an acceleration programme, with “929” explicitly including São Tomé and Príncipe among the Portuguese-speaking countries in the Greater Bay Area network.

AI in Browsers: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, bringing built-in AI help for searching and understanding information to more African users (with Android access via a power-button shortcut in Chrome). Climate Signals: NOAA and NASA/Copernicus report May 2026 as the world’s second-warmest May on record, with January–May 2026 also ranking among the hottest years; analysts note a high chance 2026 stays in the top four warmest years. Cancer Care Training: The Merck Foundation says it’s expanding oncology training across multiple African countries, aiming to grow the number of trained cancer specialists and care teams, including scholarships and cancer awareness materials. Finance & Cyber Risk: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to discuss how regulators should respond to emerging risks, including AI-driven fraud and cybersecurity, as digital finance and cross-border banking grow. Startup Access to Tech Markets: The 929 Challenge is expanding into AIE Expo Macao and adding an acceleration programme to help startups enter the Greater Bay Area, linking Portuguese-speaking countries including São Tomé and Príncipe to major tech exposure.

AI in Browsers: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, expanding its built-in AI search and help experience across 55 African locations (including São Tomé and Príncipe). The update lands first on desktop and iOS, while Android users can trigger Gemini via a power-button shortcut in Chrome. Climate Watch: NOAA reports May 2026 as the world’s second-warmest May since 1850, with NASA and Copernicus also ranking it near the top; January–May 2026 is the fourth-hottest on record, and there’s about a 95% chance 2026 will be among the four warmest years. Health & Training: Merck Foundation is continuing cancer-care capacity building in Africa through clinical training scholarships and oncology programs, aiming to expand specialist teams and improve early diagnosis. Finance & Cyber/AI Risks: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to stress stronger oversight for emerging risks, including financial digitalisation, AI-related fraud, cybersecurity, and climate risks. Startup Push for Portuguese-Speaking Markets: The 929 Challenge is expanding into AIE Expo Macao and launching an acceleration programme targeting Greater Bay Area market entry, with São Tomé and Príncipe included among the Portuguese-speaking countries in the programme.

AI in Browsers: Google has expanded “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, bringing more built-in AI search and understanding to desktop and iOS first, with Android users able to trigger Gemini via a long-press in Chrome. Climate Tech & Data: NOAA reports May 2026 as the world’s second-warmest May since 1850, with NASA and Copernicus also ranking it second, and a ~95% chance 2026 lands among the four warmest years. Health Tech & Training: Merck Foundation says it’s expanding cancer care capacity across Africa through clinical training scholarships and oncology programs, aiming to address late diagnosis and specialist shortages. Finance & Cyber Risk: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to focus on emerging risks, including digital fraud, cybersecurity, AI, and climate risks, to keep financial systems stable. Startups & Regional Tech: The 929 Challenge is set to join AIE Expo 2026 in Macao (Dec 3–4), adding an acceleration push for startups targeting the Greater Bay Area, with São Tomé and Príncipe included among the Portuguese-speaking countries in the program. Maritime Tech & Enforcement: Indonesia’s fisheries ministry says it has acted against 1,210 illegal-fishing vessels since 2021 and cites a case involving a vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag, using hidden compartments to smuggle protected fish.

AI in Browsers: Google is rolling out “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, expanding AI help for searching and understanding information across 55 African locales; desktop and iOS get the update first, while Android users can trigger Gemini via a power-button shortcut in Chrome. Climate Signals: NOAA reports May 2026 as the world’s second-warmest May on record, with NASA and Copernicus also ranking it second; January–May 2026 is the fourth-hottest on record and odds suggest 2026 will land among the four warmest years. Cancer Training in Africa: Merck Foundation says it’s expanding cancer care capacity through scholarships and training programs aimed at building more oncology specialists and care teams across multiple African countries, including several in the region. Banking Supervision & Tech Risks: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to focus on emerging risks, including digital fraud, cybersecurity, AI, and climate risks, urging regulators to upgrade supervision for resilience. Startups & AI Expo Link: The 929 Challenge is expanding into AIE Expo 2026 in Macao, adding a new acceleration program and opening access for startups from Portuguese-speaking countries, including São Tomé and Príncipe. Justice & Courts: A survey by Afrobarometer places Nigeria among the five worst for access to justice across indicators like trust in courts and judicial independence, with only São Tomé and Príncipe and a few others scoring worse. Illegal Fishing Tech & Enforcement: Indonesia reports stopping illegal fishing by 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing advanced monitoring tech and enforcement; it also describes a case involving a vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag.

AI in Browsers: Google is expanding “Ask Gemini in Chrome” to Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, with desktop and iOS getting the first rollout and Android users able to trigger Gemini via the power button in Chrome and other apps—an important step for wider access to AI help across the region, including São Tomé and Príncipe. Climate Signals: NOAA and NASA/Copernicus report May 2026 as the world’s second-warmest May on record, with January–May 2026 among the four warmest on record and a high chance 2026 stays in the top four—raising pressure for local climate planning. Finance & Cyber Risk: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to focus on emerging risks, including AI, digital fraud, cybersecurity, and climate risks, as regulators push for stronger oversight. Health Tech & Training: Merck Foundation highlights ongoing cancer-care capacity building in Africa, training oncology specialists and teams across multiple countries, aiming to tackle late diagnosis and specialist shortages. Startups & Portuguese-Speaking Links: The 929 Challenge is set to join AIE Expo 2026 in Macao, with a new acceleration programme and direct access for startups tied to the Portuguese-speaking countries network that includes São Tomé and Príncipe. Maritime Tech for Enforcement: Indonesia says it disrupted illegal fishing by targeting 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing advanced monitoring needs—relevant for countries strengthening surveillance systems.

Climate Watch: May 2026 landed as the world’s second-warmest May since 1850, with NOAA and NASA/Copernicus data pointing to record heat over much of the planet and a high chance 2026 stays among the four warmest years. Financial Supervision & Tech Risk: African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to stress that regulators must upgrade skills for emerging risks, including AI-driven fraud, cybersecurity threats, and climate-linked shocks. Startup & AI Expo Link-Up: The 929 Challenge is expanding into AIE Expo Macao, adding a new acceleration programme to help startups break into the Greater Bay Area market, with Sao Tomé and Príncipe included among the Portuguese-speaking countries in the 929 network. Maritime Tech for Enforcement: Indonesia says it has targeted 1,210 illegal-fishing vessels since 2021, citing advanced monitoring tech and stronger surveillance as key to stopping losses worth about US$895 million. Health & Cancer Training: Merck Foundation is continuing cancer-care capacity building across Africa via clinical training scholarships and oncology education, including cancer awareness materials released with African first ladies.

Climate Watch: May 2026 landed as the world’s second-warmest May since 1850, with NOAA and NASA/Copernicus data pointing to record-warm conditions and a high chance 2026 stays among the four warmest years. Maritime Tech & Security: Indonesia says it disrupted illegal fishing by targeting 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing advanced monitoring tech and stronger enforcement; it also reported a case involving a vessel flying the Sao Tomé and Príncipe flag with fish hidden in a compartment. Startup & AI Ecosystems: The 929 Challenge is expanding into AIE Expo Macao and launching a new acceleration programme aimed at helping startups reach the Greater Bay Area market, with access to major tech exhibitors and thousands of visitors. Finance & Cyber/Climate Risk: African banking supervisors met in Yaoundé to focus on emerging risks, including AI, digital fraud, cybersecurity, and climate threats—pushing regulators to modernize supervision for stability. Health & Training: Merck Foundation continues cancer-care capacity building in Africa through oncology training scholarships and cancer awareness materials, aiming to address late diagnosis and specialist shortages.

Startup & AI Ecosystems: The 929 Challenge is expanding into AIE Expo Macao, adding a new acceleration programme to help startups enter the Greater Bay Area market, with direct access to 900+ exhibitors and 50,000 professionals across AI, robotics, digital health, and smart equipment. Health & Training: Merck Foundation is continuing cancer care capacity building across multiple African countries, including one-year clinical training and postgraduate cancer/oncology programmes, aiming to address late diagnosis and the shortage of trained specialists. Financial Stability & Cyber Risk: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to focus on emerging risks, including systemic risk, digital fraud, cybersecurity, stablecoins, and AI—pushing regulators to modernize supervision for resilience. Maritime Tech & Enforcement: Indonesia says it disrupted illegal fishing by acting against 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing advanced monitoring technology and stronger surveillance; one case involved a vessel flying the Sao Tomé and Príncipe flag. Justice & Courts: A survey by Afrobarometer ranks Nigeria among the worst for access to justice and trust in courts; only São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, Comoros, and Guinea scored worse on key measures.

Digital Health & Training: Merck Foundation is expanding cancer care capacity across Africa, funding about 269 scholarships for clinical training and postgraduate cancer/oncology programs, aiming to grow the continent’s first oncology specialists and care teams, with World Cancer Day 2026 activities including a “Ray of Hope” children’s storybook and animation. Financial Stability: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to focus on emerging risks, pushing stronger oversight for digital finance, cross-border banking groups, and new cyber and climate threats. Startup & AI Ecosystems: The 929 Challenge is being folded into AIE Expo 2026 in Macao, adding a new acceleration program to help startups enter the Greater Bay Area, with access to hundreds of exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors. Maritime Tech & Enforcement: Indonesia says it disrupted illegal fishing by acting against 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing advanced monitoring and tech upgrades; one case involved a shipment concealed in a hidden compartment on a vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag. Governance & Justice: A survey by Afrobarometer ranks Nigeria among the worst for public confidence in courts and expectations of fair outcomes, highlighting justice gaps across Africa. Energy & Geopolitics: Coverage of the Iran war’s first 100 days notes ongoing naval blockades and how Strait of Hormuz disruptions have driven major fuel price shocks. Public Data & Health: A 2026 Data Commons report lists top African alcohol-consuming countries, with Uganda leading the continent.

Cancer Care Training: Merck Foundation is expanding cancer capacity across Africa with about 269 scholarships for one-year clinical training plus post-graduate diplomas and master’s programmes in oncology and pain management, aiming to grow the continent’s first generation of trained oncologists and cancer care teams. Financial Stability & Cyber Risk: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to sharpen how regulators handle emerging risks, with focus on systemic threats, financial digitalisation, stablecoins, AI, digital fraud, and cybersecurity. Startup Tech Push: The 929 Challenge is being folded into AIE Expo 2026 in Macao (Dec 3–4), adding a new acceleration programme to help startups enter the Greater Bay Area market, with access to 900+ exhibitors and 50,000 visitors. Maritime Tech & Enforcement: Indonesia says it stopped illegal fishing by 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing advanced monitoring tech and stronger enforcement; it also flagged a case involving a vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag. Justice & Courts: A survey by Afrobarometer ranks Nigeria among the worst for access to justice and trust in courts, with only 28% of Nigerians confident ordinary citizens can get justice. Digital Access & Governance: Lagos State tops Nigeria’s 2025 State Performance Index, scoring strongly on revenue independence and internet penetration.

Financial Stability & Cyber/Climate Risks: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde at the annual CABS conference hosted by BEAC and COBAC, with BEAC Governor Yvon Sana Bangui urging regulators to upgrade skills to handle emerging systemic risks, faster financial digitalisation, cross-border banking groups, and new cyber and climate threats, highlighting stablecoins, AI, digital fraud and cybersecurity as priorities. Startup Tech Boost for Portuguese-Speaking Africa: The 929 Challenge (and 2nd 929 Summit) is set to run Dec 3–4 at Cotai Expo in Macao during AIE Expo 2026, adding a new acceleration programme to help startups enter the Greater Bay Area, with São Tomé and Príncipe included among the Portuguese-speaking countries represented. Maritime Security & Illegal Fishing Tech: Indonesia says it stopped illegal fishing by 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing potential losses of Rp16.6 trillion (about US$895m), and notes a case involving a vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag that allegedly hid humphead wrasse in a compartment—prompting plans to strengthen maritime surveillance with advanced monitoring and enforcement. Justice & Courts Data (Governance Tech Angle): Afrobarometer’s survey across 38 African countries ranks Nigeria among the worst for access to justice and trust in courts, with only 28% of Nigerians confident ordinary citizens can get justice—useful context for tech-enabled legal access and accountability efforts.

Banking Supervision & Cyber/AI Risks: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to push stronger oversight for “emerging risks,” with BEAC and COBAC hosting and leaders highlighting stablecoins, AI, digital fraud, cybersecurity, and climate threats as priorities for keeping financial systems resilient. Startup Tech & Regional Market Access: The 929 Challenge (with the 2nd 929 Summit) is set to run Dec 3–4 at Cotai Expo in Macao during AIE Expo 2026, adding a new acceleration programme to help startups enter the Greater Bay Area, with Sao Tomé and Príncipe included among the Portuguese-speaking countries in the programme’s scope. Maritime Security & Advanced Monitoring: Indonesia says it stopped illegal fishing by targeting 1,210 vessels since 2021, estimating Rp16.6 trillion (about US$895m) in prevented losses, and says it will keep upgrading maritime surveillance with advanced monitoring tech and stronger enforcement—an approach relevant to fisheries governance across the region. Justice & Trust in Courts: A survey by Afrobarometer ranks Nigeria among the worst for access to justice and confidence in courts, with only 28% saying ordinary people can get justice—an indirect but important tech-and-governance signal for how digital services and legal systems can be designed. Tech Cooperation & Transfer: Egypt urged deeper South Korea–Africa cooperation focused on infrastructure, industrialisation, technology transfer, energy, and food/water security, alongside calls for better concessional financing for African development.

Banking & Cyber Risk: Central African banking supervisors met in Yaounde to push stronger oversight for “emerging risks,” with focus on stablecoins, AI, digital fraud, and cybersecurity as financial digitalisation and cross-border banking grow. Startup Growth in Portuguese-Speaking Africa: The 929 Challenge is expanding into AIE Expo Macao (Dec 3–4), adding a new acceleration programme to help startups enter the Greater Bay Area, with São Tomé and Príncipe included in the Portuguese-speaking countries network. Maritime Security Tech: Indonesia says it disrupted illegal fishing by targeting 1,210 vessels since 2021, citing advanced monitoring tech and international standards; it also flagged a case involving a vessel flying the São Tomé and Príncipe flag. Justice & Courts Data: An Afrobarometer survey ranks Nigeria among the worst for access to justice and trust in courts, highlighting how governance quality affects everyday rights. Energy & Trade Pressure: A look at the first 100 days of the Iran war ties shipping disruptions to oil and fuel price shocks, underscoring how global chokepoints can hit economies fast.