BRICS & Global South Diplomacy: The 18th BRICS Summit ended in New Delhi with the New Delhi Declaration, with a Chinese journalist praising it for amplifying Global South voices, pushing UN reform and boosting local-currency trade. Health Security: Experts say BRICS-backed plans for an Integrated Early Warning System for mass infectious diseases could help Africa close gaps in surveillance, research, diagnostics and vaccine production. Regional Trade & Integration: Zimbabwe’s exports to COMESA rose from $201m in 2024 to $222m last year (+10.4%), as Harare prepares to host the 25th COMESA summit and looks to diversify beyond tobacco. Insecurity & Accountability: Nigeria’s Sokoto ADC governorship candidate Manir Dan’iya demands action over banditry, citing displacement and abductions, and questions how N1.2tn in allocations has been used. Counter-Illicit Finance & Drugs: Nigeria’s ANEEJ urges CSOs and media to expose illicit financial flows, while Ghana calls for stronger regional cooperation to fight drug trafficking and transnational crime. Public Health Trials: Africa CDC and CEPI launched a database linking vaccine developers to 45 African Phase 1 clinical trial units across 17 countries to speed outbreak response. Culture & Heritage: Senegal welcomed the Olympic flame for the Youth Olympic Games, marking Africa’s first Olympic event on the continent.