Land & Carbon Rights: A new rights-focused report flags community land access and benefit-sharing concerns tied to Sierra Leone’s Tonkolili and Port Loko forestry carbon project, questioning how “degraded lands” are classified and how much residents understood carbon-credit generation alongside timber. Flooding & Extreme Weather: Makeni suffered serious flash flooding after heavy rains, with roads submerged, businesses hit, and residents pointing to drainage weaknesses as extreme rainfall patterns intensify. Port & Pollution-Linked Governance: Freetown’s Chief Minister warns police at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay against demanding bribes from truck drivers during cargo decongestion, stressing accountability to keep goods moving. Climate-Resilient Development Finance: Government approved about US$73.8m for affordable housing, climate-resilient agriculture, food security, and jobs, including funding for a rice agro-industrial processing zone. Public Health Preparedness: NPHA and GOAL launched a plan to modernise Sierra Leone’s epidemic response with digital contact tracing, aiming to speed up outbreak control. Wildlife & Protected Areas: NPAA warns of growing threats to Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary, raising alarms for biodiversity protection. Energy Transition Context: A new analysis highlights Africa’s “hidden” solar boom, driven largely by distributed solar that often goes uncounted in official data. Women & Business Inclusion: AfDB and AXIAN launched a digital finance programme for 34,000 women-led enterprises across Africa, using mobile platforms and training to close financing gaps.