Liberia Oil & Gas: The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority has opened prequalification for the 2026 Direct Negotiation Petroleum Licensing Round, with applications assessed on technical capacity, financial strength and offshore exploration experience; prequalification lasts five years and the round is set to launch in Q4, with data partners and major oil firms already in the mix. Maritime Skills: Liberia’s Maritime Authority awarded a second Chinese government scholarship for advanced maritime studies, aiming to deepen Liberia-China cooperation and strengthen local expertise. Finance for Industry: The Central Bank of Liberia launched an Enhanced Collateral Registry System to modernize secured lending and expand credit access for MSMEs, enabling lenders to register and search security interests. Health Infrastructure: Construction is underway on the President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Regional Diagnostic Center in Bong to decentralize specialized testing and reduce patient travel to Monrovia. Agribusiness Training: LUYCSD certified about 50 women in Nimba County after practical training in homemade organic fertilizers and pest-control methods to cut input costs and boost production. Forestry Accountability: Liberia’s Supreme Court upheld convictions tied to illegal Private Use Permits, sentencing five ex-officials to one year each and ordering restitution over roughly US$6m in lost forestry revenue. Local Governance Watch: Bong County’s FY2026 budget faces scrutiny over spending priorities and whether projects can be delivered and monitored effectively. Gender & Law Debate: A public dispute erupted between Liberia’s Gender Ministry and legal experts over how the Domestic Relations Law should be applied to spousal support obligations.