Shipping Safety: A fire at the Qingdao Beihai shipyard in China killed at least 20 people aboard the Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier “Ocean Melody,” with five injured and five missing; President Xi Jinping ordered intensified rescue, a swift probe, and accountability. Banking & Credit: Liberia’s Central Bank opened a three-day National NPL Resolution Conference as President Boakai warned the bad-loan crisis is “about people,” restricting credit to farmers, entrepreneurs, and businesses; the World Bank also urged reforms that expand affordable long-term lending, not just reduce NPL numbers. Power Sector Oversight: Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission scrutiny is mounting over Jungle Energy Power’s Nimba distribution license renewal after customer complaints about unsafe lines, slow fault response, and electrocution-linked risks. Agribusiness Investment: Government sealed a US$60M, 20-year coffee concession with JR Farms Group to revive production and value chains for nearly 200,000 smallholders across seven counties. Skills & Jobs: VP Jeremiah Koung pushed technical and vocational training under the ARREST agenda, stressing job-ready skills over purely academic credentials. Agricultural Research: India and Liberia signed a research and education pact between ICAR and CARI to boost training, germplasm exchange, and joint work on crops and food systems. Illegal Mining Crackdown: A national taskforce plans enforcement operations against illicit mining, including prosecution and possible deportation for foreign operators. Education Support: Senator James Biney launched a 10-year Maryland County education support program starting with about L$3M for schools and students. AI Capacity Building: UNDP and the University of Liberia are advancing plans for Liberia’s first MSc in Artificial Intelligence. Consumer Protection: LTA opened a new consumer support centre in Buchanan to expand complaint handling and regulatory access beyond Monrovia.