Passport Corruption Trial: Belgium’s Brussels court has referred Semlex and 14 defendants to criminal court over alleged bribery, money laundering and tax fraud tied to DRC biometric passports, with claims that nearly $60m was diverted per passport scheme. Ebola & School Reopening: As the 2026–27 school year starts, DRC is pushing free primary education and pilot canteens, but reopening is complicated by Ebola, insecurity in M23/AFC areas, and teacher strikes—while vaccination begins in Kisangani. National Dialogue Politics: President Félix Tshisekedi announced a national dialogue starting in all 26 provinces, ending in Kinshasa within three months, excluding armed groups and “foreign power” actors—an issue tied to constitutional reform debate. Rail & Corridor Deals: DRC and Portugal’s Mota-Engil signed a concession for the 1,004.5-km Dilolo–Sakania railway (30 years), aiming to connect mining hubs to Angola’s Lobito port and boost value-added processing. Regional Business Links: A Uganda–DRC Business Connect Forum in Butembo pushed trade partnerships across agriculture, pharma, construction and dairy, targeting practical ways to cut barriers. Kinshasa Urban Transport: Kinshasa’s revived airport-to-city train returns after nearly 15 years, but packed carriages and complaints over fares and comfort highlight ongoing urban mobility pressure.