Air Transport: Air Algerie received its first Boeing 737 Max 8 as it starts a fleet renewal, alongside the first ATR 72-600 for its new Domestic Airlines unit—an upgrade aimed at boosting capacity and efficiency. Energy & Investment: Algeria’s National Oil Corporation signed an exploration and production deal for Area 47 in Libya’s Ghadames Basin with Libya’s Investment Authority and Qatar’s UCC Group, targeting expanded oil and gas development near the Algerian border. Politics & Governance: Algeria’s legislative elections saw record-low turnout at 21.24%, widely read as a sign of public disengagement and frustration with parliament’s limited impact on major policy choices. Trade & Industry (Africa-wide): Afreximbank says intra-African trade is still dominated by manufactured goods, but the share collapses once exports leave the continent—pushing the case for faster industrialization and regional value chains under AfCFTA. World Cup Economy (Local angle): Algeria fans helped bring World Cup buzz to Kansas City and nearby Lawrence, but some local businesses reported weaker-than-expected footfall despite visitor promises. Regional Civil Space: In Tunisia, pro-Morocco activists fear a crackdown could use “foreign agent” accusations to silence critics as civic space tightens.