Aviation Safety: ESWACAA and the SADC Aviation Safety Organisation hosted an ICAO regional workshop on Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR), bringing together 12 African countries to align runway and pavement standards for safer, more efficient air transport. STEM Outreach: Merck’s Curiosity Cube™ mobile lab is inspiring learners across Southern Africa, with hands-on synthetic biology experiments in Zambia and Pretoria aimed at turning curiosity into future science careers. Health Research Funding: The Thanzi Programme (CHE) secured a new grant to expand health systems research and capacity-building into Namibia and Zambia, strengthening work on universal health coverage and policy development. Energy & Jobs Debate: eSwatini signed a Taiwan financing deal for the Phuzumoya Strategic Oil Reserve (80 million litres), but questions remain over affordability amid high unemployment and poverty. Digital Literacy & Safety: TikTok reported major community-guideline removals across Sub-Saharan Africa and backed media-safety and child online safety initiatives, including partnerships involving Eswatini. Local Tech & Identity Tech: Turkmenistan’s Aýdyň Gijeler says it agreed on a high-tech project to produce Eswatini national ID cards and biometric passports using secure chip technology. Governance & Finance: The ENPF board crisis deepened after a legal opinion challenged the minister’s defence of a board chair appointment, leaving the fund’s governance effectively paralysed. Creative Economy: Eswatini marked World Book and Copyright Day 2026 with a push to protect SiSwati stories and intellectual property in the digital age.