Political Realignment in Zimbabwe: Opposition leader Timothy Mncube defects to ZANU PF, saying the “Second Republic” is the only leadership delivering meaningful development. Youth and Culture: IYASA celebrates a successful Germany cultural exchange, with five Zimbabwean youth performers returning after a two-month tour. Civil Registration Modernisation: Zimbabwe hosts the AU Registrars General meeting in Victoria Falls, aiming to secure the next CRVS decade through integration, decentralisation and digitalisation. Science Diplomacy: South Africa and the EU mark 30 years of science cooperation, arguing research and innovation can keep diplomatic bridges open. Sports Pathways: UKZN student Andiswa Mbanjwa earns a spot in South Africa’s Commonwealth Kho Kho squad for India. Media Investment: Sekunjalo says its independent journalism support tops R5.2bn, backing newsroom transformation and tech. Banking and Industry in Gambia: FirstBank convenes President Barrow and Dangote to push investment and industrial development. AI Governance Race: Xi Jinping pitches open-source AI and a new global governance push as U.S.-China tech rivalry intensifies. South Africa’s Cost Pressure: NDCA warns many households can’t save because debt and essentials swallow income. Rooibos to Space: South Africa’s rooibos seeds head to the ISS for STEM experiments on plant adaptation. Digital Growth: IOL hits 1m TikTok followers, highlighting expanding digital news reach. Bank Restructuring: African Bank confirms talks that could cut 1,200 jobs and close up to 90 branches. Energy Tech: Huawei launches FusionSolar 9.0 in Dubai to strengthen grid stability as renewables scale.