Energy Policy: South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says the country should not ditch coal, oil and gas too fast, warning that cleaner fuels must be proven reliable before the 2027 shift—and he also argues SA’s carbon tax leaves it “taxed twice.” Fuel Security: Government is moving to build a 60-day strategic fuel reserve, with a draft Strategic Petroleum Stocks Policy now ready for Cabinet. Jobs & Skills: A new analysis says South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis is structural, not just a skills mismatch—young people face barriers like lack of experience, transport costs and weak links between training and hiring. Youth Pathways: Supply chain management is being pitched as a future-proof career for young South Africans, with demand rising as firms modernise logistics and analytics. Food Security Tech: Korea’s rice aid enters a second phase, targeting drought- and salinity-stressed rain-fed areas using new seed-breeding methods with AfricaRice. Digital Governance: South Africa’s RTMC plans to replace physical licence discs with number-plate scanning to curb fraud and speed up vehicle checks. Health Hope: DKMS reports more young South Africans are registering for blood stem cell donations, boosting optimism for blood cancer patients. World Cup Spotlight: Bafana Bafana return to the World Cup against Mexico, while Somali referee Omar Artan is denied US entry despite a visa, triggering outrage over host-country immigration power. Urban Greening: A Japan-inspired Miyawaki “micro-forest” approach is spreading globally as cities try to cool down and reconnect with nature.