HIV Treatment Push: ViiV Healthcare will share new phase IIIb and real-world data at AIDS 2026, including VOGUE comparisons of DTG/3TC vs BIC/FTC/TAF and late-breaking long-acting injectable results across sub-Saharan Africa. EV Battery Value Chains: South Africa launches a five-year GEF-backed UNIDO project to strengthen EV battery testing, skills, recycling and second-life use, aiming to boost local manufacturing. Youth Skills Alarm (Zambia): Zambia warns its skills gap is widening as millions of young people remain stuck outside work, education and training—urging faster reforms before the demographic window closes. Regional Peace Talks (Great Lakes): Kenya and the AU call for stronger Great Lakes cooperation, with women and youth included in peacebuilding as threats multiply. Affordable Housing Drive: Afriland seeks partnerships to expand affordable homes for informal workers, pushing policy and financing reforms. Forensic Lab Upgrade (SA): Western Cape becomes the first South African province to get international accreditation for forensic toxicology drug-testing. Digital Cloud Security: Cassava’s Africa Data Centres gains Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Metro status in Johannesburg, with Liquid C2 rolling out Secure CloudConnect. Xenophobia Response (ECOWAS): Nigeria’s VP Shettima urges ECOWAS unity against xenophobic attacks in South Africa, citing shared anti-apartheid history. Urban Tech & Youth: Ghana doubles down on language tech and AI for local tongues, building on decades of language institutions.