Youth NEETs & gender barriers: A new HCI+ deep dive shows young people not in education or work are a major skills-loss group, with NEET rates reaching about one in three in low- and middle-income countries and 41% in parts of the Middle East/North Africa and South Asia; it also highlights different policy needs depending on whether women are outside the labour force, unemployed, or stuck in low-learning jobs. Energy access as an education issue: Namibia is set to host a major energy summit aimed at closing Africa’s $130bn annual GDP loss from unreliable power and the huge electricity access gap, with a focus on de-risking investment and scaling solar and other renewables. Girls’ education, health media awards: Merck Foundation, with African and Asian First Ladies, opened applications for 2026 media awards on “More Than a Mother” (including girl education and ending child marriage/FGM/GBV) and “Diabetes & Hypertension.” School funding pressure in South Africa: UCT students protest NSFAS accommodation caps, saying they push learners into debt and could face court action. Regional education integration: EAC states renewed calls for harmonised curricula, qualifications and teacher development to close learning gaps and make cross-border schooling work. Transport costs hit learning access: A UCT study finds over 40% of public transport users travel less due to costs, worsening “travel poverty” and limiting access to jobs and services. Health research with local impact: South Africa’s Dr Nene Mboweni-Kondlo’s work points to earlier and higher-risk heart failure patterns in Southern African patients, supporting earlier diagnosis and tailored care.