Drought Response: With El Niño risks rising, Eswatini is urging irrigated commercial farms to set aside portions of their estates for food production, pointing to water-secure players like Royal Eswatini Sugar, Ubombo Sugar and Tabankulu as part of contingency planning. Infrastructure Reform: Government is moving away from a “build, forget” approach, with a new construction policy stressing maintenance, renovation and end-of-life management as one continuous infrastructure cycle. Energy Expansion: EEC has opened a tender to add a third 10MW unit at Maguga Hydropower, seeking EPC contractors and financing to close a funding gap. Tax Court Setback: The ERS has lost a bid to challenge a USA Distillers tax dispute after the High Court refused to condone its late review application in a matter linked to an estimated E77m assessment. Arts & Culture: NACA awards continue to translate recognition into skills, with 110 creatives set for professional music training, while Manzini creatives received regional certificates. Governance & Rights: Parliament is set for a retreat after concerns about threats and intimidation against MPs, with lawmakers citing parliamentary privilege protections. Public Safety & Crime: Police arrested a woman at Bram Fischer International Airport after crack cocaine was found hidden in a hairdresser’s doll head, and a separate case saw a 46-year-old woman arrested over alleged repeated rape of a 15-year-old boy. Regional Politics: King Mswati III congratulated Zambia’s President Hichilema on re-election, pledging to strengthen Eswatini-Zambia ties. US Deportations Watch: Liberia’s start of receiving up to 1,200 US deportees under third-country deals continues to draw scrutiny, including reports of a US$5m payment.