Eritrea–Qatar Ties: President Isaias Afwerki sent condolences to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani after the death of Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, praising the former emir’s role in strengthening Eritrea–Qatar relations. National Education: Eritrea announced results of the 2025/2026 National School Leaving Examination: 4,831 of 21,561 candidates (22.4%) qualified for degree and diploma programs, with female participation nearly matching males. Food Governance: Eritrea’s Ministry of Agriculture, with FAO support, held an inception workshop to develop a National Food Control Policy aimed at guiding a national food law and improving food safety across farms, markets, and households. Regional Security & Media: Ethiopia denied a viral claim that its army chief Birhanu Jula attacked PM Abiy Ahmed, saying the clip was edited to remove context about sovereignty. Horn of Africa Water Politics: An analyst accused Egypt of “information warfare” over GERD, while separate reporting says Egypt is still pressing for flexibility amid wider Horn tensions. Red Sea Shipping Risk: Coverage warns that Bab el-Mandeb closure could spike oil prices and disrupt global trade, as the IMO council reaffirmed freedom of navigation and non-toll transit through straits. Visa Tightening Across Africa: Bahrain expanded online visa eligibility to include Eritrea and Ethiopia; Denmark and the UK also published updated visa/entry-clearance lists affecting multiple African countries, signaling tighter travel rules for Eritreans and regional travelers.