Banking Push for Inclusion: Tanzania’s Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar praised fast-growing financial markets and urged banks to bring millions more into formal services, citing a big jump in capital market activity and rising banking assets. Regional AI Reset: East Africa’s new EAC AI Alliance was formally launched in Kigali, aiming to stop AI efforts from staying trapped inside national borders by pooling governments, universities, and industry. Aviation Upgrade Watch: Kenya’s KCAA says JKIA runway and terminal expansion is nearing the finish line, with upgrades meant to cut congestion and boost runway throughput. HIV Funding Strain: UNAIDS warns HIV prevention and treatment are faltering as donor support drops, with sharp declines in PrEP uptake reported in Uganda and Burundi. Lake Victoria Oxygen Crisis: New findings warn nearly 40% of the lakebed lacks enough oxygen, threatening fish breeding and livelihoods across the basin. DRC Atrocity Claims: Human Rights Watch alleges executions during M23’s December occupation of Uvira, with residents also accusing Rwandan soldiers. Tax Changes in Motion (Kenya): Finance Bill 2026 proposes higher rental income tax, new capital gains rules, and fresh levies tied to scrap metal and gambling. Burundi Tech Angle: With Burundi’s port still recovering from flood damage, climate-linked infrastructure risk remains a major constraint on trade and connectivity.