Cybersecurity & Finance: Somalia’s communications minister warned the BBC that WhatsApp’s planned username-based chats could weaken anti-terror tracing and increase fraud risk in a country where mobile money is central. AI & Education: Somali National University launched the Somali National Artificial Intelligence Centre in Mogadishu to drive AI research, training, and locally built software and data services. Islamic Education Policy: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre attended the graduation of the first master’s cohort in Islamic preaching and judiciary studies and said Somalia has established a national policy to regulate Islamic education and harmonize institutions. Regional Health Tech: The East African Community will launch the Uganda Virus Research Institute as a regional virology center to strengthen surveillance, diagnostics, and lab training across member states including Somalia. Public Health Alert: Reports highlight measles resurgence risks, including a case where an unvaccinated child traveling to Somalia contracted measles and suffered severe complications. Regional Security & Trade: A tanker hijacked by suspected Somali pirates off Yemen was moved to waters off Puntland, underscoring ongoing maritime threats. EAC Monetary Talks: East African central banks met in Kampala to discuss convergence criteria, macroeconomic policy, and climate-related financial issues, with Somalia among participants.