South Africa Economy: South Africa’s GDP grew 0.5% in Q1 2026, its second straight quarter of expansion, with nine of 10 industries rising—services and finance leading—while manufacturing still lagged and the Iran-war hit is expected to show up later. UK Macroeconomy: The UK is forecast to contract as Iran’s energy shock feeds through the data, with analysts pointing to weaker retail and services momentum plus political uncertainty. Ukraine-EU Accession: Zelenskyy says Ukraine has cleared steps to open all six EU accession negotiation clusters and urges the EU to keep sanctions pressure, including a 21st package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet. Health & Tech (Sleep): ResMed completed its acquisition of Noctrix Health, aiming to expand home, non-drug treatment options for restless legs syndrome using its FDA De Novo wearable therapy. Public Health (Community): Grand Forks, North Dakota, is reviving a coalition-led push for healthier living after earning Blue Zones certification, tackling food insecurity and lifestyle barriers. Science & Environment: Scientists report invasive bloody red shrimp are now established across all five Great Lakes, raising questions about ecological impacts. Digital Policy (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka’s cabinet approved drafting a Digital Economy Bill to speed digital transformation, strengthen regulation, and focus on areas like AI. Business & Investment (Moldova): Moldova’s EU Growth Plan is credited with accelerating reforms and setting up major infrastructure, energy, and digitalization projects.