Madagascar Film Festival: The Madagascar Film Festival opened 20 August in Antananarivo, with screenings across 24 regions and six provinces, plus masterclasses and workshops on smartphone filmmaking, animation, streaming, and film financing; it runs to 23 August with a gala and awards. Youth & reform: A new report says Madagascar’s 2025 youth revolt opened the door to reform, but the fight against state capture and institutional independence is still just beginning. Culture & lifestyle—rare pepper: A travel-style feature follows a hunt for Madagascar’s elusive wild pepper, voatsiperifery, prized by chefs worldwide. Health—polio milestone: WHO confirmed polio type 2 outbreaks have been stopped in five African countries, including Uganda, after assessments and targeted vaccination and surveillance. Regional cooperation: Zimbabwe and South Africa signed six agreements at the Fourth Zimbabwe–South Africa Bi-National Commission, covering diplomacy, correctional services, agriculture, arts and heritage, and women’s empowerment. Gender progress: Southern Africa’s expanded gender index scores 58%, showing gains in law and representation but rising political and financial pressure on rights. Humanitarian focus: International Council of Nurses marks World Humanitarian Day with a renewed call to end attacks on health workers, including emergency support mentioned for Madagascar. Accessibility push: UNESCO, Smart Africa and Zimbabwe’s ICT ministry held a Southern Africa workshop on harmonising data governance, with Madagascar among participating countries.