Botswana–Lesotho ties: Botswana and Lesotho vowed to deepen cooperation through a new binational commission focused on water, energy, trade, agriculture, education and defence, with plans for a Lesotho dam and hydropower link plus Botswana pledging 100,000 foot-and-mouth vaccine doses to Lesotho. Lesotho–US partnership: A US Africa Command envoy reaffirmed strong US–Lesotho friendship despite recent US trade tariffs that cost Basotho jobs, pointing to work on border security (including drones) and disaster-response coordination. Industrial policy and jobs: Lesotho launched the “Letsema” strategy via LNDC to end import dependence, target 50,000 net new jobs and grow 100 Basotho industrialists, while an Auditor-General report flags CAFI’s weak delivery (only 41% of revised budget spent) and a governance gap. Cost of living pressure: The Petroleum Fund moved to clarify it does not supply petrol, even as fuel price rises keep pushing up transport fares and basic goods. Transport affordability hit: A proposed 79% taxi fare jump is set to spark a showdown, with disabled Basotho warning the hike will deepen exclusion. Digital skills push: The Sebabatso youth programme expands with an AI Skills Development initiative linking e-commerce and AI tools for young enterprises. Health and development: Lesotho’s maternal and child health “Investment Case” (M2.3bn) targets “Three Zeros,” and the US and Global Fund plan to expand lenacapavir access to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. Border rules affecting commuters: SARS will end a SACU exemption and require electronic temporary import declarations for foreign-registered vehicles entering South Africa from June 1, raising new compliance costs for Lesotho travellers.