Water Security Deal: Jordan and the US signed a $78.2m agreement to ready Jordan’s National Water Carrier infrastructure—$69m from the US and $9.2m from Jordan—aimed at absorbing and distributing extra water (about 300m cubic metres a year) across Amman and Zarqa. Infrastructure Quality Push: The Ministry of Public Works and Housing started operating new Ma’an and Madaba central laboratories to speed testing, raise standards, and support safer project delivery. AI & Youth Tech Momentum: At Tawasol 2026, Crown Prince Hussein stressed using AI to boost productivity in both public and private sectors, while panels focused on emerging tech opportunities and Jordan’s path to global competitiveness. Independent Media Spotlight: The EU Delegation backed Jordan’s community media push, calling independent journalism “oxygen of democracy,” while Radio Al-Balad highlighted its renewed Reporters Without Borders Journalism Trust certification. Education & Research: UNESCO’s higher-education trends report says global enrolment keeps rising, with 35% of young people now in higher degrees.