Digital Markets: MEXC teamed up with Ondo Finance to list five Ondo tokenized U.S. stock pairs on its spot market, letting traders use USDT for fractional exposure to firms tied to semiconductors and power infrastructure for AI data centers; trading started July 16 and withdrawals open July 17. Maritime Sanctions Evasion: A report says Russia’s “shadow fleet” is increasingly registered under African flags to dodge sanctions on oil shipments, using opaque ownership, name/flag changes, and ship-to-ship transfers to hide cargo origins. Science & Nature: Scientists revisited the coelacanth story after the “extinct” fish was rediscovered off South Africa in 1938, highlighting how deep-ocean survival reshaped modern natural history. Environment & Mining: A new study links mine development to forest loss across Africa, finding a strong “multiplier” effect where deforestation for mines drives much larger losses via roads and settlements—especially in DR Congo’s cobalt-linked supply chains. Regional Governance & Skills: SADC officials met in Johannesburg for training on cost-benefit analysis to help governments spend limited budgets more effectively on health, education, infrastructure, and climate resilience. Security & Governance: A regional analysis argues insurgent groups across the Swahili Arc and beyond thrive by exploiting gaps in state authority, turning governance into a contested service.