Income Shifts: A new World Bank-based map shows how countries’ income tiers changed from 1995 to 2025, with many Asian and Eastern European economies climbing into higher-income groups and Guyana moving from low-income to high-income on the back of its offshore oil boom. Academic Freedom Under Pressure: ACAF’s 2025 monitoring report flags 341 incidents across 28 African countries, with a 72% violation rate and repeated problems like state repression, university autonomy failures, and governance crises. Academic Freedom Rankings: Another global map using V-Dem’s 2025 index ranks Czechia top for academic freedom, while Myanmar and Nicaragua sit at the bottom, and notes declines in university autonomy in many countries since 2015. Red Sea Shipping Risk: Maritime reporting says Houthi attacks are reaching deeper into Saudi waters, while Chinese-linked vessels reportedly keep transiting Bab el-Mandeb without incident—pushing more shipping to reroute. Comoros in the Mix: Saudi’s new Red Sea maritime coalition includes Comoros among signatories, raising the stakes for regional security cooperation. Visa Rules Affect Travel: The US made a permanent visa bond programme for citizens of 30 African countries, effective 3 August 2026, requiring up to $15,000 before B-1/B-2 visitor visas. Local Tech & Crypto: MEXC launched MEXC 0808: Stock Season with a $500,000 prize pool and a “0-fee” push aimed at expanding crypto stock trading access.