Microplastics Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Mauritius, are meeting in Accra to harmonise coastal microplastics protocols using nuclear and isotopic techniques, aiming for comparable data and stronger evidence-based marine protection. Smart City Push: Namibia’s president backed a Huawei-linked smart city pilot for Windhoek and Swakopmund, stressing jobs, real public-service gains, and ICT/AI skills development. Mauritius Conservation in Hotels: A new spotlight on Mauritius shows luxury resorts moving conservation into the mainstream, with marine research, restoration, and sustainability programmes tied to tourism’s long-term health. Ebola Drug Trial Plans: Mauritius-headquartered Xylomed Pharmaceuticals says it is preparing a double-blind, randomised Phase 3B clinical trial for an experimental Ebola treatment across DRC, Uganda and South Sudan. Digital Payments Link-Up: India’s UPI is set to integrate with Indonesia’s payment system, with cross-border QR links expected to make travel and trade smoother. Tech & Privacy Watch: A report warns Chinese surveillance tech deployed across several African states, including Mauritius, could enable digital authoritarianism with weak privacy oversight. Energy Shock Economics: Global oil-price volatility from Iran-linked Strait of Hormuz disruptions is feeding into higher travel costs and slower tourism capacity planning, with knock-on effects for island economies.