Seychelles & Ocean Tech: Seychelles is named among the few African countries eligible for China’s visa-free entry schemes, with China reporting 17.81 million visa-free arrivals in the first half of 2026 and only Seychelles/Mauritius qualifying via bilateral deals. Blue Economy & Marine Protection: A Science Advances study warns that drifting fish aggregating devices can interact with 53% of the global marine protected area network by area, stranding in 174 protected areas and exposing a gap in how MPAs handle mobile gear. Ocean Governance (High Seas): With the High Seas Treaty now in force, African proposals for international-water MPAs are moving forward, but enforcement and responsibility remain key questions. Microplastics Monitoring: Scientists from 21 African countries, including Seychelles, are meeting in Accra to harmonise coastal microplastics monitoring protocols using nuclear and isotopic techniques under IAEA support. Local Tech & Finance Regulation: Seychelles’ FSA is advancing a digital asset regulation and licensing process, while SeyRe Global appoints Vanida Pillay as CEO. STEM & Environment: Researchers are also probing what free-ranging cats eat, including how much insects feature in their diets. Tech Business (Crypto/Trading): MEXC reports a big jump in June futures volumes and adds new Ondo tokenized stock/ETF pairs, reflecting continued demand for on-chain market access.