Maritime & Trade Enforcement: France seized the sanctioned Russian-linked tanker Tagor in the Atlantic and ordered it toward the French mainland, saying the ship was using irregular documentation and a false flag; Russia called it illegal and “international piracy,” while France framed the move as tighter action against sanctions-busting “shadow fleet” operations tied to the war in Ukraine. Critical Minerals & Investment: Evion Group named former Australian US ambassador Arthur Sinodinos as strategic advisor to accelerate its US critical minerals push, following its Nevada fluorspar acquisition—an example of how mineral supply chains are being reshaped by government and investor priorities. Resource Sector Tax Policy: A policy roundup highlights how African states are modernising tax and customs in mining and oil and gas—raising burdens, limiting incentives, and tightening compliance—while Madagascar’s Mining Code is cited for restricting tax stability to five years. Madagascar–Russia Industrial Links: Madagascar’s Ministry of Industry signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with the management company of Russia’s St. Petersburg Special Economic Zone, including visits to a pharmaceutical production site and plans for broader partnership areas. Regional Fisheries Governance: SADC reappointed fisheries monitoring chief Stanley Ndara for a second term, backing continued efforts to curb illegal fishing across member states, including Madagascar. Tourism Integration: Justice ministers in SADC’s Victoria Falls meeting put the proposed Tourism UNIVISA on the agenda, aiming for a unified visa process to boost regional travel and tourism-linked business.