SADC Summit in Durban: Southern African leaders are meeting in Durban for the 46th Ordinary Summit, with food security, development financing, disaster preparedness and regional integration on the agenda under the theme “Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation” focused on infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals. Regional security focus: Ahead of the main summit, SADC’s Organ Troika and Council of Ministers meetings in Durban highlighted peace, democratic governance and stability, with heightened security around the Durban ICC. Critical minerals push (and the environment angle): The summit’s industrialisation agenda is tied to “critical minerals transformation,” while elsewhere in the region Madagascar and other African states are backing a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining over weak science and governance gaps. Madagascar conservation spotlight: Madagascar’s golden-crowned sifaka has been named among 100 critically endangered species selected for recovery under the $200m Phoenix Species Project, with funding aimed at reconnecting fragmented forests in the Loky-Manambato region. Climate risk for coasts: New reporting links El Niño and a developing Indian Ocean Dipole to mangrove stress, urging stronger monitoring and early warning for sea level, salinity and ecosystem health. New species science: Researchers report a newly differentiated Madagascar baobab species, a reminder that biodiversity knowledge still has gaps—and that taxonomy matters for conservation planning.