Green Restoration: Africa’s “Wall of Trees” is taking shape as an ~8,000-km living green barrier across the Sahel, aiming to restore degraded land, curb desertification, boost food security, and create jobs—stretching from Senegal to Djibouti. Water Stress: A new global map highlights how extreme water stress is in countries like Kuwait and the wider Middle East/North Africa region, where freshwater withdrawals can far exceed renewable supply—raising risks for farming and livelihoods as climate patterns shift. Maritime Environment & Safety: Germany’s mine-clearing readiness for the Strait of Hormuz remains in limbo as officials weigh preconditions with Iran and Oman; German ships had been sent to Djibouti for potential demining, underscoring how chokepoint tensions can quickly affect shipping and regional ecosystems. Climate Data Sharing: WMO’s WIS2 network keeps expanding, with 116 operational nodes now sharing weather and climate data—an important backbone for drought, flood, and heat preparedness across the region. Regional Resilience: IGAD’s Regional Cyber Drill 2026 wrapped up with calls for stronger cross-border cooperation, including plans for an information-sharing center to protect critical systems.