Maritime Security: India is joining the U.S., Japan and Australia in a new Quad intelligence-sharing effort, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative, starting with monitoring in the Indian Ocean—prompting Beijing to warn against “exclusive” circles. Red Sea Tech & Logistics: A $160m fuel and logistics terminal is under construction in Djibouti’s Damerjog by Fuelstor (Salaam Group), aiming to store and redistribute fuel, LPG and edible oil across the Horn and East Africa—another signal that Djibouti’s port corridor is becoming even more central to regional supply chains. Public Health: WHO and Gilead Sciences renewed a five-year partnership to accelerate visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) elimination, including donations of 400,000+ vials of AmBisome and added support focused on high-burden East African countries, including Djibouti. Climate Risk: A WHO-led study warns snakebite risk is rising globally as venomous snakes shift habitats with warming and human pressure, increasing encounters near populated areas. Connectivity Milestone: ASEAN Cableship Pte Ltd marked 40 years of submarine cable work and unveiled a new logo, highlighting growing demand for digital connectivity across the Indian Ocean.