Maritime Safety & Tech: Russia’s drone attacks near Odesa disabled a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier (EMIL) and struck another merchant vessel, including a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship (Mera Queen), underscoring how conflict tech is spilling into civilian shipping. Local Research & Governance: Guinea-Bissau researchers and academics propose a Cabral-inspired national dialogue and a transitional unity framework after the 2025 self-coup, calling for political ceasefire steps, prisoner releases, judicial review, amnesty, and ECOWAS security guarantees. Digital Tax Reform: WATAF convened nearly 400 participants across 16 countries to modernize VAT administration in West Africa, with a focus on digital tools to boost domestic revenue. Media Freedom: MFWA urged West African governments to end arbitrary arrests and prolonged pretrial detention of journalists and civil society actors, warning of worsening restrictions across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Guinea. Health & Climate Science: A new study warns climate change could shift malaria into new highland areas, potentially raising childhood malaria risk across East and southern Africa. Biodiversity Monitoring: Spain’s Fuente de Piedra rang 600 flamingo chicks in a 40th anniversary conservation event, continuing long-term tracking through coded rings.