Strait of Hormuz Talks: Oman has put forward a GCC-backed plan to Iran for joint regional management of the Strait of Hormuz, with ships making voluntary fees to fund navigation services, environmental protection, and search-and-rescue—modeled on the Strait of Malacca—while Washington again rejects any tolls or fees. Diplomatic Deadlock: Tehran has now ruled out Oman’s joint-management idea, saying it would not meet Iran’s security concerns and insisting on Iranian control over key routes. Regional Security Fallout: As negotiations continue, the US and Saudi Arabia carried out strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq, and Iran warned against “unlawful” interference, keeping maritime risk high for the Gulf. Oman Oil-Spill Readiness: Oman’s Environment Authority urged immediate action if spills occur, highlighting emergency-plan activation, monitoring, and cleanup supervision to protect marine life and coastal livelihoods. Climate Health Impact: New research says climate change has at least doubled temperature-related sleep loss in major cities since the 1970s, with a growing share tied to warming from fossil fuels and deforestation. Flood Risk Tech: Oman’s Financial Services Authority backed using satellite and drone tools for flood risk analysis, pushing insurers toward proactive climate preparedness.