Red Sea Energy Shock: Qatar warned Bab el-Mandeb’s loss would be “catastrophic,” as Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast raise risks for global shipping and keep crude above $100. Central Banking & Inflation: Central banks are recalibrating as oil and gas price shocks feed inflation; the Fed held a restrictive stance after Brent topped $100, while the ECB also flagged Middle East-driven price pressure. US-Iran Cyber Risk: The US is investigating whether Iran or an Iran-aligned actor hit two energy tankers bound for American ports, after signs of compromised ship networks. EU Renewables Push: EU finance ministers backed €125.8M for cross-border district heating and wind projects, including Germany-Poland heat links and a Latvia-Lithuania wind park. Energy Bills Politics (US): New York lawmakers and candidates spar over who can cut utility costs, while federal LIHEAP funding delays threaten help for low-income households. South Korea Diversification: South Korea vowed tighter monitoring, diplomacy, and import-source diversification to manage Middle East-driven oil volatility, extending fuel tax cuts. Regional Power Deals: Newfoundland and Labrador narrowly approved a multi-billion Hydro-Québec agreement to expand Labrador power sharing, despite Indigenous concerns. Data Centers vs Power Costs: US lawmakers advanced bills to shift data-center energy costs to operators, intensifying the grid-and-affordability fight. Energy Security for Islands: A Sri Lanka-focused IEA/industry message argued resilience can’t be improvised in crises—it must be built ahead.