Middle East Escalation: Israel and Iran traded fresh strikes again, with Israel hitting military-linked targets in western and central Iran after missile and drone attacks; the exchange raised fresh fears of the fragile ceasefire unraveling and kept markets jittery. Energy Market Shock: The Iran conflict is already feeding into higher jet fuel costs, with airlines warning of a roughly $100bn hit and profit margins getting squeezed as supply routes tighten. Diplomacy to Contain: Qatar’s PM spoke with Iran’s foreign minister to discuss mediation efforts and ways to curb escalation, while Yemen’s Houthis again vowed to target Israeli-linked Red Sea navigation. Grid & Storage Buildout: In renewables, GSL Energy and SL Energy pushed certified 5MWh containerized battery storage for Europe and North America, aiming to speed approvals with UL/CE/IEC/NFPA compliance. Regional Energy Security: Türkiye set a target to invest $20bn+ in energy efficiency by 2030, while the US DFC backed a $1.5bn Indo-Pacific energy infrastructure platform focused on LNG and other assets. AI Power Demand: Middle East Energy marked its 50th year, warning AI and data centres are reshaping electricity demand and stressing grids, backup and storage. Access & Policy: Ghana Standards Authority faces understaffing and lab bottlenecks that delay certification for regional producers, while an EU-backed digital energy challenge is funding grid planning and microgrid data tools across Africa. Tech for Electrification: Graphion Energy Solutions launched EWave electric motorcycles for Southeast Asia, pitching fast 30-minute charging and fleet-friendly economics.