Middle East Oil & Shipping: A fragile U.S.-Iran truce is easing crude back toward pre-war levels, but analysts warn Strait of Hormuz shipping is still cautious, with delays and higher insurance/costs keeping supply risk alive. U.S. Energy Security: The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown continues, with crude stocks falling to the lowest since 1983 as releases aim to close global inventory gaps. Egypt Smart Grid Push: Egypt’s EEHC and e& Egypt signed a smart meter rollout protocol for telecom sites nationwide, linking meters to centralized data systems to improve billing accuracy and grid operations. Egypt Solar + Storage Buildout: Sterling and Wilson’s JV won a major Egypt EPC order for a 1 GW solar plus 600 MWh BESS project, reinforcing the country’s renewables expansion. Battery Storage Momentum (India): HSBC says India’s operational BESS capacity has reached 2.7 GW/7.5 GWh, helping cover evening peaks as heatwaves lift demand. UK Grid Costs & Consumer Impact: Neso estimates rewiring Britain’s electricity network could cost nearly £90bn in the 2030s, while Ofgem’s price cap rise is set to hit households that miss meter readings. South Africa Hybrid Renewables: Envision Energy signed a 660 MWh BESS deal for the Naos-1 300 MW solar hybrid project, targeting dispatchable power for wheeling across the grid. Australia Solar Access: Australia launched the Solar Sharer Offer, giving eligible households up to 24 kWh/day of free daytime electricity for three hours. China Storage Pricing Pressure: China’s anti-“involution” rules add tighter payment terms for energy storage supply chains, aiming to restore pricing power and reduce low-price competition.