Energy & AI in Malaysia: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim backed Tenaga Nasional (TNB) to lead Malaysia’s energy transition and support AI and digital infrastructure, highlighting ETCon26’s focus on “Energy & AI.” Data centers drive power demand: Amazon is planning a major data center campus in Wheatfield, Indiana, and says it will pay $1.25bn to offset energy-cost impacts on local ratepayers; in Washington, Avista is in talks with a “large load” customer seeking up to 500MW by 2032. Grid storage push: The US DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory launched a new prismatic battery cell production line at its Grid Storage Launchpad to speed safer, cheaper grid storage. Middle East oil shock relief: A fragile Israel-Lebanon ceasefire and hopes for wider Iran talks pushed oil down and markets up, though analysts warn the situation remains unstable. Nuclear proliferation alarm: North Korea unveiled a new facility to produce weapons-grade nuclear bomb fuel and vowed an “exponential” ramp-up. Power prices under pressure: Kenya withdrew a proposed electricity tariff review, sparing consumers from higher bills, while Bangladesh approved a 16.68% retail power tariff hike amid protests. Renewables rules tested: Reuters reports India’s tougher grid rules for solar and wind could cut returns sharply and chill investment. Ukraine hits energy infrastructure: Ukrainian drones struck the Petersburg oil terminal during Putin’s economic forum, with Russia reporting many drones intercepted.