Middle East Oil Flashpoint: The US escalated its confrontation with Iran by striking three Iranian crude tankers after ballistic missiles hit two US Navy warships, with CENTCOM saying two tankers were permanently disabled and one (Kylo) was destroyed/sank in the Gulf of Oman; US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran the US will “destroy and sink” more tankers if attacks continue. Retaliation & Shipping Risk: Iran’s IRGC claimed it hit US-linked vessels and warned ships to avoid “unauthorized” Strait of Hormuz routes, raising fears that the energy trade route is becoming a direct battlefield. Oil Prices & Market Mood: Traders pushed Brent toward the high-$90s as the risk premium grows, even as physical supply losses look limited. Regional Energy Security: Iraq said it is boosting crude exports to 3M bpd and targeting 5M by building alternative routes via Türkiye and Syria to reduce reliance on Hormuz. Grid & Power Reliability: Kenya Power scheduled maintenance outages in parts of Kilifi County; Kuwait reported transformer-station malfunctions causing outages. Renewables Push: A UK firm sought to expand a solar array with battery storage, while Sudan’s war-driven blackouts are pushing some households toward rooftop solar despite high costs. Policy & Infrastructure: Pakistan and Malaysia both discussed fuel and power stability amid West Asia disruptions, while Malaysia also signaled interest in possible future nuclear capacity. Nigeria Safety Crisis: In Nigeria’s Niger Delta, an NGO said at least 37 people died after inhaling fumes during illegal pipeline fuel theft.