Grid Reliability & Planning Failures: Zimbabwe’s Kariba hydro output has plunged, leaving the country generating about 605 MW against peak demand near 2,200 MW and driving rolling outages of 18+ hours a day, with thermal plants also underperforming. Regional Gas Supply Shock: Iran has reportedly lost nearly a third of natural gas capacity after war-related damage to South Pars facilities, threatening Iraq’s power sector where Iranian gas can supply 1/3 to 40% of generation needs in summer. Power Market Rules: India’s CERC has proposed major DSM changes from July 1, 2026, including daily deviation pricing, new treatment for wind/solar under the same framework, and expanded energy storage provisions. Renewables vs Fossil Backlash: Thousands rallied in western Germany against new gas-fired power plants, arguing for faster renewables expansion instead of new fossil dependencies. Clean Power Buildout & Storage: Uzbekistan says BESS capacity reached 1,545 MW, covering more than 13.5% of evening peak demand, as solar and wind growth increases the need for storage. Project Pipeline: Alaska’s SEAPA and Wrangell are pursuing a $6m solar-plus-storage plan to stabilize the island grid, seeking federal funding. Consumer Pressure: UK energy bills are forecast to rise again as network and policy charges climb, with EDF projecting typical bills near £1,970 by 2030. Data Center Power Demand: A New Mexico data center is set to run on fuel cells, highlighting how AI-driven load growth is reshaping generation choices.