High tariffs and grid bottlenecks keep India’s renewables build-out tethered to fossil fuel imports now in short supply, Congo inks in Chinese mining ties as US minerals deal awaits delivery, Gulf states dust off proposals to replicate Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, and India’s solar exports stutter despite growing competitiveness.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz revamps nuclear power’s future, increased quality control demands further strain AI supply chains, Asian governments prepare for a prolonged energy crisis, and Germany’s rearmament provides a lifeline to beleaguered carmakers.

Lessons learnt from Ukrainian counter-drone defenses are sought after across the Gulf, South Korea’s historic stock rally overlook broader structural challenges, Taiwan’s nascent drone industry highlights sovereign capability and market entry, and German efforts to overcome its Chinese rare-earth dependency emulate Japan’s diversification model.