Strait of Hormuz Escalation: Iran says it fired ballistic missiles and drones toward Bahrain and Kuwait, while the U.S. reported intercepts and strikes as the ceasefire frays; the U.S. also weighs letting Gulf allies tap frozen Iranian assets to cover war damages. U.S.-Iran Tit-for-Tat: Fresh exchanges followed new U.S. strikes, with Iran declaring the Strait closed to all vessels even as the U.S. said transit continued. Lebanon as Dealbreaker: Reporting highlights how Lebanon’s battlefield could derail any U.S.-Iran bargain, with Beirut repeatedly pulled into the wider Iran-Israel cycle. Military Incident Near Hormuz: A U.S. Army Apache helicopter crash near the Strait saw two crew rescued; CENTCOM has not confirmed whether it was shot down or mechanical failure. Gulf Rights Under Pressure: Human Rights Watch and Amnesty say GCC states have tightened controls on expression and assembly, especially affecting migrant workers’ ability to speak out. Qatar Backs Space Intelligence: Qatar Investment Authority joins a €1bn ICEYE Series F to expand sovereign space-based monitoring. Dubai Urban Push: Emaar plans a Dh200b district for 150,000 residents with metro links and EV-friendly mobility. Aviation & Tourism Fallout: Wizz Air profits plunge as Iran-war route cancellations hit earnings; Emirates is named Best Overall Airline in the Middle East. Tech & Commerce: Visa says 91% of Egyptians use AI while shopping; ACI Worldwide powers Kwik Payments’ next phase in Africa.