Strait of Hormuz: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected Iran’s reported plan to levy transit fees on the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an “international waterway” where no country can charge tolls; the dispute comes as the US-Iran interim ceasefire runs for 60 days and UN efforts begin to evacuate stranded sailors. Regional Diplomacy: Rubio’s Gulf tour includes UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain as Gulf states press for clarity on shipping access, sanctions relief and nuclear inspections, while Iran and Oman said they will study how to administer the strait and associated costs. Bahrain Business & Finance: Standard Chartered said it is exploring the sale of its Bahrain wealth and retail banking business, while keeping its corporate and investment banking operations in place; the bank expects a phased transition over 18–24 months, pending approvals. Logistics & Trade Enablement: Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) partnered with Meydan Free Zone to offer an end-to-end setup-to-delivery package for firms entering the UAE and expanding across the GCC, including Bahrain. Energy Infrastructure: Bahrain inaugurated new 220kV and 66kV substations in Al Ramli District in a BD 19m project to improve grid reliability and load distribution. Community & Entrepreneurship: NBB and INJAZ Bahrain wrapped up the third Entaliq edition, backing young entrepreneurs through mentorship and seed funding.