Strait of Hormuz Shockwaves: Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz plunged after Iran said it closed the waterway again, with only five vessels passing on Sunday versus 26 the day before, while the US military said commercial traffic continued—keeping Kuwait and the wider Gulf on edge as oil flows and freight plans swing fast. US-Iran Diplomacy Roadmap: Mediators Pakistan and Qatar say the US and Iran agreed a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days after Swiss talks, but markets still react to mixed signals, including Iran’s claims of waivers for oil and petrochemical exports. Maersk Warns on Tolls: Maersk CEO called any plan allowing Iran to charge fees for Hormuz transit a “dangerous precedent,” highlighting how pricing and access rules could reshape global trade. Kuwait Ports Authority Tender Plan: KPA unveiled its FY2026-27 tender programme with 17 projects, including Shuwaikh Port infrastructure works, IT upgrades (ECM, e-archiving, e-signature, data centres) and DWDM communications. Bahrain Sitra IWPP Bids: Bahrain opened bids for the 1.4–1.5GW Sitra IWPP under a BOO model, with ACWA and TAQA among bidders—relevant for regional power and desalination competition. Kuwait Inflation Update: Kuwait’s CPI rose 2.49% year-on-year in May, with food, health, transport and miscellaneous services among the main drivers. Kuwait Airport Operations: Kuwait International Airport is open with Terminals 4 and 5 operating; Terminal 1 remains closed for repairs. Kuwait Water Deal: VA Tech Wabag JV won a KD114.3m ($372m) Kuwait desalination contract for a Doha SWRO plant stage II, including a five-year O&M period and solar PV integration. Kuwait Airways Results: Kuwait Airways cut annual losses by 13.6% in 2025, citing revenue growth and digital service upgrades. KPC Retail Branding: KPC completed conversion of fuel stations to the Q8 brand, pushing a unified retail identity and smarter customer payments. Housing Delivery Watch: PAHW says major housing projects are progressing on schedule and highlights expanded digital services via Sahel and its customer channels. Boutiqaat IPO Buzz: Reports say Boutiqaat is considering an IPO as early as Q1 2027, potentially valuing it above $1bn—another sign of Kuwait’s retail capital-market momentum.