Maritime Security in Yemen: UKMTO reported a gunfight near Balhaf (Shabwa) after six armed men in a small boat tried to intercept a cargo vessel; the craft turned away and no damage or casualties were reported, as Red Sea and Gulf tensions keep raising risks for shipping. Yemen Humanitarian & Aid Access: UN chief Guterres urged the immediate release of 73 UN and NGO staff arbitrarily detained by the Houthis, warning the arrests are undermining humanitarian and development work across Yemen. Energy & Shipping Pressure: With Strait of Hormuz disruptions and wider Iran-US escalation, Suez Canal oil-tanker traffic rose about 28% year-on-year in April, showing energy flows shifting toward Egypt and Red Sea routes. Oil Market Watch: Kuwait’s KUFPEC said profits are expected to fall in 2025 due to lower oil prices and oversupply, while also pointing to maintenance work on Yemen projects including “Jannah 5” in the Sab’atayn Basin. EU Cash for Displaced Yemenis: An EU-funded program delivered emergency cash to nearly 500,000 displaced Yemenis, with support for food, rent, healthcare, debt and education, plus a transition track toward vocational training and small business. Regional Economic Shock: The World Bank cut its global growth forecast to 2.5% for 2026, citing Middle East war impacts, higher energy costs, and uneven pressure on developing economies.