Egypt to Dim Lights Early to Conserve Energy Amid Iran War

Egypt will begin curbing some electricity use, including by ordering shops and cafes to close earlier, as the North African energy importer grapples with soaring global fuel costs caused by the Iran war.

Starting March 28, malls, eateries and retailers will all have to shut by 9 p.m. for five days of the week, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told reporters on Wednesday. At weekends, they’ll need to close at 10 p.m. — still early for many in the country of 110 million, where shopping and dining long into the night is common.