Shops and restaurants in Egypt told to close early as energy

Retail and dining premises will have to shut by 21:00 each night for the next month to conserve power.

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Retail and dining premises will have to close by 21:00 (19:00 GMT) each night for the next month, beginning on Saturday.

The "exceptional measures" introduced by the Egyptian government also include dimming street lights and roadside advertising, as well as a return to home working for one day a week in April for many.

Egypt has been particularly affected by the Middle East conflict and the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas.

Global oil prices have skyrocketed since supply via the waterway came to a near-total halt, with fears there could be a knock-on effect on the price of food, medicine and other goods if left unresolved.