MIT Technology Review's latest coverage highlights two issues: digital child-safety tools that have prevented harms like suicide and predation but also caused false alarms and anxiety, with researchers proposing better alternatives. Separately, the outlet examines how agriculture's reliance on natural gas for fertilizer production has driven price volatility, worsened by the Iran conflict's impact on trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-09-03
President Trump shared two AI-generated clips on Truth Social depicting explosions on Kharg Island, Iran's key oil export hub, without disclosing that the footage was fabricated. A US official later confirmed no such attack had occurred, even as real US strikes hit Iran's Larak Island the same night, prompting an Iranian missile response against American bases in Jordan. Vice President JD Vance defended the posts, saying Trump was 'sending a message' to Iran.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-01
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent opened G20 finance minister talks in Asheville, North Carolina, seeking backing for new sanctions on Iran, including targeting another bank as part of an effort he calls 'Operation Economic Outcast.' The meeting unfolds against a backdrop of renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities and strained trade relations with allies like Canada following tariff escalations.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-31
Iran reportedly struck two U.S. bases in Jordan after American forces hit Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, the first direct exchange of fire between the two countries in over a month. The clash, confirmed by U.S. Central Command, followed concerns that Iran was preparing to launch sea-mine-equipped rockets into the Strait of Hormuz, and it sent oil prices up more than 3%. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Fed Chair Kevin Warsh headed to North Carolina for G20 finance meetings, and Trump separately announced a deal giving the U.S. control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves.
cnbc.com
· 2026-08-31
In March 2024, three Romanian nationals attacked Iran International presenter Pouria Zeraati outside his London home, stabbing him in the leg before fleeing to Bucharest via Geneva. Investigators say the assault is part of a broader Iranian strategy of paying foreign criminals—including Russian mobsters, Hells Angels members, and Swedish teenagers—to target dissidents and journalists abroad, allowing Tehran to deny direct involvement.
newyorker.com
· 2026-08-24
Iran's national currency fell to its weakest level ever on Monday, coinciding with Washington's preparations to unveil additional sanctions targeting the country's economy. Officials said the new measures are designed to intensify pressure on an economy already weakened by existing sanctions and a U.S. naval blockade.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-24
A cyberattack linked to Iran-affiliated actors forced a UK power plant to halt operations for four days. Details on the attack vector, scope of damage, and recovery process were not disclosed in available reporting.
news.slashdot.org
· 2026-08-23
The Telegraph reported that a small UK power generator was taken offline for four days in July after being hit by a cyberattack tied to Iranian hackers. UK officials would not confirm attribution or name the affected facility, but stressed the incident was isolated and posed no threat to the broader national grid. The disclosure follows separate US warnings this year about Iran-linked actors targeting water infrastructure across several states.
cnbc.com
· 2026-08-23