Maritime intelligence firm Windward reported that three sanctioned tankers and an Iranian fishing boat were tracked slowing down and circling near major undersea internet cables in the Gulf of Oman during October, with some vessels switching off their location transponders. The Financial Times reported that one of the cable routes visited is being built for the 2Africa project, whose owners include Meta, and that six active cables currently cross the Strait of Hormuz carrying traffic for countries including Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-11-06
Sustained fighting in Iran has damaged refineries and raised fears over Strait of Hormuz closures, keeping oil prices elevated for nine months. The Center for American Progress estimates the war has cost US households at least $1,200, with Texas diesel prices up more than 80% year-over-year, prompting Governor Greg Abbott to declare a state of emergency. Democratic candidates including Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico are citing fuel costs to attack Republican rivals ahead of Tuesday's midterms.
wired.com
· 2026-10-30
Tehran said seven oil tankers were set on fire or damaged overnight in the Strait of Hormuz, attributing the incidents to Iranian strikes or naval mines. Despite the attacks, tankers continue moving oil through the strait under U.S. military protection, and the episode comes just days before Israel's Oct. 27 election and ahead of U.S. midterms.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-22
Kpler data shows GCC states now export about 24 million barrels per day, surpassing pre-war volumes, with roughly 14 million bpd moving through the U.S.-protected shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran remains excluded from this trade under a continuing U.S. Navy blockade, while hundreds of tankers, including a short-haul 'Hormuz Shuttle Service,' keep crude flowing despite periodic drone and missile strikes.
maritime-executive.com
· 2026-10-21
Two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps generals publicly described undersea fiber-optic cables running through the Strait of Hormuz as potential targets in future conflict. General Hossein Mohebbi said seven major cables carrying global internet and commercial data pass beneath the strait, while General Yadollah Javani indicated Iran could strike the cables if its infrastructure is attacked.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-21
The GFS Pride, a Singapore-registered container ship, sank in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after being hit by an unidentified projectile and catching fire; all 21 crew were safely evacuated with no injuries reported. A second Singapore-flagged vessel, the GFS Giselle, suffered hull damage from a separate unidentified projectile strike the same day but reached safe anchorage with its crew unharmed. Pakistani maritime authorities warned of floating containers in the water where the Pride went down.
cnbc.com
· 2026-10-14
A Taiwanese court convicted the captain of the Chinese-owned vessel Hong Tai of deliberately severing an undersea telecommunications cable in February 2025, sentencing him to three years in prison in June 2025. Taiwan's legislature subsequently toughened penalties for damaging undersea cables or pipelines, raising the maximum sentence to seven years.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-10-14
The International Monetary Fund has raised its 2025 global growth forecast to 3.1%, up from its July estimate of 3.0% but below 2025's 3.5% expansion, according to its latest Economic Outlook. The IMF projects U.S. growth holding steady at 2.3% in 2026 and 2027, with advanced economies growing 2.1% this year before slowing to 1.9% in 2026, and global growth rebounding to 3.4% in 2027.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-13
CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter bundled several unrelated items: Chick-fil-A's growth plans, Gen Z sports betting trends, and new AI-enabled smart glasses from Oakley Meta and Ray-Ban. The newsletter also reported fresh attacks on oil tankers near Oman and Iran, a G7 pledge to release diesel reserves to ease fuel costs, and OPEC+'s decision to leave production targets unchanged for November.
cnbc.com
· 2026-10-05
The U.S. Navy has begun fielding anti-drone laser weapons controlled with Xbox-style game controllers aboard warships, according to Interesting Engineering. The systems have reportedly been used against drones and other threats in the Strait of Hormuz, following earlier testing aboard the USS George H.W. Bush.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-10-04
A Poland-based writer describes readying his household for possible fuel and power disruptions this winter, referencing the European Commission's statement that there is no immediate security-of-supply concern and Poland's voluntary household Safety Guide urging 72-hour self-sufficiency. He cites examples including Ukraine's rolling blackout schedules, a 2024 Ecuador power crisis, and French fuel price caps causing queues, alongside a Qatari LNG facility needing three to five years of repair.
tomwojcik.com
· 2026-09-30
The US Department of Transportation issued its Freedom Means Affordable Cars rule, formally called SAFE Vehicles Rule III, reverting corporate average fuel economy standards to pre-Biden-era levels. Secretary Sean Duffy framed the move as ending an illegal EV mandate, while the agency claims it will lower new-vehicle prices by $1,300 and save consumers $138 billion over five years. The change comes as AAA reports regular gas averaging $4.48 a gallon and diesel $6.45, with prices up more than 50% since the Iran conflict began.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-28
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