Oil prices remained elevated, poised for significant weekly gains despite a slight dip Friday, as Iran's attacks on US military sites in the Middle East heightened supply concerns. The Strait of Hormuz remains a key focus.
Payward, Kraken's parent company, secured a $22 million arbitration award against former auditor Mazars USA. Payward alleges Mazars withdrew from a 2022 audit without cause, contributing to a broader campaign against crypto firms.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong to discuss the security of the Strait of Malacca, a critical oil chokepoint, amidst rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict. The discussion follows a previous proposal to charge vessels transiting the strait.
The US-Iran war highlighted the fragility of global supply chains, dependent on maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions led to increased costs and logistical problems, necessitating "war-room planning" for future crises.
US Vice President JD Vance is in Switzerland for high-stakes peace talks with Iran, aiming to solidify a fragile ceasefire agreement. Key issues include the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear program, with Iranian, Pakistani, and Qatari officials also present.
US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland for peace talks with Iran, aiming to solidify a fragile ceasefire agreement. Discussions will focus on the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear issue, with Iranian, Pakistani, and Qatari officials also participating.
Iran asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, requiring ships to seek permission and mandatory insurance to cross. This conflicts with the US, which noted 20 ships transited overnight via a recommended route along Oman's coast, amid industry concerns over potential future tolls.
The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked by approximately 80 mines, hindering normal shipping operations despite a recent US-Iran MoU. Experts warn recovery will take time due to navigational risks and potential Iranian tolls, impacting global trade and oil flow.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade chokepoint, remains blocked by approximately 80 mines, hindering the resumption of normal shipping. Despite a recent US-Iran agreement, clearing these obstacles and potential Iranian maritime fees present ongoing challenges for global trade.
Japan and Indonesia are advancing defense cooperation, with discussions focusing on the transfer of decommissioned Asagiri-class destroyers from Japan to Indonesia. This move aims to enhance Indonesia's subsurface awareness and contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Iran is reportedly considering using its allies in Yemen, the Houthi movement, to target the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. This potential escalation could disrupt global shipping lanes and oil supplies, impacting international trade and energy markets.
Norway's defence minister warns Russia's control of the Arctic's Bear Gap could threaten London with hypersonic missiles, highlighting Moscow's military expansion and nuclear capabilities.
India's Great Nicobar Island project gains strategic attention amid the Hormuz blockade, potentially disrupting Chinese supply chains and alleviating the 'Malacca dilemma'.
Thailand's Royal Thai Navy faces challenges in its goal to operate eight modern frigates by 2037, as the Budget Bureau cut funding for a second frigate from the 2027 budget. The navy commander stated the frigates are still needed and the request will be resubmitted for the 2028 budget.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and LNG trade, has demonstrated its potential to trigger macroeconomic events. The incident caused a historic drop in global oil supply and a significant surge in oil prices, underscoring the vulnerability of the global economy to such strategic maritime routes.
Iran claims it will charge US tech companies fees for using undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz. This threat, announced by an IRGC spokesperson, could accelerate efforts by Big Tech and Gulf countries to find alternative routes bypassing the contested shipping lanes.
The game asks players to find the least worst options for a shipping chokepoint.
Conflict in the Middle East is threatening the coming planting season, a UN official has warned, as countries already reeling from fertiliser shortages and surging costs face shocks to food security. The Strait of Hormuz, a major global chokepoint for fertilisers and other agricultural inputs as well as oil, has been under blockade since the start of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Despite rising concerns over the impact of the conflict on global food production, China – supported...
Hoover Institution fellow Eyck Freymann explains what the Iran war and the blockade of the Straight of Hormuz reveals about modern economic chokepoints, geopolitics and war strategies.
The world’s eyes have been fixed on the oil tankers clogging the Strait of Hormuz. But the US-Israel war on Iran has exposed a quieter vulnerability: the undersea cables that form the digital backbone of the Middle East. Last week, a media outlet affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps highlighted that the strait functioned not only as a crucial chokepoint for oil and gas shipments but also as an essential corridor for internet communications. The outlet warned that damage to...
China exported a record 68 GW of solar panels, cells and wafers in March 2026 – roughly twice February's level – as tensions in the Persian Gulf shipping corridor following US-Israel military strikes on Iran (Feb 28) triggered an energy crisis. The surge, equivalent to Spain's entire installed solar capacity and 50% above the previous August 2025 record, saw at least 50 countries record all-time highs in Chinese solar equipment imports, reflecting rapid expansion across emerging and developed markets.
Thailand proposes a 90km land bridge connecting ports on the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea to bypass the Malacca Strait. The project has gained urgency following Iran's virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz, exposing Asia's dependence on vulnerable maritime chokepoints. The Thai government says the corridor will provide an alternative route for goods and fuel while integrating the kingdom more tightly into global supply chains.
Beijing has launched a research initiative involving state-owned firms and universities to protect critical trade routes and overseas assets, following disruptions caused by the ongoing war in Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz has become the hinge point between war and peace in the Gulf, with roughly a fifth of global oil and gas trade passing through it. Iran seeks to charge tolls to fund post-war reconstruction, while most of the world views it as international waters requiring open transit. The article argues that if no credible arrangement emerges, every future US-Iran dispute risks becoming a naval crisis, making Hormuz central to ending the current war.
