A tanker caught fire off the coast of Oman on Monday night after being hit by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident occurred as the U.S. and Iran engage in sensitive peace negotiations to end a conflict that began on February 28. … Read more
Brent crude oil prices climbed above $76 a barrel on July 8, 2026, following U.S. military strikes against Iran and the revocation of sanctions waivers. The price surge, which reached a 3 percent increase on Wednesday, stems from renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz after attacks on three commercial vessels, according to market data … Read more
Iran and Oman’s proposal to jointly administer the Strait of Hormuz and collect administrative fees has prompted energy market participants to fear similar tolls in the Strait of Malacca. Investors worry this development could establish a precedent for taxing other critical maritime corridors. Why are investors worried about a “toll booth” in the Strait of … Read more
OPEC+ has finalized an agreement to increase oil production quotas by 188,000 barrels per day (bpd) starting in August, according to a group statement released on Sunday. This move aims to stabilize global supply as the Strait of Hormuz gradually reopens, though production recovery remains hindered by lingering geopolitical tensions and shifting regional alliances. Why … Read more
Ukrainian long-range drones struck oil infrastructure and naval facilities in St Petersburg and the Leningrad region on July 4, 2026. According to the Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko, air defenses intercepted 72 drones, while the Russian Defence Ministry reported 389 interceptions nationwide. The operation, which hit approximately 900km (560 miles) from Ukrainian-held territory, caused flight … Read more
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a directive requiring commercial vessels to utilize only Tehran-approved transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz, challenging a new shipping corridor recently announced by Oman. This dispute creates a fresh hurdle for the 60-day negotiation window established by the recent US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU), which aims … Read more
India is currently re-evaluating its artificial intelligence strategy as U.S. export controls and sudden access restrictions from major AI providers threaten the nation’s reliance on foreign foundational models. While India has focused on building an application layer atop established global platforms, recent directives—such as Anthropic’s decision to limit model access for foreign nationals—have exposed a … Read more
President Donald Trump stated on June 10, 2026, that the United States has successfully moved millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, bypassing Iranian transit restrictions. While Trump claims a “wildly successful” operation involving 100 million barrels of oil, shipping data from firms including Windward, Lloyd’s List, and Kpler indicates that total … Read more
OPEC+ is moving toward a fourth consecutive monthly increase in oil output targets, even as regional conflict continues to disrupt global energy flows. According to reports from CNBC, seven core members of the group are expected to raise production quotas by approximately 188,000 barrels per day (bpd) starting in July, maintaining the pace set for … Read more
The Great Balancing Act: Will the Reserve Bank of India Shift Its Stance? For months, the market consensus has been clear: the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to hold steady on interest rates. However, as global economic headwinds intensify and the rupee faces persistent downward pressure, that consensus is beginning to crack. Investors … Read more