More than 1,600 ships have been stranded near the Strait of Hormuz for over two months, creating deep uncertainty and major financial risks for the global shipping industry. The vessels remain stuck amid ongoing conflict, and operators are struggling to determine when it will be safe to move through the strategic waterway. A U.S.-led escort mission initiated by President Donald Trump lasted only 48 hours, successfully guiding just two ships before ending, leaving companies to manage the crisis on their own.

Most shipping firms are now unwilling to risk passage through the strait due to the threat of attacks that could endanger both valuable cargo and crew lives. Insurance complications have worsened the situation, as wartime clauses often exempt insurers from covering losses in conflict zones. Los Angeles port executive director Gene Seroka said companies must conduct precise security assessments before deciding to move.

According to the International Maritime Organization, 32 ships have been hit by missile attacks since the conflict began, resulting in at least 10 deaths and 12 injuries. The IMO urged maximum vigilance and warned that naval escorts are not a sustainable long-term solution.

Claude has introduced several new capabilities for its Managed Agents platform, including dreaming, outcomes, and multiagent orchestration. Dreaming, now available as a research preview, allows agents to review past sessions, identify patterns, and refine their memory automatically or with user oversight. This process helps agents self-improve over time by curating and updating memory stores, making them more effective for long-running or collaborative tasks.

The outcomes feature enables developers to define success criteria for tasks, which agents then use to evaluate and refine their work. A separate grader assesses the results independently, allowing agents to self-correct without human intervention. Internal testing showed measurable improvements in task success and file generation quality. Developers can also integrate webhooks to receive notifications when outcomes are completed.

Multiagent orchestration allows a lead agent to divide complex jobs among specialized subagents that work in parallel and share context. This structure provides transparency through the Claude Console, where users can trace each agent’s actions. Dreaming is available in research preview, while outcomes, orchestration, and memory are in public beta.

Thirteen countries, including Bangladesh, have jointly condemned an Israeli military attack and the reported abduction of crew members from the 'Global Sumud Flotilla', a ship attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The foreign ministers of these nations issued a joint statement describing Israel’s actions as a severe violation of international law. The incident occurred on April 30 in international waters near the coast of Greece.

The statement, signed by Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, South Africa, and Spain, characterized the assault and abductions as illegal acts against civilians in international waters. It emphasized that the flotilla was a peaceful civilian initiative aimed at highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and delivering aid.

The countries expressed deep concern for the detained workers’ safety and urged Israel to release them immediately and unconditionally. They also called on the international community to uphold international law, ensure civilian protection, and hold Israel accountable for violations.

South African spinner Simon Harmer has sparked new debate over India’s influence in world cricket. In an interview with The Guardian, Harmer claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) exerts the most power over the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to its commercial strength. He said that despite South Africa’s recent success, including a World Test Championship win and a 2–0 Test series victory in India, the balance of power in global cricket remains unchanged.

Harmer expressed frustration that administrative structures have not evolved in line with on-field achievements. He credited South Africa’s progress to collective performance rather than individual brilliance, emphasizing that coach Shukri Conrad ensures accountability within the team. Harmer also criticized England’s cricket system, arguing that spinners are undervalued and that only a few of the 18 county teams have dedicated spin-bowling coaches.

His remarks have already stirred discussion across the cricket community, reigniting debate about the extent of India’s dominance in international cricket governance.

Global crude oil prices increased following reports of a potential peace agreement between Iran and the United States. Early Thursday trading saw US crude futures rise by nearly one dollar per barrel. According to Reuters, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 80 cents to reach 95.88 dollars per barrel, after hitting an intraday high of 96.33 dollars on Wednesday.

Market analysts attributed the upward trend to optimism surrounding the possible preliminary peace deal between the two countries. However, Verisk Maplecroft’s head of energy and resources, Kaho Yu, cautioned that oil prices and shipping routes are unlikely to normalize until threats of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are fully removed.

Yu added that despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the energy market has not yet returned to pre-crisis conditions. Discussions between China and Iran may help ease tensions, but the market remains focused on whether the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. The coming months’ oil supply and tanker movement will indicate whether lasting stability returns to the Middle East.

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd is losing about 60 million US dollars per week due to the closure of the Hormuz Strait, according to AFP. The company said the high risk of using this strategic waterway has sharply increased fuel and insurance expenses. Based in Hamburg, Hapag-Lloyd cited threats from Iranian drones and small boats as key factors behind the surge in insurance costs.

The company explained that alternative routes through safe ports or land transport are limited and cannot fully replace the regular maritime routes in the region. Iran has required all vessels to undergo verification by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including sailing near Iranian coasts, providing crew and cargo details, and in some cases making payments.

AFP reported that shipping companies now face a dilemma: either absorb millions in additional costs or risk violating US and EU sanctions by paying Iranian authorities for safe passage.

Cybercriminals are using a new method called 'SMS pumping attacks' that does not require installing malware, stealing passwords, or hacking accounts. Through this technique, attackers send international SMS messages that generate revenue for them while the costs are charged to unsuspecting users. The process often begins with a single click on a deceptive CAPTCHA-like page.

According to Malwarebytes researcher Pieter Arntz, fake CAPTCHA pages are being used in an ongoing cyber campaign to trick mobile users into unknowingly sending multiple international SMS messages. Attackers lure users through malicious ads or fake telecom websites with minor spelling errors in their domains. Once users click a button, their SMS app opens with prewritten messages and recipient lists.

The attack involves sending messages to dozens of international numbers across 17 countries, including Azerbaijan, Myanmar, and Egypt, where SMS charges are high. This scheme, known as 'international revenue share fraud,' can result in bills of up to 30 dollars for individual users. Experts advise avoiding sending SMS to verify identity, not clicking suspicious links, and recognizing that genuine CAPTCHA pages never open SMS apps.

After years of heightened tensions, the United States and Iran are reportedly close to finalizing a historic memorandum aimed at ending their conflict. According to a Pakistani source involved in mediation, the proposed agreement is a one-page document covering several key issues. It marks the most advanced stage of negotiation between the two nations since the start of hostilities.

Preliminary details suggest the memorandum may include limits on Iran’s nuclear program, partial easing of U.S. economic sanctions, measures to reduce tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, and a framework for broader discussions in the coming weeks. Pakistan has played a significant diplomatic role in facilitating communication and ensuring progress between the two sides.

Some complexities remain, particularly regarding the timeline of Iran’s nuclear activities. Nonetheless, recent diplomatic momentum indicates that the long-standing conflict may be closer to resolution than ever before.

Iran and China’s relationship has become a major focus in international politics, with analysts identifying China as one of Iran’s key strategic and economic partners. China imports a significant volume of crude oil from Iran, a trade that plays a vital role in sustaining Iran’s economy. Before recent conflicts, around 13 percent of China’s seaborne oil imports came from Iran, purchased at relatively lower prices.

From Beijing’s perspective, Iran serves as an important counterbalance to U.S. influence in the Middle East. China therefore seeks a politically and economically stable Iran. To strengthen this partnership, the two countries signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement in 2021, covering energy, infrastructure, trade, and security sectors.

Iran, for its part, promotes the use of China’s yuan in oil transactions, supporting Beijing’s goal of expanding its influence in global trade. Overall, the Iran-China relationship is viewed as a key factor shaping the balance of global power.

Global oil prices declined for a second consecutive day after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at a possible peace agreement with Iran. According to a Reuters report, Brent crude dropped by $1.69, or 1.5 percent, to $108.18 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by $1.67, or 1.6 percent, to $100.60. The previous day, Brent had already fallen by nearly 4 percent.

Analysts said Trump’s announcement suggested a potential easing of tensions in the Middle East. He stated that U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz would be temporarily suspended to ensure safe navigation and that there was a chance for an understanding with Iran, though he provided no details. Iran has not yet issued any response. Experts believe that if shipping in the Gulf normalizes, global oil supply could increase, putting downward pressure on prices, though full stability may take time.

Despite the peace signals, Trump confirmed that the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue. Analysts noted that while short-term relief has returned to the market, geopolitical uncertainty remains.

At the ServiceNow Knowledge 2026 conference, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and ServiceNow chairman and CEO Bill McDermott announced an expanded collaboration to develop autonomous AI agents for enterprise use. The partnership aims to integrate NVIDIA’s accelerated computing, open models, and domain-specific skills with ServiceNow’s workflow and governance platforms. Central to this initiative is Project Arc, a self-evolving autonomous desktop agent designed for knowledge workers such as developers, IT teams, and administrators.

Project Arc connects directly to the ServiceNow AI Platform through Action Fabric, enabling governance, auditability, and workflow intelligence for every action it performs. It leverages NVIDIA OpenShell, an open-source secure runtime, to ensure agents operate within sandboxed, policy-governed environments. The companies are also introducing tools such as the NVIDIA AI-Q Blueprint, Agent Toolkit, and NOWAI-Bench to support specialized agent development and benchmarking.

The collaboration emphasizes efficiency and scalability through NVIDIA’s AI factories and Blackwell platform, which deliver improved token economics for large-scale AI deployment. Together, NVIDIA and ServiceNow aim to provide enterprises with the infrastructure, context, and governance needed to deploy autonomous AI systems safely and effectively.

Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth has warned that the closure of the Hormuz Strait, caused by the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance, is triggering a real shortage in global oil supply. Speaking at a Milken Institute discussion on Monday, Wirth said that with 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments halted, demand will have to decline to match tightening supply, leading to an economic slowdown that will first hit Asia.

Wirth explained that Asia’s heavy dependence on Gulf oil production and refining makes it the most vulnerable region, followed by Europe. He noted that commercial surpluses, shadow fleet tankers, and strategic reserves are nearly exhausted. The United States, as a net exporter of crude oil, will be less affected initially but will eventually feel the impact as well. The last Gulf shipment is currently being unloaded at Long Beach port in California.

The Chevron chief compared the potential scale of the disruption to the oil crises of the 1970s. The report also noted that U.S.-based Spirit Airlines has ceased operations due to soaring jet fuel prices linked to the supply disruption.

A maritime trade organization has expressed concern over the United States’ plans to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement came after a Maersk vessel successfully crossed the strait under heavy escort, which the organization described as only a minor development in resolving broader disruptions to maritime traffic.

Tim Wilkins, managing director of Intertanko, which represents independent tanker owners and operators, told BBC Radio 4 that the passage of one ship under strict security did not signal a major change for other vessels still stranded. He said there was no organized security team or coordination mechanism in place for safe transit, prompting members to ask who would initiate and manage such operations.

Wilkins added that shipowners were discussing these critical questions with their crews, particularly regarding communication with authorities and contingency plans if Iranian forces obstructed movement. The organization’s comments highlight ongoing uncertainty about maritime safety in the region.

Former CIA analyst John Nixon has said that China could gain significant advantages if the ongoing war between the United States and Iran continues. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Nixon explained that Beijing is pursuing a long-term strategy and has learned much about US warfare capabilities and modern tactics through the Iran conflict.

He noted that China is positioning itself as a more attractive ally to Middle Eastern nations, particularly in the Gulf region, which he described as vital to China’s future. Nixon added that while China is often viewed as a transactional power, its cooperative approach appeals to Gulf states seeking stability. He emphasized that China has no interest in spreading conflict in the Middle East but aims to strengthen partnerships with Gulf countries.

Nixon also highlighted China’s continued dependence on Gulf energy resources, predicting that even as the world moves away from fossil fuels, China will remain a major buyer and its ties with Gulf nations will deepen over time.

Global oil markets experienced sharp volatility as Brent crude stabilized at $114 per barrel on Tuesday following a 6 percent surge the previous day. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded just below $105. The price spike coincided with escalating tensions between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, as a one-month Middle East ceasefire faced uncertainty.

According to the US Central Command, American forces repelled an Iranian attack while escorting two US-flagged ships. Simultaneously, reports emerged of drone and missile strikes targeting the Fujairah oil terminal in the United Arab Emirates. The disruptions have rendered the Hormuz Strait nearly impassable, adding a “war premium” to global oil prices. US President Donald Trump warned in an interview that the conflict could persist for two to three more weeks and cautioned Iran against direct attacks on US vessels. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said progress had been made in talks but urged the US and UAE to avoid being trapped again in “quicksand.”

Goldman Sachs noted that while global oil inventories remain above crisis levels, the rate of decline is concerning, with reserves potentially dropping from 101 to 98 days of demand by the end of May.