World
Indonesia ferry fire leaves 5 dead and 41 missing
The ferry fire in Indonesia has caused 5 deaths; 28 people are now reported missing. The vessel was carrying 271 people between Surabaya and Makassar.
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water safety
All the latest on water safety: articles, analysis and ongoing coverage from Lost in the Jungle.
World
Two oil tankers targeted in and near the Strait of Hormuz on August 1, 2026
Two incidents involving oil tankers were reported in and near the Strait of Hormuz on August 1, 2026, according to Le Monde. Early that morning, one tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile off Limah, Oman. Hours later, an explosion was reported in the immediate vicinity of a second tanker inside the strait, with no damage reported. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, or UKMTO, opened an investigation. Drone attacks were also reported in Kuwait that day, but the information currently comes from a single source.
World
USA-Iran Conflict: Brent Oil Falls 5% After Mutual Strike Suspension
Brent crude oil dropped more than 5% on July 27, 2026, settling at approximately $92 per barrel, after the United States and Iran both suspended their mutual strikes over the weekend of July 26–27. Washington had conducted 13 consecutive nights of raids on Iran before this pause. An Omani mediator traveled to Tehran on July 25 to facilitate negotiations. The Houthi militia in Yemen struck Saudi Arabian oil facilities, causing maritime traffic in the Bab al-Mandab Strait to plummet to its lowest level in months.
World
Iran Calls Discussions with Oman on Strait of Hormuz 'Productive'
Iran described its discussions with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz as 'productive' on July 26, 2026, according to Handelsblatt. On the same date, the Houthi militia claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia is providing Iran with satellite intelligence. Iran also condemned a Ukrainian attack on a cargo vessel.
World
Yemeni Houthis strike Saudi refinery as conflict expands into Red Sea
Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis claimed a strike against a Saudi oil refinery on July 25, 2026, according to the Washington Post. The Strait of Hormuz is closed, already disrupting global oil markets. New Houthi strikes could intensify this pressure on oil supplies. The Iran-linked conflict is now expanding into the Red Sea.
World
Hormuz Crisis: US and UK Discuss Meeting to Form Maritime Coalition
Washington and London are discussing a plan to organize an international meeting to resolve the Strait of Hormuz crisis — a strategic maritime route at the centre of military and diplomatic escalation between Iran and its adversaries. According to the Financial Times of 25 July 2026, the proposed meeting would focus on forming an international maritime coalition. The goal is to secure commercial shipping routes in the strait. The precise details — date, location, and participants — remain to be determined.
World
Red Sea: Hong Kong-flagged supertanker turns back to avoid Houthi blockade at Bab el-Mandeb
On July 25, 2026, a Hong Kong-flagged supertanker turned back just before reaching the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb to avoid Houthi attacks, according to Bloomberg. The vessel was en route to Yanbu, a Saudi Arabian port on the Red Sea. The Houthis have launched a blockade targeting ships linked to Saudi Arabia in this area.
World
Yemen: Two Rockets Toward Saudi Arabia, U.S. Military Fires on Tanker in Gulf of Oman
Two rockets reportedly fired from Yemen toward Saudi Arabia were said to have been intercepted on July 25, 2026, according to Handelsblatt. On the same day, the U.S. military reportedly fired on a tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The Saudi-led coalition reportedly struck targets in Yemen in response to an attack on a vessel. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is engaged in discussions with Iran. This information comes from a single source and has not been independently confirmed.
World
Iran–US Ceasefire Fails; Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
The ceasefire between the United States and Iran is now deemed a failure, according to international correspondent Annett Meiritz in the Morning Briefing of the daily Handelsblatt on July 25, 2026. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed as of that date. Houthi rebels threaten to block Saudi Arabia's alternative shipping route via the Red Sea. A new series of punitive US tariffs against the European Union came into effect on July 24. Simultaneously, Germany is undergoing a ministerial reshuffle described as seismic.
World
Houthis: Maritime Threats and Iranian Airlift Intensify Pressure on Riyadh
Houthi rebels have declared their intention to block Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, according to Al Jazeera. At the same time, Iran has attempted to establish an airlift between Tehran and Sanaa to deploy military advisors and drone technicians to Houthi-controlled zones. The Houthis also threaten navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, encircling Saudi Arabia on both its maritime flanks. Riyadh, the world's leading crude oil exporter, has so far avoided direct confrontation with Tehran for nearly a decade.
World
Neustrashimy: Russian Frigate Conducts 30-Minute Live-Fire Exercise in English Channel
The Russian frigate Neustrashimy conducted a 30-minute live-fire exercise on 21 July 2026 around 9:30 a.m. in international waters of the English Channel, approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth. Before opening fire, the ship notified the British patrol vessel HMS Tyne to reposition to a safe distance. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the exercise and indicated that the Royal Navy is monitoring the vessel continuously. This event is part of a series of Russian maritime incidents off UK shores since early 2026, including warning shots fired near a yacht in June.
World
Strait of Hormuz: IRGC attacks tanker as US completes 10th night of airstrikes on Iran
Iran's IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on July 21, 2026, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel—confirmed by UKMTO (UK Maritime Trade Operations). The US completed its 10th consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, targeting military command centres and missile sites. At least 3 American soldiers were killed and nearly 100 wounded. Yemeni Houthis announced an immediate maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, closing the Bab al-Mandeb strait through which ~12% of global trade normally passes. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the conflict as 'full-scale war'.
World
Iran–US: Tenth Night of Strikes, Naval Escalation at Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military announced on July 21, 2026, that it had conducted a tenth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, targeting military command centers and maritime positions. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retaliated by striking American installations in Bahrain and Kuwait and stopping two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran threatened Washington with "even more powerful" attacks. Since the conflict began on February 28, 2026, 17 U.S. soldiers have been killed, over 420 wounded, and Iran's toll stands at 50 dead and over 500 wounded.
World
MV Barima ferry sinking in Guyana: at least 10 dead and 67 rescued
The ferry MV Barima sank during the night of July 19–20, 2026 in northwestern Guyana, with over 100 people aboard. According to the Guyanese government, the provisional death toll was revised to 10 on Monday, July 20, following an initial statement reporting only 2 deaths. A total of 67 survivors were rescued — 41 men, 11 women, and 15 children — with the assistance of a pilot boat mobilized to the scene. The exact number of missing persons remains uncertain, and search operations are ongoing.
World
Iran-U.S.: Ninth Night of American Strikes, Tabriz Targeted for First Time
On the night of July 20, 2026, the United States launched its ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, targeting Sirik, Jask, Tabriz, Chabahar, Mahshahr, and Imam Khomeini port. Tabriz, in the country's northwest, was hit for the first time since the escalation began. The U.S. military states it aims to degrade Iranian capabilities threatening navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Since the conflict began on February 28, 2026, 17 American soldiers have been killed and over 420 have been wounded.
Business
Iran-U.S. Conflict: Wadephul Rejects Sanctions Against Israel, Warns on Hamas Rearming
On July 18, 2026, Johann Wadephul, German Federal Foreign Minister and CDU member, rejects any sanctions against Israel and warns against Hamas rearming. These positions come as the United States and Iran report mutual attacks in the Gulf region. A commercial vessel was also attacked off Yemen's coast.
World
Iran: sixth wave of US airstrikes and first ship seized under naval blockade, July 17, 2026
The US Central Command (Centcom) announced on July 17, 2026 the end of the sixth consecutive nighttime wave of American airstrikes against Iran, targeting dozens of military sites. Meanwhile, American soldiers intercepted for the first time since reinstatement of the naval blockade on July 15 a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Iran fired rockets and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain; Tehran claims strikes on American installations in the region, without independent confirmation.