Hormuz disruption, Ebola deaths and AI spending lead the day

Iran war reaches six months as tanker attacks and Hormuz blockade continue

A tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran, Oman, Qatar and Pakistan pursued competing plans to restore navigation. Most commercial traffic through the route remains disrupted. The corridor carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments, creating direct risks for energy prices, inflation and alliances. The diplomatic efforts do not yet constitute a settlement and may fail.

Congo's Ebola outbreak records more than 300 deaths in one week

Government data showed more than 300 Ebola deaths in one week. The Bundibugyo outbreak is spreading faster at this stage than the 2014-2016 West African epidemic. The strain has no approved targeted vaccine or treatment, and it is spreading amid conflict and weak infrastructure. Cases remain geographically concentrated, and international containment could still succeed.

Nvidia projects another 70% revenue surge as AI compute demand accelerates

Nvidia reported 117% annual growth in data-center revenue and forecast about $108 billion in quarterly sales. It said Amazon would deploy another two million Nvidia GPUs during 2027-2028. The figures support the view that AI infrastructure spending remains a major force in capital investment, electricity demand and industrial policy. The forecast is forward-looking, and memory shortages could constrain deployments.

US sanctions on Iran open a new confrontation with China

Washington expanded Iran-related sanctions to entities in mainland China and Hong Kong. Beijing said it would defend lawful China-Iran commerce ahead of a planned Xi-Trump meeting. The measures could deepen the connection between the Iran war, energy disruption and US-China financial tensions. Current sanctions largely target individual entities rather than China’s core banking system.

Meta accepts an $18 billion settlement and nationwide restrictions on teen use

Meta settled claims brought by nearly every US state for $18 billion and agreed to daily limits, overnight blocks, stronger age verification and other changes affecting minors on Instagram and Facebook. The agreement could provide a template for child-safety design requirements across large social platforms. Its effect depends on implementation and enforcement.

Canada retaliates after US trade talks collapse

Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs covering about $20 billion in annual US imports after bilateral negotiations failed. Ottawa also announced assistance for workers and businesses. A sustained dispute would affect integrated production systems spanning automobiles, energy, agriculture and critical minerals. The measures remain reversible if negotiations restart.

US Army commits up to $2.2 billion to deploy nuclear microreactors

The US Army awarded five companies contracts to build and operate factory-produced reactors of up to 20 megawatts at military installations under Project Janus. Deployment could establish demand for transportable nuclear power at remote bases and other off-grid sites. The program has not yet demonstrated operational reactors or competitive electricity costs.

Japan approves a functional-cure treatment for chronic hepatitis B

Japan approved GSK’s bepirovirsen for selected adults with chronic hepatitis B. Trials showed functional-cure rates around 19%, compared with roughly 1% under standard care. The approval marks a potential advance against a disease that causes liver cancer and cirrhosis. Eligibility is restricted, and most treated patients did not achieve functional cure.