Latest News
Iran claims to have closed the Strait of Hormuz once more, slowing shipping.
Following Iran’s announcement that it had once more closed the Strait of Hormuz due to Israeli and US violations of the interim peace agreement, shipping statistics revealed a dramatic decline in the number of ships passing through the canal on Sunday.
Out of the 26 ships seen the day before, five passed the strait on Sunday, according to data from analytics company Kpler. Among them were three Very Large Crude Carriers, one of which was bound for Japan, each carrying about two million barrels of Saudi gasoline and crude oil. Vessels that turn off their transponders while in the Gulf may not be included in the statistics.
In response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the waterway closed once more on Saturday. Iran had lifted its effective blockade of the strait last week after reaching an agreement with the US to extend an April ceasefire for 60 days to allow for peace talks. Commercial ships were still in operation, according to the US Navy.
According to the data, three VLCCs carrying crude from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq were among the ships that left the strait on Saturday, while three tankers carrying different oil products were also there.
According to the data, 13 ships—including two VLCCs—entered the strait on Saturday.
Kuwait Petroleum Corp. and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., two Gulf producers, have released bids for the sale of oil that can be loaded from both within and outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Two ships operated by South Korea crossed the Strait
According to Seoul’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Monday, two South Korean-operated ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz following the signing of a ceasefire memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran last week.
The government declined to provide more information about the vessels, stating that they are travelling normally but have not yet completely left a high-risk area.
The ministry stated that the ships are not headed for South Korea and do not have any South Korean staff on board.
It stated that 22 ships operated by South Korea are still stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
Latest News
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 occurs close to Naples, Italy, resulting in damage and disruptions.
- A magnitude 4.7 earthquake hit the Campi Flegrei area near the southern Italian city of Naples on Friday, causing power cuts, disrupting train and metro services and damaging some buildings, authorities said.
The quake was registered around 7.46 pm (1746 GMT). Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology stated the epicentre was in the Campi Flegrei area west of Naples at a depth of around 3 km (2 miles).
The Italian fire department said there had been minimal damage to buildings in and around Naples, but workers had not received immediate demands for help or rescue of occupants.
Local rail and metro services were suspended as a precaution, local officials said.
According to Italian media, it was one of the greatest earthquakes ever registered in the region, with people in some areas pouring into the street as the tremors hit.
The government has increased surveillance of the heavily populated volcanic caldera of Campi Flegrei, which spans much of western Naples and has seen growing seismic activity in the past several years.
The region is regularly hit by tiny quakes but greater ones have stoked fears of a repetition of the seismic crisis that rocked Campi Flegrei in the early 1980s, disrupting life across the region and forcing thousands of people from their homes.
Italy is a country at risk of earthquakes.
Central Italy was hit by severe quakes in 2016, destroying areas of Lazio, Umbria and the Marche provinces, killing over 300 people.
The most destructive in recent decades was a 6.9-magnitude quake that rocked the Irpinia region of southern Italy in November 1980, killing over 2,700 people and destroying hundreds of villages.
Business
For three days, Pakistan lowers the price of petrol and diesel.
For a three-day period starting on August 1, the government has announced a slight decrease in the cost of petroleum products, including gasoline and high-speed diesel (HSD).
The Petroleum Division said that the price of high-speed diesel has been lowered by Rs0.66 per litre, resulting in a new retail price of Rs392.38 per litre.
Additionally, the price of gasoline has been lowered by Rs0.12 per litre, to Rs336.03 per litre.
According to the letter, the updated pricing will go into effect between August 1 and August 3.
According to the administration, the little cut was taken after accounting for both domestic economic and budgetary factors as well as global oil costs.
In light of persistent economic pressures and swings in the world’s crude oil markets, the most recent adjustment provides customers with little respite.
The most recent update comes after the government regularly reviews fuel costs, which are decided by the currency rate, domestic tax laws, and global market trends.
Business
FBR surpasses its July revenue goal by Rs40 billion.
In July 2026, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs820 billion in net revenue, exceeding the monthly target by Rs40 billion.
The July tax collection target was set at Rs780 billion, but net receipts came in at Rs820 billion, according to FBR documents.
According to the papers, gross tax collections for the month totaled Rs918 billion. Net receipts were Rs820 billion after Rs98 billion of this sum was reimbursed to taxpayers under different refund categories.
Gross collections under the income tax head was Rs343 billion. Net income tax revenues fell short of the objective of Rs323 billion, coming in at Rs308 billion after the payment of Rs35 billion in refunds.
In July, sales tax collections came to Rs413 billion, while sales tax refunds were Rs53 billion.
The Federal Excise Duty (FED) collected Rs48 billion, compared to the objective of Rs47 billion, according to the FBR.
In July 2026, customs duty receipts totaled Rs115 billion, surpassing the designated objective of Rs105 billion by Rs10 billion.
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