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Iran has started to permit a limited but increasing number of commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, as indicated by ship tracking data. On Monday, eight non-Iranian flagged vessels were detected in the strategic waterway. This represents a notable increase, with MarineTraffic recording nine transits on Monday and Sunday, compared to just five over the preceding two days. According to Michelle Wiese Bockmann, an analyst at Windward, the growing number of ships rerouting via Iran's territorial waters suggests that Tehran is granting 'permission-based transits to friendly countries.' The Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage that normally carries about one-fifth of global oil supplies, has seen traffic plummet by more than 95 percent since the onset of the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. This drastic reduction has led to a surge in oil prices, which have risen above $100 per barrel, an increase of over 40 percent. Iranian officials have issued mixed messages regarding the strait's status. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi stated that the strait was 'open, but closed to our enemies'. Conversely, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned earlier in the month that any ship attempting passage would be set ablaze. The situation has drawn international attention, with US President Donald Trump asserting that Washington does not require other countries' assistance to secure shipping traffic through the strait. Meanwhile, the US military reported dropping bunker buster bombs on 'hardened' Iranian missile sites located near the strait, citing the risk these posed to international shipping.

US President Donald Trump has taken to social media to mock UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, sharing a Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit that depicts Starmer panicking at the prospect of a call with Trump. The skit, which aired on the premiere of the new British version of SNL, shows Starmer, played by George Fouracres, trying to avoid a call with Trump.The video was shared on the same evening that Trump and Starmer spoke about the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the US-Israel war on Iran. During their call, the two leaders focused on the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by Iran since the US and Israel launched strikes on February 28.The closure of the strait has sent oil prices soaring, creating the biggest energy crisis since the 1970s. Trump has repeatedly criticized Starmer for not doing enough to support the US efforts to break the blockade, accusing him of being a 'coward' and saying he is 'disappointed' in him.Starmer has asserted that any attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz needs careful consideration and a viable plan, and that his number one priority is to protect British interests and de-escalate tensions. The UK government has given authorization for the US to use its military bases to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently claimed that Iran possesses missiles with a range of approximately 4,000km, posing a threat to European cities, including London. This assertion comes after reports that Iran targeted the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. The IDF stated that Iran's intentions to develop such long-range missiles pose a danger to numerous countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, the Iranian regime has denied these claims. Regarding the targeting of Diego Garcia, details are limited, but it is known that the island, located about 3,800km from Iran, was not under significant threat. A US warship shot down one missile, and the other reportedly failed in flight, landing 400 miles short of the island. The UK government has condemned the attack while stressing its different stance from the US and Israel on the conflict. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the government's support for defensive actions against Iranian threats. In response to Israel's warnings, Communities Secretary Steve Reed stated that the UK does not believe Iran has the capability or intent to attack Europe. He assured that the UK has the necessary military capability to defend itself. The UK is protected by Nato's ballistic missile defense (BMD) system, which includes Aegis Ashore sites in Poland and Romania. These systems are designed to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles in flight.

Leonid Radvinsky, the owner of the adult content platform OnlyFans, has passed away at the age of 43 after a prolonged battle with cancer. The company announced his death on Monday, stating that he passed away peacefully.Radvinsky, a Ukrainian-American billionaire, had a net worth of about $3.8 billion as of May 2025. He acquired OnlyFans' parent company, Fenix International Limited, in 2018 and served as the company's director and majority shareholder. Born in Odesa, he grew up in Chicago and studied economics at Northwestern University.According to reports, Radvinsky began running pornography sites as a teenager. OnlyFans, founded in 2016, is best known for allowing adult film actors and sex workers to monetize their content through a subscription-based model. The company typically takes a 20% cut of payments, leaving creators with 80% of the revenue.In recent months, Radvinsky had been in talks to sell a 60% stake in OnlyFans in a deal that would have valued the company at around $8 billion. He had moved his ownership to a trust in 2024. OnlyFans has faced controversy, including a 2024 Reuters investigation that reported on women who claimed to have been sexually enslaved to make money from the site.Despite efforts to expand beyond sexually explicit content, pornographic material remains OnlyFans' best-known product. The platform has been used by various creators, including Olympians and teachers, who have turned to the site as a way to supplement their income.

Rapid‑Action Spyware: The Darksword Campaign UnveiledResearchers at Google, iVerify and Lookout traced a fresh wave of iPhone attacks against Ukrainian users to a toolkit they named Darksword. The tool, linked to the threat actor UNC6353, infiltrates devices via compromised Ukrainian websites, siphons passwords, photos, messaging app data and wallet credentials, then vanishes within minutes.Technical Footprint and Quick‑Turnover MetricsInfection vector: malicious scripts on Ukrainian‑hosted sites, active only for visitors inside Ukraine.Data exfiltration window: minutes of dwell time, depending on volume of harvested information.Capabilities: extraction of WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS, browser history, and cryptocurrency wallet keys.Design: modular architecture allowing rapid addition of new functions, mirroring the earlier Coruna toolkit.Geopolitical and Security ImplicationsThe Darksword operation underscores a growing trend of state‑aligned actors deploying highly specialized mobile spyware for short‑term, high‑value “smash‑and‑grab” missions. While the campaign was geographically limited to Ukraine, its sophistication suggests that similar tools could be repurposed for broader espionage or financial theft, raising concerns for iPhone users worldwide and prompting a reassessment of mobile threat models.Future Outlook: Modular Spyware on the RiseAnalysts predict that the success of Darksword will encourage further development of modular iPhone exploits that prioritize rapid data theft over persistent surveillance. Defensive measures will likely focus on hardening web‑delivery chains, improving app‑store vetting, and enhancing on‑device anomaly detection to counter fleeting, high‑impact attacks.