Iran Ramps Up Ship Attacks in Hormuz as Oil Flows Rise, Ebola Spreads to Kenya

Oil advances as Iran ramps up attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, challenging shipments even as crude flows through the key waterway recover. Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is operating normally, while the Iran war continues to drive billions of dollars in energy infrastructure costs. Yemeni forces launch a campaign to recapture territory, while economic pressure could help push the US-Iran conflict toward a deal in 2027. Asian stocks edge lower as oil rises, while US Treasury yields retreat from their highest levels since 2002. Japanese stocks fall as higher oil prices and yields keep investors cautious, while Taiwan overtakes South Korea in global AI trade. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon tells Bloomberg that governments cannot borrow and spend endlessly, while saying data-center challenges will be worked through and AI could dramatically improve people’s lives despite creating new vulnerabilities. The UAE launches Falcon, an AI model designed for the Emirati dialect. UAE Presidential Adviser Faisal Al Bannai discusses the development with Bloomberg at AI Everything. India’s central bank raises its repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%, while investors watch the BOJ and upcoming Samsung earnings. DeepSeek is set to raise at least $12 billion in a Tencent-led funding round, while another AI infrastructure deal seeks $40 billion to acquire Nvidia chips. Ebola spreads beyond Congo, with Kenya reporting its first imported case after a patient arriving from Congo died. The outbreak has now spread across seven Congolese provinces. Elsewhere, Bitcoin recovers from session lows and Trump says a call with Vladimir Putin is planned. Guests includes Casey Sprake, AG Capital Market Strategist, Faisal Al Bannai, UAE Presidential Adviser and Ramona Moubarak, BMI MENA Country Risk Head. Horizons Middle East & Africa is your daily spotlight on one of the world's fastest-growing regions. Live from Dubai, we bring you the latest global markets and analysis, plus news-making interviews, with a special focus on MEA. All that and more, as you head to the office in the Gulf, pause for…