What Does Mozambique and California Have in Common? Rising Diesel Prices on the Horizon as Both Depend on Imports Tied to the Strait of Hormuz

In a striking parallel amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, two distant regions—sub-Saharan Africa’s Mozambique and the U.S. West Coast’s California—are facing acute fuel supply pressures. Both heavily rely on petroleum products whose supply chains trace back to the Strait of Hormuz, the critical chokepoint through which roughly 20-25% of global seaborne oil and […]

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Fujairah confirms FOIZ fire after drone strike, and Gulf States may prepare a response

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah emirate have confirmed that a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industries Zone (FOIZ) following a drone strike originating from Iran. Civil defense teams responded immediately and continue to contain the blaze, with no injuries reported. The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, as Gulf states weigh […]

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Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Tuapse Refinery. How Many Refineries Are Out of Commission Around the World?

Ukrainian drone strikes continue to hammer Russian oil infrastructure, with the latest assault on the Tuapse Oil Refinery in Krasnodar Krai marking the third hit on the facility in April alone. Overnight on April 27-28, 2026, drones ignited fires and damaged additional storage tanks, triggering a state of emergency, an oil spill, and direct Kremlin […]

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Is Secretary Bessent Merging the Petrodollar with Argentina-Style Dollar Domination?

In a landmark testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and follow-up statements, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has outlined a bold new strategy: expanding permanent dollar swap facilities with Gulf and Asian allies to reinforce U.S. dollar dominance amid global energy shocks. This comes as the traditional petrodollar framework—anchored by a 50-year arrangement with Saudi […]

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