Daily Digest — 9 Aug 2026

Geopolitical tensions in the Gulf are once again dominating the global agenda, with Iran issuing new conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz after a UAE ship was reportedly targeted by an airstrike. Tehran’s military has stressed the waterway will only reopen when the US meets its demands, while President Pezeshkian seeks a diplomatic deal. The standoff pushed oil up 1.2% to $⁠78.18, while gold surged 2.3% to $⁠4,399.70 and silver gained 3.1% as investors sought safe havens. The broader market mood was also weighed by news that Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has metastasised, as confirmed by his son Hunter, marking a significant personal and political development in the US.

In the crypto world, the controversial Bitcoin fork BIP-110 briefly mined two blocks before stalling, having inherited the main chain’s mining difficulty with minimal hashpower. The failed attempt underscores the difficulty of changing Bitcoin’s core rules without broad miner consensus. Elsewhere, hardware wallet sales in Russia more than doubled as new crypto regulations approach, reflecting growing demand for self-custody amid regulatory uncertainty. Bitcoin itself slipped 0.4% to $⁠64,735, while Solana bucked the trend with a 1.6% gain.

In corporate news, Berkshire Hathaway posted rising earnings and CEO Greg Abel began deploying Warren Buffett’s massive cash hoard, while Amazon’s planned Texas data center could become the largest single source of climate pollution in the US. OpenAI acquired presentation startup NextSlide, and X replaced its revenue sharing program with Original Content Rewards. On a lighter note, Myspace is attempting a comeback as an “antidote” to social media fatigue, though analysts doubt it can compete with today’s giants. Meanwhile, the Muslim world notes the Quranic promise of gardens and pure wine for the righteous, and the hadith emphasising the dignity of earning one’s livelihood over begging.

References

1. “The original URL for this prediction will no longer be available in 11 years.” (2011)
2. My server is a phone now
3. Os8088: A powerful Mac-like OS for the IBM XT, 286, 386
4. Iran sets conditions for opening Strait of Hormuz after UAE says one of its ships was targeted by airstrike
5. Myspace eyes comeback as an an ‘antidote’ to social media fatigue — but it may be a long shot
6. Berkshire earnings rose last quarter and CEO Greg Abel is starting to deploy Buffett’s massive cash hoard
7. The Tidings 78:31-38
8. Distribution of Water -
9. As Samee’ - السَّمِيعُ - The Hearer of all
10. Controversial Bitcoin fork BIP-110 mines two blocks, then stops
11. Bitcoin hits block 961,632 as the controversial BIP-110 soft fork attempt begins
12. Hardware wallet sales in Russia more than double as new crypto rules near
13. Nicola Sturgeon ‘has not spoken to’ estranged husband, Peter Murrell, since he was jailed
14. Arron Banks ‘hired private detective’ to look into journalist who investigated Reform UK
15. Sadiq Khan calls on Andy Burnham to commit to climate action as pressure grows over North Sea oil
16. Planned Amazon data center could become the biggest climate polluter in the U.S.
17. OpenAI acquires presentation startup NextSlide
18. X replaces ‘misaligned’ revenue sharing program with Original Content Rewards
19. Andy Burnham to embark on cost of living tour through the UK
20. Fifa criticises campaign to oust president Infantino
21. Killed a month after his wedding - why PC Andrew Harper’s death touched so many
22. Lionel Messi returns to Argentina after father Jorge’s death
23. Iran issues new demands as Pezeshkian seeks deal
24. ‘Very painful’: Joe Biden’s cancer has spread, son Hunter says
25. Lionel Messi returns to Argentina after father Jorge’s death
26. ‘Very painful’: Joe Biden’s cancer has spread, son Hunter says | #AJ shorts
27. Car bomb hits Colombia highway day after new president sworn in
28. Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as US attorney general despite concerns over Trump ties
29. Iran seeks way out of ‘neither war nor peace’ stalemate with US | #AJ shorts