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Some undersea cables have been cut by a ship. The results have affected Internet and phone service in the Middle East.

The ship was trying to anchor in a storm and it dragged its anchor along the sea floor. The anchor cut two fibre cables. The result was 75 million people off the Net, with effects felt as far away as Bangladesh. Businesses were paralysed, government were appealing for casual surfers to stay off the Net so businesses could work, there was talk of a hit on the stock market in India.

Now, there are more broken cables in the Persian Gulf, this time. It’s hard to know what too make of this. If they are being cut deliberately, that is a very hostile act. These things are vital to a modern economy and they are not cheap to repair.