US-Iran conflict drives Hormuz disruption and oil-price spike
Global energy markets are reacting to a sharp escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran, with the Brent crude benchmark rising 23% over the past two weeks and moving back within reach of $90 a barrel. The supplied material says the fighting has now been running for 10 days around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas exports. It also says Houthi forces have announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, adding to concerns over alternative export routes through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb.The latest market move has already fed through... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 21 Jul 2026 16:29 LONDON
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Tokyo and Asia-Pacific close mixed as Nikkei slides, Hang Seng surges, and metals extend a powerful rally
Executive summary: Tokyo ended lower, with the Nikkei 225 and Nikkei 225 ETF both down more than 2%, while Hong Kong outperformed sharply as the Hang Seng jumped 3.4%. The biggest cross-asset moves came in commodities, where silver, gold, WTI crude, and Ether all posted strong gains, while global autos fell and the yen weakened further against the dollar. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 21 Jul 2026 07:45 LONDON
Tokyo Opens in Risk-Off Mode as Nikkei Slides More Than 5%, Hong Kong Rallies on Oil and Geopolitics
Executive summary: Tokyo and broader Asia-Pacific trading opened with a sharp split, led by a heavy Nikkei 225 selloff of -5.3% and a weaker Kospi, while Hong Kong advanced +3.8%. The move came alongside firmer WTI crude, softer gold, and a slightly stronger yen, pointing to a session shaped by risk reduction, sector rotation, and geopolitically sensitive commodity pricing. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 21 Jul 2026 01:15 LONDON
Day News Recap: Iran conflict widens as deaths mount, UK gets new prime minister and markets turn risk off
The biggest escalation remained the conflict between the United States and Iran, with Washington saying it had carried out a ninth straight night of strikes while Tehran said mediators had relayed proposals to end the fighting and its foreign minister claimed talks were held under the threat of bombing. Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned the US it would receive an “unforgettable lesson”, and the supreme leader called for “sacred unity” as the confrontation deepened. 🔗 🔗 🔗 🔗 🔗Casualties linked to the wider conflict also rose. The Pentagon named two US soldiers killed in Jordan while defending against Iranian missile and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 20 Jul 2026 18:25 LONDON
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Noontime News Recap: Ukraine widens drone war as US Iran strikes fuel oil shock and regional tensions rise
Ukraine launched more than 400 drones toward Moscow overnight, in one of the largest reported attacks on the Russian capital since the start of the war, as the conflict widened beyond the Black Sea and into the Russian heartland. đź”—The United States completed a ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran, while Tehran said the Darkhovin nuclear plant under construction in the southwest had been hit, raising the risk of a broader confrontation. đź”—That escalation in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher and deepened concern over global fuel supplies after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ground to a... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 20 Jul 2026 12:20 LONDON
Hundreds protest at Pine Gap in largest demonstration in decades
About 300 people have protested outside the Pine Gap defence facility in Alice Springs, in what organisers described as the largest demonstration at the site in decades. Arrernte traditional owners delivered a letter to the front gates demanding the return of their land, while protesters called for the facility to be closed. The rally took place on Monday afternoon near the high-security base, which is jointly operated by Australia and the United States.Police established traffic checks several kilometres from the site and stopped people about 200 metres from the gated entrance on foot. Protesters were required to show identification before... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Jul 2026 12:00 LONDON
Israel publicly criticises Labor draft Palestine policy ahead of Adelaide conference
Israel's embassy in Canberra has publicly criticised a draft Australian Labor Party policy platform on Palestine, in an unusual intervention into the party's internal decision-making ahead of this week's national conference in Adelaide. The embassy issued a four-page statement challenging proposed language on Palestine, Hamas, settler violence and annexation of Palestinian territory. The draft is due to be debated by delegates at the conference later this week.The embassy said the draft risked placing responsibility for the conflict on one side while giving insufficient attention to Hamas and Palestinian leadership. It also said the policy motions were still in draft form... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Jul 2026 10:32 LONDON
Tokyo and Asia-Pacific close mixed as Nikkei slides, Hang Seng extends gains, oil spikes and Korea rout deepens
Executive summary: Asia-Pacific trading ended sharply mixed, with Japan leading regional losses as the Nikkei 225 fell -4.6% and the Kospi sank -12.5%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose +3.3%. The move came alongside a jump in WTI crude of +5.4%, softer gold and silver, and a broadly steady yen and yuan. The scale of the Korea selloff stands out as the day’s most severe market event, while Japan’s retreat suggests investors were trimming risk after a powerful prior run-up. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 20 Jul 2026 07:45 LONDON
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Tokyo Opens Under Pressure as Nikkei Slides, Oil Jumps and Hang Seng Outperforms
Executive summary: Tokyo and wider Asia-Pacific markets opened with a sharp risk-off tone, led by a heavy drop in Japan and South Korea, while Hong Kong held a firmer bid. WTI crude surged, precious metals softened, and the yen stayed weak near recent levels, a mix that points to higher inflation pressure and a more defensive regional start. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 20 Jul 2026 01:15 LONDON
Wall Street falls as investors weigh AI valuations and Middle East tensions
Wall Street ended the week lower on Friday as investors continued to reassess the value of artificial intelligence-linked stocks while also watching the worsening situation in the Middle East. The retreat extended a week-long decline in US markets, with the S&P 500 falling 1.6% over the week. In contrast, European shares fell 0.7% and the Australian market slipped 0.1% over the same period.The pressure was most visible in the semiconductor and data memory sector, where the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index recorded its steepest weekly loss in more than a year. The index has fallen more than 18% so far in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Jul 2026 22:33 LONDON
Papua New Guinea to close Taiwan trade mission in Port Moresby to reassure China
Papua New Guinea has said it will close Taiwan's trade mission in its capital, Port Moresby, in a move that marks a sharp diplomatic shift in the Pacific. The government said Taiwan's presence was no longer recognised or required, and described the decision as part of an effort to deepen trust with Beijing. Officials also said the move reaffirms Papua New Guinea's commitment to the One China policy.Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko announced the decision on Thursday, saying it was a vital step in strengthening ties with China. He said Papua New Guinea had communicated with the Taipei office before the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Jul 2026 06:00 LONDON
Report says AI systems can be tricked into extremist bomb-making guidance
A report released this month says artificial intelligence systems can be manipulated into providing coaching on bomb-making and weapons, raising fresh concerns about extremist misuse. The findings come as a Queensland teenager faces extremism charges linked to the alleged use of AI to create mass-shooting scenarios. The report describes the issue as a major national security concern and argues that conversational AI can be used in ways that go beyond ordinary web searches.The United Nations-supported group Tech Against Terrorism tested 27 AI models with prompts that could be used for terrorism, including step-by-step requests for explosive devices and 3D-printed firearms.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Jul 2026 08:31 LONDON
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Businesses claw back tariff refunds after Trump tariffs ruled unlawful
Businesses around the world are receiving refunds of tariffs paid to the United States after Donald Trump's so-called liberation day tariffs were ruled unlawful. The refunds are being issued after the April 2025 measures triggered a sharp rise in import costs for companies selling into the US market. One Australian brand, Nashie, says it has already received a six-figure refund that included interest.Oxford Economics estimates that about US$80 billion in tariffs has been refunded since May, with interest paid at rates of up to 7%. The firm says the same amount is expected to be refunded again over the next... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Jul 2026 20:03 LONDON
Sydney LGBTQ+ arts venue faces eviction threat after landlord orders it to stop 'offensive trade'
A former church turned queer-friendly arts venue in Sydney is facing possible eviction after its landlord issued a breach notice and ordered it to stop operating as an "offensive trade". The venue, Divine Playhouse, has already been forced to close and cancel planned events while its organisers consider legal action. The dispute follows protests by religious groups over the venue's opening night.The notice was issued to the venue's organisers, Heaps Gay Events, and named the landlord as commercial property group KCSYD Pty Ltd. Lawyers acting for the landlord said the trade had "insulted and mocked the sincerely held religious beliefs... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Jul 2026 11:03 LONDON
Australian GP clinic network hit by major cyber breach
A network of general practice and skin cancer clinics in Australia has been hit by a cyber attack that may have exposed patient medical records and personal information. Partnered Health said it had identified more than a dozen clinic locations where information may have been taken, including sites in several major cities. The company said it became aware of the breach on 23 June and has been working with cyber agencies and police since then.Partnered Health said patients' medical records were accessed and taken in the incident, and that some affected patients were contacted late on Tuesday. The company operates... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Jul 2026 10:32 LONDON
US opens safeguard review of lamb imports, including Australian supply
The United States International Trade Commission has opened a global safeguard investigation into lamb imports, a move that could affect shipments from Australia, the largest supplier to the US market. The review is examining whether imported lamb meat is threatening the domestic industry and whether additional tariffs should be imposed. The investigation was formally requested on 13 July by Ambassador Jamieson Greer.The case follows an October 2025 petition from the American Sheep Industry Association, which argued that imported lamb was being sold at lower prices, displacing local production and reducing profitability for US farmers. According to the supplied material, most... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Jul 2026 07:35 LONDON
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Iran extends British prisoner Craig Foreman's sentence by two years, family says
A British man jailed in Iran has had two further years added to his prison sentence, according to his family. Craig Foreman was told of the extra punishment after being brought before a judge in Tehran, the family said. The development comes more than a year after he and his wife, Lindsay Foreman, were detained while travelling through Iran on a motorcycle journey from Europe to Australia.Family members said Craig Foreman had been told he was being taken to see his lawyer, but was instead brought before a judge and informed of the additional sentence. Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman's son... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Jul 2026 06:33 LONDON
Japan accelerates defence buildup as JS Nagara is handed over amid China-related tensions
Japan has increased its defence spending to a record high as it steps up a broader security overhaul shaped by concerns about China, North Korea and Russia. The latest development came with the official handover of the newly built warship JS Nagara to Japan's self-defence force. During a speech on the vessel, parliamentary secretary to the defence minister Yoshida Shinji said the move was needed to safeguard the country's territory.Mr Yoshida said the security environment around Japan was now the most severe and complex it had been since the end of the war. He said the JS Nagara would help... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Jul 2026 20:02 LONDON
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 06 Mar 2026 17:20 LONDON
