Day News Recap: Ebola outbreak tops 4,000 as Middle East tensions and Ukraine war intensify
Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo said the Ebola outbreak has passed 4,000 confirmed cases, prompting a major escalation in the response as there are concerns the virus may be mutating. 🔗In the Middle East, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz deepened as Iran enforced a near total closure of the waterway while indirect talks with Oman continued, and shipping groups warned against any compulsory transit charges. 🔗 🔗 Iran also tightened internal security at home, while President Masoud Pezeshkian said contact with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was very difficult after the reported wounding of the leader.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 06 Aug 2026 20:27 LONDON
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Netanyahu signals possible unilateral action as Iran war drags on
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that Israel may act alone as the war with Iran continues, even as Washington and Tehran appear close to an interim deal on the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks came during a state ceremony in West Jerusalem and were framed by Netanyahu as a matter of Israel's security. The comments add to signs of strain in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran and raise fresh questions about the next phase of the conflict.Netanyahu said he was determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and described the United States as Israel's greatest ally.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 Aug 2026 18:30 LONDON
Iran and Oman talks continue as US naval blockade tightens over Strait of Hormuz
The confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz has deepened, with Iran enforcing a near-total closure of the waterway as indirect diplomacy continues through Oman. The strategic chokepoint remains central to the wider war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and the disruption is already affecting global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. The latest developments suggest that any easing of pressure will depend on whether the current talks can produce a temporary transit arrangement.According to the supplied material, US Central Command has redirected 48 commercial vessels, boarded two and disabled two others as part of a strict naval blockade... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 Aug 2026 14:29 LONDON
Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif visits Saudi Arabia amid Gulf tensions
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Saudi Arabia for a two-day visit focused on regional tensions, strategic cooperation and coordination on international affairs. The trip comes as Pakistan says the visit is taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf. It is Sharif's third visit to Saudi Arabia this year, according to his office.Sharif is being accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, army chief Asim Munir and other cabinet members. His office said he will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with discussions expected to cover the longstanding partnership between... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 Aug 2026 14:02 LONDON
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Breakfast News Recap: Ukraine ports hit, Middle East tensions rise and markets rally on risk-on mood
Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, with Odesa among the main targets, damaging port infrastructure and adding pressure on export routes that are already under strain. NATO says it is working urgently to supply Ukraine with air defences after Kyiv failed to intercept any of the Russian ballistic missiles fired in Wednesday's overnight strike. 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, Israel said two reserve soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon as fighting with Hezbollah continued near the border. The Israeli military also said it would keep operating proactively in Gaza, even as Prime... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 06 Aug 2026 08:39 LONDON
Iran and Oman deal faces shipping industry pushback over Strait of Hormuz toll fears
Eight of the world's largest shipping associations have urged the United Nations to oppose any compulsory charges for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as reports continue that Iran and Oman are nearing an arrangement to manage the waterway. In a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, the groups said that tolls or service fees would amount to a significant break with established international practice. They warned that such a system could affect global trade, energy prices and the legal framework governing straits used for international navigation.The letter was sent on Monday... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 Aug 2026 06:59 LONDON
Day News Recap: Kyiv hit again as Gaza, Hormuz and West Bank tensions deepen across several fronts
At least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured in another overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, with rescue work still under way as officials warned the toll could rise. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes on the capital and surrounding region showed Ukraine urgently needed more air defences. 🔗 🔗Ukraine also said a Russian drone chased a fruit and vegetable seller around his stall in Kherson before exploding beside his van, and Zelenskyy shared footage of the attack. Kyiv further said North Korea is deploying a missile unit with six launchers and 120 ballistic missiles to western Russia,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 05 Aug 2026 18:21 LONDON
Miliband urges US to reopen Strait of Hormuz ahead of first one-to-one talks with Rubio
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called on the United States to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz as he travels to Washington for his first official one-to-one meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said free passage through the Gulf waterway was essential to ease cost-of-living pressures on British families. The talks are also expected to cover the war in Ukraine and what Miliband described as the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.Miliband said he was looking forward to his second meeting with Rubio, after the pair first met on the sidelines of a foreign ministers' summit in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 Aug 2026 15:06 LONDON
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Iraq faces mounting crisis as Shia armed groups resist disarmament deadline
Iraq's government is facing a growing political and security crisis as a September 30 deadline approaches for restricting weapons to state control. The dispute centres on powerful Shia armed factions that have rejected or questioned the plan, even as some other groups have said they will integrate into the state's armed forces. The issue has become one of the clearest tests yet of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's authority over armed actors outside formal state structures.Kataib Hezbollah, described as one of Iraq's most heavily armed Iran-aligned paramilitary groups, has explicitly رفض the government's mandate and said it will keep what it... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 Aug 2026 15:03 LONDON
Iran, Oman and US near interim Strait of Hormuz deal amid ceasefire push
The United States, Iran and Oman are reported to be close to an interim agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing tensions over shipping through one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints. The proposed arrangement is also intended to restore the June 17 ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, while leaving room for broader talks on Iran's nuclear programme and other issues. The development comes as commercial traffic through the waterway remains heavily disrupted.US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday evening that negotiations with Iran were "moving along very nicely" and suggested a decision could come within... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 Aug 2026 13:30 LONDON
Breakfast News Recap: Kyiv hit hard as Gaza dispute deepens and markets rally on softer oil
Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least 15 people overnight and wounded dozens more, as authorities said the toll was still rising. The attack added to pressure on Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared footage of a drone strike on a civilian vegetable seller in Kherson. 🔗 🔗In Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not withdraw from its current lines until Hamas had completely disarmed, hardening the dispute over any ceasefire deal. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Gaza remains unsafe for civilians as Israeli attacks continue, with strikes hitting... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 05 Aug 2026 08:35 LONDON
Trump warns Iran over Strait of Hormuz as deal may be near
US President Donald Trump has said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come as soon as today or tomorrow, while warning that Iran would be hit very hard if negotiations fail. His comments came as the strategic waterway remained at the centre of talks involving the United States, Oman and Iran over traffic through the passage. The latest remarks add urgency to a dispute that has already unsettled global energy markets and shipping.Trump said negotiators had a very good day and told reporters in California that the strait would be open very soon, or Iran would face... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 Aug 2026 07:01 LONDON
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Indian-Flagged Ship Sinks Off Yemen After Projectile Strike, All 14 Crew Rescued
An Indian-flagged vessel has sunk off the coast of Yemen after being hit by a projectile, according to officials. The ship, identified as MSV Faize Noore Oliya, went down after the strike in waters near Yemen. All 14 people on board were rescued, including 13 Indian nationals.India's shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, condemned what he described as an unprovoked attack and said steps would be taken to help protect seafarers in the region. India's Ministry of External Affairs later said attacks on commercial shipping in the area were deeply worrisome. It called for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Aug 2026 22:59 LONDON
Iran boosts military strength during ceasefire with US as talks continue
Iranian military officials say they are using the ceasefire period to accelerate missile and drone production, repair damaged systems and bring new equipment into service. The comments come as Tehran says it is preparing for the possibility that war could resume if negotiations fail. The developments are taking place in Tehran, where officials are also describing the ceasefire as a window to recover and adapt.Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said this week that Iran had made "maximum use" of the ceasefire and of a now-suspended memorandum of understanding signed with the United States in June. He said efforts included inducting existing... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Aug 2026 20:29 LONDON
Day News Recap: Oil swings on Iran talks as Gaza, wildfires and health crises add to global strain
Oil markets were the biggest story of the day, with prices first jumping on the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and then falling sharply after US officials said talks with Iran and Oman could produce a deal this week to reopen the route. The disruption has already lifted profits at major energy companies, including BP, which reported quarterly earnings of $5.73bn, its highest in four years. 🔗 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, the diplomatic and military picture remained tense. Iran said it did not want to widen the conflict, even as President Donald Trump said talks had resumed... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 04 Aug 2026 18:24 LONDON
Qatar says regional mediation with US and Iran is in advanced stage amid escalation fears
Qatar says efforts to reach a short-term resolution between the United States and Iran are now at an advanced stage, with draft language circulating through regional mediators. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said in Doha that Qatar is working with Oman and Pakistan to exchange ideas and proposals between Washington and Tehran. He said the aim is to avoid further escalation, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reopen the door to diplomacy.Al Ansari said there are no direct US-Iran talks scheduled, but that mediation is continuing and that the parties remain in contact through intermediaries. He said the whole... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Aug 2026 14:59 LONDON
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BP reports four-year-high profits as Middle East war pushes up oil prices
BP has reported quarterly profits of $5.73bn, its highest in four years, after the war in the Middle East drove up oil prices. The oil company said Brent crude averaged $103.85 a barrel in the April-to-June period, compared with $67.88 in the same quarter a year earlier. The rise in crude prices has also fed through into higher petrol, diesel and household energy costs in many places.The profit figure was more than double the $2.35bn BP made in the same period last year. It was also the company's strongest quarterly result since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Aug 2026 10:30 LONDON
Breakfast News Recap: Trump says Iran talks are under way as Gaza, Hormuz and markets stay in focus
Donald Trump said talks with Iran were continuing and warned Tehran it faced a final chance over the nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz, even as Iranian officials denied wanting to widen the conflict and said they would defend the country if needed. The mixed messages have deepened uncertainty over diplomacy and regional security. 🔗 🔗That uncertainty was sharpened after a cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman, with separate reports again highlighting the risk to shipping in the waterway. The incident comes as the US and Iran trade conflicting claims... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 04 Aug 2026 08:42 LONDON
Cargo vessel hit by unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz off Oman
A cargo vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre. The incident was reported on Tuesday and took place in one of the world's most sensitive shipping corridors. Authorities are investigating the strike, and the vessel has not been named.UKMTO said the ship reported being hit about 20 nautical miles, or 37 kilometres, northeast of Al Khasab in northern Oman. The agency did not provide details on the type of projectile, the extent of any damage, or whether anyone was injured.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 Aug 2026 06:29 LONDON
Turkiye and Iraq sign one-year oil pipeline transit deal
Turkiye and Iraq have signed a one-year agreement to keep crude flowing through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, officials said on Saturday. The deal covers a stated transit capacity of 750,000 barrels per day and comes days after the previous bilateral arrangement lapsed. It was signed as both sides said they want to work toward a longer-term framework for the route.The agreement was concluded between Turkish state pipeline operator BOTAS and Iraq's state oil companies SOMO and NOC. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said the deal followed a "productive meeting" in Ankara with Iraqi Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair. He said... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 Aug 2026 18:30 LONDON
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Two tanker attack reports near the Strait of Hormuz as UKMTO urges caution
A British maritime security agency has reported two separate incidents involving tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, with both taking place off the coast of Oman. In the first case, a vessel said it had been struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Lima, causing damage to the engine room. Around three hours later, a second tanker reported seeing a large splash and explosion close to the ship northeast of Khasab.No injuries have been reported in either incident, and the second vessel had not reported damage at the time of the warning. The agency advised vessels in the area to... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 Aug 2026 10:29 LONDON
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 23 May 2026 08:00 LONDON
GAS, GOD, AND GUNS: The Secret Agenda Behind the Washington Talks and the Death of the Maritime Border
The mahogany tables of the U.S. State Department are hosting a ghost today. As official delegations from Israel and Lebanon convene for a third round of high-stakes negotiations this Friday, May 8, 2026, the air in Washington is thick with the scent of a "peace" that looks increasingly like a strategic ambush. While the world watches the diplomatic theatre, the reality on the ground in Southern Lebanon tells a story of a predatory recalibration. Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t just looking for a ceasefire; he is aiming to hit three birds with one single, devastating stone: the annexation of land, the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 08 May 2026 12:29 LONDON
The Mirage of the Umbrella: The Shifting Sands of the U.S.-Israel-GCC Alliance
As I sat in a recent debate at the historic Carlton Club in London, listening to Faisal Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, I felt a tangible shift in the room, not because a new fact had been revealed, but because an old illusion had finally lost its last breath. The old-world order has not merely changed, it has evaporated, leaving the Gulf to realize it is no longer watching a distant fire from the safety of marble towers and air-conditioned ministries, but is instead standing directly inside the smoke. The GCC today is caught in a lethal crossfire between... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 29 Apr 2026 21:40 LONDON
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Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 19 Feb 2026 08:49 LONDON
