Day News Recap: Iran, Israel and trade tensions dominate as conflicts and shocks spread across regions
Donald Trump renewed his claim over the Strait of Hormuz after posting a map on Truth Social that depicted the strategic waterway as “new American territory”, even as Iran signalled it could keep the route closed and later allowed some Iraqi oil tankers through after Baghdad pressed for access. 🔗 🔗Middle East tensions widened further as Jordan said it had been pulled into the Iran, US and Israel confrontation after missile and drone attacks reached its territory, while Chile announced it would close its embassy in Tehran on 31 August because of security concerns and internal reorganisation. 🔗 🔗Israel and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 23 Aug 2026 18:23 LONDON
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Iran signals fuel price hike as rial hits record low amid new US sanctions pressure
Iranian authorities are preparing the public for another increase in fuel prices as the country faces worsening economic strain and the prospect of fresh United States sanctions. President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that officials were trying to protect people from further hardship, while acknowledging that the government is under pressure to keep subsidised fuel affordable. The comments come as the Iranian rial fell to a new all-time low of 2 million to the US dollar in Tehran's open market.Pezeshkian said the administration pays 1.3 million rials, or about 65 US cents at the current rate, for each litre of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 23 Aug 2026 17:00 LONDON
Trump renews Strait of Hormuz claim as Iran threatens to keep waterway closed
Donald Trump has renewed his claim over the Strait of Hormuz after posting a map on Truth Social that depicted the strategic waterway as "new American territory". He did not comment on the image, but the post revived a dispute that has already drawn sharp responses from Iranian officials. The exchange centres on one of the world's most important shipping lanes and comes amid continuing tension between Washington and Tehran.The latest remarks were followed by a direct warning from Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who said the strait would remain closed until the United States changes... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 23 Aug 2026 15:29 LONDON
DR Congo and M23 agree roadmap for peace talks as Swiss-hosted process advances
The Democratic Republic of Congo government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group have agreed a roadmap for peace talks after five days of discussions in Switzerland. In a joint statement, the parties said they would pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution under the Doha Framework Agreement. They also said they had established a mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations, marking a further step in a process that has repeatedly faltered.The statement said the latest talks involved representatives from M23, the Congolese government, Qatar, the United States, the Republic of Togo, the African Union Commission and host Switzerland. It added... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 23 Aug 2026 14:29 LONDON
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Syria says door open for diplomacy with Israel as security talks may resume
Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has said Syria is keeping the door open for diplomacy with Israel, saying talks over a security deal could resume soon. He said Damascus wants any renewed contact to lead to Israel's withdrawal from Syrian territory and to a halt in Israeli attacks. The comments add a fresh diplomatic signal to a relationship still shaped by military pressure and deep mistrust.Al-Shaibani said in an interview published on Sunday that the negotiations were frozen at the start of the US-Israel war on Iran and that no date has been set for their return. He said confidence-building steps... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 23 Aug 2026 12:29 LONDON
Iran allows some Iraqi oil tankers through Hormuz as Baghdad discusses exports
Iran has granted permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after repeated requests from Baghdad, according to Iranian state media. Iraqi President Nizar Amidi said on Saturday that Iran had facilitated the passage of some ships carrying Iraqi oil in recent days. He added that Baghdad was continuing talks with Iranian officials about oil exports through the strait.The reported transit was described as a special permission and was said to be one of Baghdad's main requests during a visit to Iraq this week by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 22 Aug 2026 22:29 LONDON
South Korea sends first container ship through Arctic route on trial voyage
South Korea has launched its first commercial trial container voyage through the Arctic, with the PanStar Acro departing Busan New Port for Europe. The ship set sail on Saturday evening local time as part of a government-backed effort to test whether the Northern Sea Route can become commercially viable. The voyage is being watched closely because it could offer an alternative path for cargo between Asia and Europe.The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the vessel departed at 9:30pm local time, or 12:30 GMT. The 2,758 TEU ship is carrying 837 TEU of cargo, including car parts, chemical products and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 22 Aug 2026 18:30 LONDON
Europe wildfires trigger explosions of old wartime bombs and mines
Wildfires burning across parts of Europe have exposed a hidden danger beneath scorched ground, with explosions reported in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Emergency crews have been forced to contend not only with flames but also with old wartime bombs and mines uncovered by the heat. In one case, a bomb-disposal team was sent to a forest in Limburg province after fire threatened an area linked to fierce fighting in 1944.Officials and local reports said the fires have already set off detonations in several countries, underlining the scale of the risk. In eastern Belgium's Liege province, governor Herve Jamar... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 22 Aug 2026 13:00 LONDON
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DR Congo Ebola outbreak as more than 16,000 vaccine doses arrive in Kinshasa
More than 16,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine have arrived in Kinshasa as the Democratic Republic of the Congo tries to slow what officials describe as its deadliest-ever outbreak. The 16,250 doses landed in the capital late on Friday, forming the first shipment of a larger allocation pledged by the World Health Organization and partners. Health officials say the arrival is an important step, but it comes as transmission continues to accelerate in the east of the country.The World Health Organization and partners have pledged 70,000 doses in total for the DRC, according to the latest confirmed figures. Of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 22 Aug 2026 11:32 LONDON
Trump backs White House ballroom project after Supreme Court allows construction to continue
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "We are grateful for the Decision of the United States Supreme Court. The Military/Ballroom Complex being built on the hallowed grounds of the White House, which is so vital for National Security, will be THE GREATEST OF ITS KIND! It is something that Presidents have wanted for 150 years, and that the Military has been seeking for the last 100 years. Construction is under budget and ahead of schedule. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" - "Ed Martin has been with me from the... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 21 Aug 2026 21:30 LONDON
Wall Street closes lower as tech and chips slide, while crypto and precious metals surge
Executive summary: U.S. equities finished lower in a broad risk-off session, led by weakness in the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 and Russell 2000. The selloff was concentrated in technology and AI-linked shares, while Bitcoin, Ether, gold, silver and platinum posted outsized gains. Energy also firmed as WTI crude rose, adding another inflation-sensitive layer to the day’s cross-asset move. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 21 Aug 2026 21:15 LONDON
Wall Street Opens Lower as Tech Slumps, Gold and Crypto Extend Powerful Rally
Executive summary: U.S. equities opened under pressure, with the Nasdaq, Russell 2000 and S&P 500 all lower in early trading, while gold, silver, platinum and cryptocurrencies extended sharp gains. The move points to a market split between risk assets tied to growth and sectors linked to inflation hedges, energy and digital assets. Tech and chip shares were the clearest drag, while energy and commodities offered support. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 21 Aug 2026 14:45 LONDON
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Russia says any Ukraine peace plan must reflect realities on the ground
Russia has said it is open to hearing new proposals for ending the war in Ukraine, but only if they reflect what Moscow calls the realities on the ground. The comments came from Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in an interview published on Friday. He said any settlement ideas would need to align with the goals set by the Russian president.Ryabkov said the United States had shown a readiness for constructive dialogue and an understanding of Russia's position. He also said Moscow was ready to listen to any reasonable proposals and ideas that fit its aims. At the same time,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 21 Aug 2026 08:00 LONDON
Israel's national security minister shows video of future execution facility for prisoners
Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir has posted a video showing construction work at what he described as a future execution facility for prisoners. In the video, he said the site will include gallows for carrying out death sentences in Israel. The move adds a new public dimension to a long-running campaign by the far-right minister to expand capital punishment for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks.The row is linked to legislation approved in March by Israel's parliament at Ben Gvir's initiative. According to the supporting material, the law provides for the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 17:30 LONDON
Myanmar's Rohingya crisis deepens amid Arakan Army takeover in Rakhine State
A new investigation says Myanmar's civil war is driving fresh abuses against the Rohingya minority in Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army now controls much of the area. The report says Rohingya families have been caught between the Myanmar military and rebel forces, with allegations of forced conscription, targeted attacks and killings. It also says the violence is unfolding in a region that is largely inaccessible to outside observers.The material says more than 150,000 Rohingya have been driven from their homes since the civil war escalated after the 2021 coup, adding to a displacement crisis that began with the military... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 12:30 LONDON
Australia summons Israeli ambassador after IDF clears soldiers over Zomi Frankcom killing
Australia has summoned Israel's ambassador after the Israeli military cleared its soldiers of criminal wrongdoing in the 2024 killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six other humanitarian workers in Gaza. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was outraged by the decision not to pursue criminal proceedings and called for an explanation from ambassador Hillel Newman. The diplomatic response comes after a two-year military investigation into the strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy.According to the supplied material, Mr Newman defended the investigation and rejected what he described as political attacks on its findings. He said the report was... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 04:32 LONDON
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Trump says he will meet Kim Jong Un later this year amid North Korea nuclear claims
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, adding a new diplomatic dimension to a week already marked by a sharp reduction in joint US-South Korea military drills. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the White House and said it was important to "get along" with Kim. Trump also repeated an unusually specific claim that North Korea has 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons.The comments came as concern grew among US allies over Washington's approach to the Korean peninsula. Trump did not give details on... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 02:29 LONDON
Ukraine's ousted defence minister calls for wartime elections as protests grow in Kyiv
Mykhailo Fedorov has deepened his break with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by publicly calling for wartime elections in Ukraine. In a nine-minute video released on YouTube, the former defence minister said democracy could not be "held hostage by Russia" and urged a "legal, safe and realistic mechanism" to renew the country's full democratic process during a long war. He also accused the government of a "systemic crisis of governance" and said corruption inside the defence ministry was harming the war effort.The intervention comes as protests in Kyiv have continued to build around his dismissal. Demonstrators have gathered for more than a... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 17:29 LONDON
Trump pauses 50% Canada tariffs for three days as trade deal nears
The United States has paused planned 50% tariffs on Canadian goods for three days after the two countries said they had reached an agreement in principle, pending final documents. The move came just hours before the duties were due to take effect, avoiding an immediate escalation in a dispute that had been building for weeks. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said substantial progress had been made, while also stressing that more work remained.Trump said in a social media post that the pause was based on the fact that Canada and the United States, subject to the finalisation of documents, had... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 05:02 LONDON
Tim Montgomerie vows to fight Reform UK suspension after criticism of senior figures
Political commentator Tim Montgomerie has said he will fight his suspension from Reform UK after criticising senior party figures in media interviews. He told BBC Newsnight that his appeal would be a test case of whether the party can tolerate free speech and dissent. Reform UK said he had been suspended in line with its rules after public criticism he made.Montgomerie, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK in 2024, said he wanted to remain in the party and would contest the decision. He said he had not left the Conservative Party lightly and believed Reform could reach parts... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 03:35 LONDON
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US refineries taking in half of Venezuela's oil output, official says
Venezuela is now sending more than 500,000 barrels per day of crude to Gulf Coast refineries in the United States, according to a senior US official. The figure amounts to about half of Venezuela's current oil output, the official said at an industry event in Houston on Tuesday. The development marks a sharp increase from late 2025, when Venezuelan exports to the US were far lower.Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit said the flow is coming from a national output of roughly 1.25 million barrels per day. He said the oil is moving to refineries built specifically to process that... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 03:30 LONDON
US lawmakers seek probe into USS Abraham Lincoln conditions amid extended deployment
US lawmakers are pressing the Pentagon and the Navy for answers over reported conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, after the aircraft carrier spent more than 260 days at sea without a port call. The new push comes as Democrats in Congress say the vessel's record-long deployment points to wider concerns about military readiness and planning. The ship departed from San Diego in November and has since been involved in operations tied to the war with Iran.On Tuesday, Representative Pat Ryan published a letter signed by 22 members of Congress and addressed to acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. In the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 01:29 LONDON
Global borrowing costs hit fresh highs as oil prices surge and inflation fears rise
Long-term borrowing costs across several of the world's biggest economies have climbed to fresh highs, with investors reacting to rising oil prices, inflation concerns and questions over heavy spending on artificial intelligence. The move has been seen in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, underlining how quickly market pressure has spread across major debt markets. The rise is feeding into expectations that borrowing could become more expensive for households, companies and governments.In the United States, the interest rate on 30-year borrowing reached 5.33% on Tuesday, its highest level since June 2007. In the United Kingdom, long-term debt... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 19:30 LONDON
Lebanon, Italy and France discuss future of UNIFIL in Rome as mandate nears expiry
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is due to travel to Rome this week for talks on the future of the United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, as its mandate ends later this year. The visit, scheduled for Thursday, comes amid efforts by Italy and France to shape a multinational successor arrangement for UNIFIL. The discussions are expected to focus on how international forces could remain in the south if the current mission is not extended.A Lebanese official said Mr Aoun will meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss "the future of the international forces, particularly... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 18:06 LONDON
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US and Israel form Gaza working groups as reconstruction is tied to disarmament
Two joint working groups have been formed by Washington and Israel after talks involving US envoy Jared Kushner, officials from the Board of Peace and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One group will focus on disarmament and demilitarisation in Gaza, while the other will deal with humanitarian issues such as sanitation, clean water and health. The move is part of an effort to advance the next phase of Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan.Kushner said reconstruction in Gaza will not be allowed until demilitarisation is complete, according to the supplied material. The talks also involved Board of Peace head Nickolay Mladenov,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 15:32 LONDON
Russia and Japan trade protests over Kuril Islands remarks
Russia has summoned Japan's ambassador to Moscow over comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Moscow described as "anti-Russian" after President Vladimir Putin visited one of the disputed Kuril Islands. The move came after Japan had already summoned Russia's ambassador in protest at the visit, which Tokyo said was "grave" and "absolutely unacceptable". The exchange has renewed attention on a territorial dispute that has shaped relations between the two countries for decades.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Takaichi's remarks had "crossed the line of decency" and criticised what he called Tokyo's "militaristic line". Japan's ambassador left a meeting at Russia's... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 13:31 LONDON
Canada races to avert looming 50% US tariffs on exports
Canadian officials are making a last-ditch effort to secure a reprieve from 50% tariffs that the United States is due to impose on a broad range of Canadian exports on Wednesday. The talks come as negotiations between the two countries enter the eleventh hour, with Ottawa trying to avoid a new trade shock affecting billions of dollars in goods. The threatened duties would apply to products including electronics, industrial machinery, furniture, dairy products and wine.The tariffs would cover about $20.2bn worth of goods, or roughly 5% of US imports from Canada, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 09:30 LONDON
China keeps Zhu Rongji funeral low-key amid censorship of public mourning
China has held the funeral of former premier Zhu Rongji in Beijing in a tightly controlled and low-profile manner, after his death last week at the age of 97. The ceremony was scheduled for Tuesday, with the former leader to be cremated, but there has been no footage from the event. Government sites were flying flags at half-mast, while security vehicles were seen in central Beijing as the country marked his death.Zhu served as China's premier from 1998 to 2003 and is widely remembered as one of the country's most significant economic reformers. State media described him as an "outstanding... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 07:32 LONDON
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Heavy rains in South Korea trigger Geoje landslide, killing one
Torrential rain in southern South Korea has triggered a landslide in the city of Geoje, killing one person and injuring four others. Officials said the heavy downpours have affected South Gyeongsang province since Saturday, with Geoje among the worst-hit areas. The incident has also led to evacuations, power cuts and flooding in schools and kindergartens.The interior and safety ministry said more than 800 mm of rain fell in Geoje, where the landslide struck an apartment building. Police and firefighters rescued three residents from the building, but one of them was found in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at hospital,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 02:00 LONDON
UK leader Burnham targeted by White House impersonator
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reportedly been targeted by someone posing as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in a messaging exchange that has raised fresh concerns about official impersonation and communications security. According to the report, Burnham exchanged a few messages with the impostor before becoming suspicious and cutting off contact. He then informed the relevant authorities.The contents of the messages have not been made public, and sources quoted in the report said they were of no significance. A British government spokesperson declined to comment, citing policy on national security matters. The British Embassy in the United... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 18:33 LONDON
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US General to Oversee Hamas Disarmament Under Gaza Deal, Israeli Official Says
A United States general would oversee the disarmament of Hamas under a Gaza agreement, according to an Israeli government official cited on Monday. The official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached an understanding with US envoy Jared Kushner on the arrangement. Israel is also said to be maintaining that its troops will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until all Hamas weapons are handed over.The report said there has been no immediate confirmation from the United States of any such deal. It also said the disarmament issue is part of the wider agreement signed between Israel and Hamas to end... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 16:30 LONDON
Belgium wildfire in High Fens spreads toward Germany as evacuations continue
Firefighters in Belgium are still working to contain a major wildfire in the High Fens nature reserve, where thick smoke has covered the area near the German border. The blaze has scorched around 30 square kilometres, or more than 3,000 hectares, and officials say shifting winds have pushed it eastwards. Around 600 residents have been evacuated from nearby communities as crews try to stop the fire spreading further.The response includes tankers, fire engines, water-bombing aircraft and helicopters, with international support helping Belgian crews in difficult terrain. Footage from the area shows firefighters spraying water on burning and smouldering ground and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 08:59 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
The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 02 Mar 2026 09:36 LONDON
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The role of community policing in nurturing acceptance
In a highly polarized world and a highly volatile situation, many wars are perturbing the lives of many, forcing governments to take real measures to protect their citizens. Away from the geopolitical analysis and speculation, I would like to highlight one of many important aspects related to war preparation, which is the protocol of living in community shelters, historically comparable to the use of air raid shelters during major conflicts. During the war in Lebanon in the mid-eighties, I published an article about this protocol, and it seems very relevant to these days. 1- This is not your house: A... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 19 Feb 2026 07:35 LONDON
There Is Good in Every Bad
Power, Greed, Oil, and the Theater of Modern Geopolitics The Business Model of Power Donald Trump does not govern like a traditional politician. He governs like a negotiator who believes every geopolitical crisis is leverage, every war threat is a bargaining chip, and every market panic is an opportunity. When markets tremble, someone profits. The question is, who? Global markets react instantly to political tension. Gold rises when conflict looms. Oil spikes when instability threatens production. Stock markets collapse on fear, then rebound on reassurance. Volatility is not chaos, it is opportunity. Historically, gold has surged during major geopolitical crises,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 18 Feb 2026 17:11 LONDON
