US strikes Iranian targets after cargo ship attack in Strait of Hormuz
The United States has carried out strikes on Iranian targets after a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, sharply escalating tensions around the strategic waterway. US Central Command said it hit missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites in response to what it described as an Iranian attack on commercial shipping. The incident has raised fresh questions about the durability of the interim peace deal between Washington and Tehran.According to the confirmed reports, the cargo ship was struck by a one-way attack drone on Thursday, although no casualties were reported. The US military... [Continue Reading]
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Wall Street closes mixed as tech rout deepens, small caps and Dow resist the selloff
Executive summary: U.S. markets finished sharply mixed, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 under pressure as megacap tech, chips, crypto and several commodities sold off hard. The Dow Jones and Russell 2000 held up better, suggesting a rotation away from the most crowded growth trades and into more cyclical or value-sensitive areas. The move was broad enough to hit Nvidia, Apple, Meta, Amazon, Tesla and the SOXX chip ETF, while silver, ether, bitcoin and WTI crude also fell sharply. Natural gas was one of the few notable gainers. [Continue Reading]
Cargo ship hit in Strait of Hormuz as Trump blames Iran for ceasefire breach
United States President Donald Trump has accused Iran of carrying out a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire after a cargo vessel was struck in the Strait of Hormuz. The British military said a vessel was hit by a projectile off Oman, while Trump said one drone hit the upper deck of a large cargo ship and that three other drones were intercepted by US forces. The ship was identified in the report as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely, owned by Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine.The vessel had been stranded in the Gulf for more than 100 days after loading cargo in Iraq, according... [Continue Reading]
Europe closes mixed as FTSE 100 outperforms while commodities and crypto slide
Executive summary: European equities ended mixed, with the FTSE 100 rising +1.5% even as the DAX and Euro Stoxx 50 fell. The session was marked by a sharp drop in Brent crude, gold, silver and Ether, alongside firmer natural gas and a softer euro. The pattern points to a market still balancing growth concerns, rate expectations and commodity repricing. [Continue Reading]
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Iran offers discounted crude to India after US sanctions waiver, refiners weigh return
Iranian oil sellers are approaching Indian refiners with discounted crude after the United States temporarily eased sanctions on Tehran, according to industry sources cited in the supplied report. The outreach has reopened a narrow trade window for energy flows between Iran and India, but refiners are still weighing whether to buy. The discussions involve both the National Iranian Oil Company and intermediaries claiming to have been allocated oil by the Iranian state producer.Sources said NIOC is offering crude at $3 to $4 a barrel below comparable regional grades on a landed basis. Traders based in Singapore and Dubai are also... [Continue Reading]
Von der Leyen to visit Azerbaijan and Armenia as EU deepens South Caucasus ties
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to visit Azerbaijan and Armenia next week in a fresh push to deepen the European Union's engagement with the two South Caucasus neighbours. The trip is set to begin in Baku on 1 July, where she is expected to meet President Ilham Aliyev. The visit comes as Brussels seeks to strengthen cooperation on energy, infrastructure and regional stability after years of conflict between the two countries.According to sources in Yerevan and Baku with knowledge of the plans, talks in the Azerbaijani capital will focus on expanding energy supplies to Europe and... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street Opens Lower as Tech, Crypto and Commodities Sell Off, While Small Caps and Dow Hold Up
Executive summary: U.S. markets opened with a sharp split at 9:40 a.m. New York time, led by heavy losses in technology, crypto-linked assets and several commodities, while the Dow and Russell 2000 managed modest gains. The Nasdaq Composite fell 5.2%, the S&P 500 dropped 2.4%, and the Russell 2000 rose 0.9%, underscoring a rotation away from high-beta growth and into parts of the market tied more closely to domestic cyclicals and value. [Continue Reading]
Ukraine intensifies strikes on Russian logistics and communications in Crimea and near Moscow
Ukraine says it has stepped up attacks on Russian logistics and communications infrastructure in occupied Crimea and near Moscow, in a campaign it says is aimed at weakening supply lines and battlefield coordination. The latest reported strikes targeted oil supplies, power stations, weapons convoys and bridges, according to the supplied material. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia has concentrated air-defence systems around Moscow and the Kerch Bridge, leaving other areas less protected.The supplied material says Ukraine struck two Russian military satellite communications centres on June 22, including the Vladimir Space Communications Centre, which was said to have suffered critical damage... [Continue Reading]
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War on Iran drives profits for energy, defence and banking sectors
Defence contractors, energy companies and investment banks have seen profits rise as the war involving Iran continues to unsettle global markets. The conflict has disrupted trade flows, pushed up energy prices and created sharp swings in commodity and financial markets. A memorandum of understanding is in place for a 60-day ceasefire and further negotiations, but the economic effects are already visible across several sectors.The supplied material says the war began after strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, and that nearly four months later talks are under way in Switzerland. Those talks are focused on Iran's nuclear programme,... [Continue Reading]
Saudi Aramco resumes crude exports from Ras Tanura after nearly four months of disruption
Saudi Aramco has resumed crude loading at its Ras Tanura terminal on Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast after a disruption that lasted nearly four months. Shipping data showed two very large crude carriers loading at the port on Friday, with a third tanker waiting offshore. The restart marks a significant step in the return of oil flows through one of the world's most important export hubs.The terminal had been affected by the Gulf conflict that began in early March, when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz became difficult. Each of the tankers involved can carry up to 2 million barrels of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Breakfast News: Venezuela quake toll climbs as Gulf tensions, storms and markets jolt the day
Venezuela is reeling after two major earthquakes struck the north and west of the country, with the death toll rising from 188 to at least 235 and more than 1,500 people injured as rescuers searched for survivors in collapsed buildings. Damage estimates are already running into the billions of dollars, adding to the scale of the disaster. 🔗 🔗Officials said the quakes near Caracas left nearly 190 people dead and thousands homeless, with emergency crews still racing to pull people from the rubble. The reports point to a widening humanitarian crisis as reconstruction costs mount and the full extent of... [Continue Reading]
Europe opens mixed as FTSE 100 jumps, metals and oil slide, and crypto extends its selloff
Executive summary: European markets opened with a split tone, led by a strong FTSE 100 advance while the DAX was little changed and the Euro Stoxx 50 slipped. The biggest moves were in commodities and crypto, where gold, silver, platinum, palladium, Brent crude and Ether all fell sharply. Natural gas was the main notable riser. The price action points to a market still adjusting to lower oil, softer precious metals and a firmer dollar backdrop, even as some European equity benchmarks hold up. [Continue Reading]
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Tokyo and Asia-Pacific markets slide as Nikkei, Kospi and Hang Seng lead broad risk-off move
Executive summary: Asia-Pacific equities closed sharply lower in Tokyo trading, with the Nikkei 225, Kospi and Hang Seng all posting heavy losses. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium also fell, while WTI crude weakened and natural gas rose. The move points to a broad de-risking across equities and commodities, with the yen and yuan little changed against the dollar. [Continue Reading]
Twin earthquakes near Caracas kill nearly 190 as rescue effort continues
Venezuela is racing to rescue people trapped under rubble after two powerful earthquakes struck near Caracas, killing nearly 190 people and leaving thousands homeless. The first quake, measured at magnitude 7.2, hit about 160 kilometres west of the capital on Wednesday evening. Less than a minute later, a magnitude 7.5 tremor followed, deepening the damage across Caracas and nearby coastal areas.Officials said 188 people had been confirmed dead by Thursday afternoon, while 200 remained trapped and 1,520 had been hospitalised. Jorge Rodriguez, head of the national assembly and brother of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, gave the latest figures and said... [Continue Reading]
Tokyo Opens Lower as Metals, Crypto and Hong Kong Lead a Broad Risk-Off Move Across Asia-Pacific
Executive summary: Asia-Pacific markets opened under pressure, with Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and Hong Kong all lower in early trade. The sharpest moves were in silver, ether, gold, crude and Hong Kong equities, while the yen and yuan were slightly weaker against the dollar. The pattern points to a broad de-risking tone at the open, with commodities and higher-beta assets taking the heaviest hits. [Continue Reading]
US Supreme Court lets Trump end protected status for Haitians and Syrians
The United States Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians living legally in the country. The 6-3 ruling clears the way for the government to strip protections from about 350,000 people from Haiti and 6,100 from Syria, after lower courts had blocked the move. It is a significant development in a long-running dispute over immigration powers and the limits of judicial review.The court said migrants arriving at the border are not entitled to apply for asylum until they have set foot on US soil, handing the administration... [Continue Reading]
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Wall Street closes mixed as chip strength clashes with broad tech and crypto selling
Executive summary: US stocks finished mixed, with the Dow Jones higher while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell. The standout move was in semiconductors, where SOXX rose 4.247% even as Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Tesla and Bitcoin all sold off sharply. Gold, silver and crude also weakened, while the Russell 2000 outperformed, suggesting a rotation away from mega-cap growth and into smaller-cap shares. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Day Recap News: Venezuela quake toll climbs as Middle East tensions and Europe heat intensify
Venezuela has declared a state of emergency after twin earthquakes collapsed buildings in Caracas and other cities, with the death toll rising to at least 164 as rescue teams searched through rubble and international help began to arrive. France said it would send 85 search and rescue specialists, while other European governments also moved to assist. 🔗 🔗In the Middle East, violence continued in southern Lebanon despite Washington talks, after Israeli strikes killed three people and wounded one other in an attack on a car. At the same time, Israel said it would keep troops in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah... [Continue Reading]
Europe closes mixed as FTSE 100 outperforms while metals, oil and crypto sell off
Executive summary: European equities ended the session mixed, with the FTSE 100 rising +1.3% to a fresh close above 10,500, while the DAX slipped -0.1% and the Euro Stoxx 50 eased -0.5%. The broad tone was risk-off in commodities and digital assets, as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, Brent crude and Ether all fell sharply. Currency moves were modest, with the euro softer against the dollar and sterling little changed. [Continue Reading]
Trump, NATO and EU allies dispute support for Iran war as Rutte cites logistics role
US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised several European allies over what he described as insufficient support for the war on Iran, while NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said member states did provide practical help. The dispute centres on the use of European bases and logistics during the conflict, with Rutte saying allies made facilities available to the US military. The exchange has added a new transatlantic strain to an already sensitive debate over burden-sharing inside the alliance.Trump said he was disappointed with Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, and called Spain a "horror show", according to the supplied... [Continue Reading]
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IRGC warns ships to use Tehran-designated routes in Strait of Hormuz dispute
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned commercial vessels to use only routes through the Strait of Hormuz approved by Tehran, after Oman announced a new transit route through the strategic waterway. The warning has reopened a dispute over control of shipping lanes at a time when maritime traffic is only slowly resuming after weeks of disruption. It also adds fresh pressure to fragile talks between the United States and Iran over the future of the strait.According to the reported sequence of events, Oman said on Wednesday that it had coordinated the new route with the International Maritime Organization. The... [Continue Reading]
Wall Street Opens Mixed as Chips and Small Caps Outperform While Gold, Silver, Bitcoin and Oil Slide
Executive summary: US markets opened with a split tone, as the Dow Jones rose +1.3% and the Russell 2000 gained +3.0%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell -2.4% and the S&P 500 slipped -0.6%. The sharpest moves were in commodities and crypto, with silver, gold, WTI crude, Ether and Bitcoin all lower, while AI and chip stocks advanced. The pattern points to a rotation away from defensive and inflation-sensitive assets and toward smaller-cap and semiconductor exposure, though the exact catalyst is not confirmed by the price tape alone. [Continue Reading]
Oil prices fall further as Strait of Hormuz traffic resumes after US-Iran deal
Oil prices have fallen further as vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to recover after a US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June. Brent crude briefly dropped below $72.48 a barrel, returning to the level seen before the conflict began, before edging back up to $73.23. The move reflects a sharp easing in market fears over disruption to one of the world's most important energy shipping routes.The latest data cited by maritime intelligence firm Kpler suggests 284 vessels have crossed the strait since 18 June, the day after the deal was signed. That is still below the... [Continue Reading]
US-backed push to unify Libya's executive gains traction as Tripoli figure endorses plan
A United States-backed initiative to unify Libya's executive authorities is gaining momentum, with a prominent Tripoli figure publicly endorsing the proposal. The plan is aimed at ending the country's long-running institutional divide and has increased pressure on the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity. It also comes as regional diplomacy and intelligence activity around Libya continue to intensify.Abdul Hakim Belhaj, a former commander of the Tripoli Military Council and current head of the al-Watan Party, said on 21 June that he supported the initiative. He urged the Government of National Unity to make its position clear on the proposal. Belhaj described... [Continue Reading]
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Rubio warns Hormuz tolls could spread "like contagion" during Bahrain talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that any tolls on ships using the Strait of Hormuz could spread to other waterways and create what he described as global chaos. Speaking to a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Bahrain, he said international waterways do not belong to any nation state and argued that accepting charges on passage through a strategic strait would set a dangerous precedent. He said such a move would spread "throughout the world like a contagion".Rubio said the United States wants a peace deal with Iran, but not "at any price". He added that any agreement... [Continue Reading]
Iran warns ships over Strait of Hormuz crossings without authorisation
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned vessels against crossing the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation, saying ships that do not comply "will be dealt with". The warning centres on one of the world's most important energy shipping routes, where any disruption can quickly affect trade flows and market confidence. It also comes as a tanker was reported to have used a route close to Oman's shore while leaving the strait.The Guards said the only authorised route through the waterway is the one announced by Iran, and described any crossing without authorisation as "unacceptable and extremely dangerous". They also criticised what they... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Breakfast News: Venezuela quake toll rises as Iran tensions, UK heatwave and market swings dominate
Two powerful earthquakes have struck Venezuela near the coastal town of Moron, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 700. The quakes hit within minutes of each other and were felt in Caracas and other parts of the country, with authorities still assessing the scale of the damage.In the Middle East, tensions over Iran and the Strait of Hormuz remain high. Iran, the United States and Oman are at odds over who should control navigation through the vital shipping chokepoint, while the US Senate has withdrawn a war powers resolution aimed at limiting presidential force against Iran. The... [Continue Reading]
Europe opens mixed as metals, oil and gold slide, while FTSE 100 edges higher
Executive summary: European markets opened with a split tone, as the FTSE 100 rose while the DAX, CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 all slipped. The sharpest moves were in commodities, where silver, platinum, palladium, Brent crude and gold all fell hard, alongside weakness in ether and global autos. Currency moves were modest, with the euro and pound softer against the dollar, while natural gas was one of the few notable gainers. [Continue Reading]
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Tokyo Leads Asia Higher as Nikkei Breaks Out, While Commodities and Hong Kong Slide
Executive summary: Tokyo outperformed across Asia-Pacific, with the Nikkei 225 rising +1.6% and the Nikkei 225 ETF up +1.5%. The broader regional tone was weaker, however, as Hong Kong, Australia and South Korea all finished lower. The sharpest cross-asset move was in commodities, where silver, gold, platinum, palladium and WTI crude all fell hard, while the U.S. dollar firmed against the yen and yuan. [Continue Reading]
Tokyo Opens Lower as Risk-Off Sweep Hits Asia-Pacific Markets, Gold and Oil Extend Sharp Slides
Executive summary: Asia-Pacific markets opened under heavy pressure in Tokyo, with the Nikkei 225 and Nikkei ETF both down about 2.9% as a broad risk-off move hit equities, commodities and crypto. The biggest declines were in silver, gold, WTI crude, palladium and platinum, while the yen weakened further against the dollar. The move points to a fast repricing of global risk assets, with investors also digesting a stronger dollar and softer commodity complex. [Continue Reading]
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Wall Street closes mixed as tech and commodities slide, while small caps and chips hold up
Executive summary: Wall Street ended the session with a sharp split beneath the surface, as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell on broad pressure in mega-cap tech, commodities and crypto, while the Russell 2000 and chip stocks managed gains. The biggest declines came in silver, crude, gold, Ether and several large-cap growth names, a pattern that points to a risk-off tone and a possible unwind of crowded trades. Small caps and SOXX outperformed, suggesting investors were still willing to rotate selectively rather than exit risk entirely. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Day Recap News: US and Iran clash over Hormuz terms as Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine tensions persist
Talks between the United States and Iran intensified over the Strait of Hormuz, inspections and the shape of any final deal. Marco Rubio said Iran would not be allowed to charge tolls or fees on vessels using the waterway, while Iranian and US officials remained divided over the framework and Donald Trump threatened to halt negotiations. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said inspections at Iranian nuclear sites would resume under the preliminary agreement, even as the dispute over access and enforcement continued.The diplomatic push was accompanied by wider regional manoeuvring. Rubio was touring Gulf allies to... [Continue Reading]
US-Iran talks intensify as Rubio rejects Hormuz tolls and Senate backs war powers measure
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran will not be allowed to charge tolls or fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz under any final agreement with Washington. His comments sharpen one of the main disputes in the negotiations, which are taking place alongside a 60-day diplomatic process launched after a preliminary agreement in Switzerland. Iran has meanwhile said planned transit fees through the waterway will be suspended for 60 days while talks continue.The latest developments come as the US Senate passed a war powers measure pressing President Donald Trump either to halt the war in Iran... [Continue Reading]
Europe closes lower as metals, oil and crypto slide, while dollar strength weighs on FX and equities
Executive summary: European markets ended lower, with the Euro Stoxx 50, DAX, CAC 40 and FTSE 100 all in the red. The sharpest moves came in commodities and crypto, where silver, gold, platinum, palladium, Brent crude and Ether all fell hard. The dollar also strengthened against the euro and pound, adding pressure to risk assets and exporters. [Continue Reading]
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Wall Street Opens Lower as Tech, Energy and Commodities Sell Off, While Small Caps and Chips Buck the Slide
Executive summary: U.S. markets opened under pressure, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow all lower, while the Russell 2000 and SOXX managed gains. The sharpest moves were outside equities, where silver, gold, crude oil, platinum, palladium and bitcoin all fell hard, pointing to a broad risk-off tone and a possible unwind in crowded commodity and alternative-asset trades. [Continue Reading]
Iran's president visits Pakistan as US-Iran thaw advances through mediation
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in Islamabad for a state visit that comes as the emerging US-Iran understanding moves through a mediated channel involving Pakistan. The visit follows the latest round of diplomacy in Switzerland and underlines Pakistan's role in helping bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiation table. It is also Pezeshkian's first foreign trip since Iran was attacked by the United States and Israel in February.According to the supplied material, Pezeshkian thanked Islamabad for its help in opening the talks and is expected to discuss the process with senior Pakistani leaders during the visit. The material says... [Continue Reading]
Ukraine drone attacks prompt Moscow refinery air-defence relocation
A reported Ukrainian drone strike has damaged Moscow's oil refinery, prompting Russia to move a Pantsir air-defence system closer to the site. The incident is described as part of a wider wave of attacks on the Russian capital. According to the supplied material, Moscow was left covered in smoke and oil rain after the strike.The report says the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and gun system was moved a few hundred metres from the refinery. It also says the system was placed behind a metal cage, a feature commonly seen on equipment deployed near front lines. The same material describes the refinery... [Continue Reading]
Strait of Hormuz tanker backlog grows as barnacles slow post-ceasefire reopening
The Strait of Hormuz is facing a new shipping problem after the ceasefire that ended the Iran-Israel-US war was expected to restore traffic quickly. Instead, hundreds of tankers remain anchored in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, leaving one of the world's most important oil chokepoints only partly reopened. The immediate obstacle is no longer only security, but also marine growth on ships that have been idle for months.According to Saudi Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser, more than 600 tankers were stuck inside the Persian Gulf as of mid-May 2026, with another 240 waiting outside the strait. The... [Continue Reading]
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Europe Opens Lower as Commodities, Autos and Metals Lead a Broad Risk-Off Move
Executive summary: European markets opened under pressure, with the FTSE 100, DAX, CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 all lower, while commodities and cyclical assets also weakened. Brent crude, gold, silver, platinum and palladium fell sharply, alongside global autos and ether, pointing to a broad de-risking tone at the open. FX moves showed a softer euro and pound against the dollar, while the yen and yuan were weaker versus the dollar, adding to the sense of a stronger USD backdrop. [Continue Reading]
Tokyo and Asia-Pacific markets slide as Nikkei, Hang Seng and Kospi lead broad risk-off move
Executive summary: Tokyo and Asia-Pacific equities closed sharply lower, with the Nikkei 225, Hang Seng and Kospi all falling more than 2% and the ASX 200 also under pressure. The move came alongside weaker commodities, including oil, gold and silver, while the yen and yuan both weakened against the dollar. The pattern points to a broad risk-off session across the region, with tech, autos and resource-linked assets all caught in the downdraft. [Continue Reading]
Von der Leyen to visit Armenia next week after pro-EU political shift
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to travel to Armenia next week for talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a move aimed at deepening EU-Armenia relations after his recent re-election. The visit comes as Yerevan has signalled a more cautious but clearer pro-EU orientation, while still managing its long-standing ties with Russia. According to sources in Yerevan, the trip is intended to build on the political opening created by the June election result.The planned visit follows a series of recent EU statements and support measures for Armenia. The European Commission endorsed Pashinyan shortly before the 7... [Continue Reading]
US Supreme Court lets ExxonMobil pursue Cuba expropriation claim
The US Supreme Court has ruled that ExxonMobil can continue its case against Cuban state entities over assets expropriated after the Cuban Revolution. The decision revives a long-running dispute that had been stalled for years and sends it back to lower courts for further proceedings. It concerns property once controlled by Standard Oil, ExxonMobil's predecessor, including refineries, terminals and more than 100 petrol stations in Cuba.The court's ruling was approved by 6-3, with the six conservative justices in the majority and the three liberal justices dissenting. The judges said Cuba does not have sovereign immunity in this case under the... [Continue Reading]
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Iran rejects US claim that nuclear inspectors will return amid 60-day talks roadmap
Iran has rejected a US claim that nuclear inspectors will soon be allowed back into the country, deepening a dispute over what was agreed in the first round of talks between the two sides in Switzerland. Tehran said it had made no new commitments on inspections, after Vice-President JD Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency could happen as soon as Monday. The disagreement centres on access to nuclear sites damaged in last year's war with the United States and Israel.Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said there was no plan to allow inspectors to visit the bombed... [Continue Reading]
Iran says only a limited number of ships may pass daily through the Strait of Hormuz
Iran has said that only a limited number of vessels will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day, adding a new restriction to the reopening of one of the world's most important energy chokepoints. The statement was reported on Tuesday by Iran's state news agency, citing a military official. It said the daily number would vary depending on conditions in the region.No figure was given for how many ships would be permitted to transit. The announcement comes after a peace agreement signed between the United States and Iran last week, which reopened the strait but did... [Continue Reading]
Strait of Hormuz traffic surges to highest level since war began
At least 35 cargo ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, marking the busiest day in the waterway since the Middle East war began in late February. The figure was reported by the data platform Kpler and comes a week after an announcement of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States. The rebound is notable because the strait is a strategic passage for global trade in hydrocarbons and other goods.The reported traffic level was still well below peacetime volumes, when about 120 ships passed through the strait each day. During the war, from 1 March to... [Continue Reading]
Iran says technical talks with US in Switzerland conclude successfully
Iran says technical talks with the United States and mediators in Switzerland have concluded successfully, opening the way for the next phase of negotiations linked to ending the more than 100-day war. The discussions were described by Iranian officials as focused on how a framework agreement would be carried out in practice. The talks were held after a high-level committee meeting on Sunday to monitor implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who led Iran's technical team, said the four-party talks ended with agreement on arrangements for future negotiations, including working groups and implementation mechanisms. He... [Continue Reading]
US eases Iran oil sanctions for 60 days after nuclear inspection deal
The United States has temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil for 60 days after Iran agreed to allow international nuclear inspectors back into the country. The latest development was reported as talks continued in Switzerland, where the two sides were also said to have reached agreement on the release of $12bn in frozen Iranian funds. The move comes amid negotiations linked to the wider conflict, which the supplied material says is now on day 116.Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said an agreement had been reached with the United States on the frozen funds after the Swiss talks. The reported... [Continue Reading]
Labour MPs mull leadership challenge to prevent Burnham coronation
At least two senior Labour MPs are considering leadership bids as the party prepares to choose a successor to Keir Starmer, in an effort to prevent Andy Burnham becoming prime minister without a full contest. Former defence minister Al Carns has said he is weighing whether to run, while Darren Jones, Sir Keir Starmer's chief secretary, has not ruled out a challenge, according to the supplied material. Labour MPs are increasingly discussing the possibility that Burnham could take office as early as 17 July, the day after nominations close.The timetable set out in the rows gives potential candidates from 9... [Continue Reading]
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Peter Murrell to be sentenced in Edinburgh over SNP embezzlement
Former Scottish National Party chief executive Peter Murrell is due to be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after admitting that he embezzled more than £400,000 from the party. The 61-year-old, who was once one of the most powerful figures in Scottish politics, pleaded guilty last month and has been remanded in custody since then. The case centres on money taken from the party over a 12-year period and used for personal purchases.At a hearing on 25 May, Murrell admitted embezzling £400,310.65 from the party between 2010 and 2022. The court was told the funds were used to buy... [Continue Reading]
Canada inflation jumps to 29-month high as oil prices rise
Canada's annual inflation rate rose to 3.2% in May, reaching a 29-month high and moving outside the Bank of Canada's 1% to 3% target range for the first time in nearly two and a half years. The increase was driven in large part by petrol prices, which climbed 33.2% year on year, according to Statistics Canada. The data were released on Monday and point to a sharp rise in living costs at a time when energy markets have been unsettled by tensions involving Iran.The monthly inflation rate also increased by 1% in May, the strongest monthly gain in 15 months.... [Continue Reading]
Sev.en Global Investments sues CS Energy over Callide power station failures
A joint venture partner in Queensland's Callide power station has launched a Federal Court lawsuit against the state-owned operator, CS Energy, seeking more than $1 billion. Czech-based Sev.en Global Investments says repeated failures at the plant have caused major losses in generation capacity over the past five years. The legal action was filed on Friday in Australia and centres on three separate incidents at the power station.Sev.en Global Investments said the failures led to the loss of more than 1,700 days of generation capacity. It said it is seeking to recover losses linked to those outages and the cost of... [Continue Reading]
US and Iran talks in Switzerland move forward after brief walkout
The United States and Iran have made further progress in high-level talks in Switzerland, after a tense start that included a brief walkout by Iranian negotiators. According to the latest confirmed details, the two sides reached several key understandings during their first high-level session in the country. Those understandings include a 60-day timeline to finalise a deal, the creation of a High Level Committee to oversee the negotiations, and communication mechanisms for the Strait of Hormuz.The talks were described as continuing after the initial disruption, with a US official saying discussions were expected to run into the early hours of... [Continue Reading]
Russia strikes Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv as Zelenskyy warns of a possible massive attack
Russian glide bombs and aerial strikes hit the Ukrainian cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv on Saturday, killing at least six people and injuring more than 20, according to local officials. The attacks added to a day of renewed violence across Ukraine as warnings grew that Russia could be preparing a larger assault. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that people should pay close attention to air raid alerts.In Zaporizhzhia, Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said Russian forces used glide bombs in an attack that killed five people and injured 11 others. He said the strikes destroyed and damaged... [Continue Reading]
Three India-flagged oil tankers transit Strait of Hormuz safely
Three India-flagged crude oil tankers have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are now en route to India, according to well-placed sources in the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways. The vessels are the Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor and Sanmar Herald. Together, they are carrying more than 8.6 lakh metric tons of cargo and have 94 Indian crew members on board.The ministry sources said the Desh Vaibhav is expected to arrive in Vadinar on June 24 with 37 Indian seafarers and 2,86,572 metric tons of crude oil. The Desh Vibhor, carrying 2,88,893 metric tons and 27 Indian crew members,... [Continue Reading]
Oil prices ease after Middle East peace deal as Strait of Hormuz disruption lingers
Oil prices have fallen after a shaky peace deal was announced in the Middle East, easing some of the immediate pressure on consumers and markets. The move comes after months of disruption linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. Shipping is expected to resume only gradually, and the effects of the disruption are still being felt across fuel and utility costs.At the start of this year, oil was priced at about $60 per barrel, before the outbreak of war pushed it to $118 on 31 March. Since mid-May, repeated... [Continue Reading]
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]
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]
The Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiqués, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [Continue Reading]
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]
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
When Deterrence Becomes Reality
Yesterday the war crossed a line! For years the Sejjil ballistic missile existed mostly as a symbol. A weapon paraded in military videos, discussed in defense briefings, whispered about in strategic circles as one of Iran’s most serious capabilities. A weapon that analysts described as deterrence, not something meant to be used. But on March 15, 2026, that line disappeared. Iran reportedly launched the Sejjil (also known as Ashoura) as part of what Tehran called the 54th wave of Operation True Promise 4, a massive strike package that also included the Fattah hypersonic missile and the Qadr ballistic missile system.... [Continue Reading]
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]
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]
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]
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]




