Noontime News Recap: Evergrande founder jailed as Hormuz flows jump and regional tensions deepen
A Chinese court has sentenced Evergrande founder Xu Jiayin to life in prison and imposed a larger financial penalty on the property giant, in one of the most significant rulings yet in the country’s debt and fraud crackdown. 🔗Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz rose sharply during a 60 day memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, but the deal expired without a peace agreement, leaving the strategic waterway under renewed scrutiny. 🔗In the occupied West Bank, Human Rights Watch says settler attacks and rapid settlement expansion are driving forced displacement of Palestinians, adding to pressure on... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 20 Aug 2026 12:21 LONDON
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China Blames U.S. 'Hostile Policy' for Korean Peninsula Tensions After Wang Yi Visit to Seoul
China has blamed the United States for rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula after Foreign Minister Wang Yi met South Korea's national security adviser in Seoul on Thursday. During the meeting, Wang urged South Korea not to take sides between Beijing and Washington and called for what he described as peaceful coexistence with North Korea. The comments came as Seoul also disclosed a higher estimate of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, adding to concern about the security situation in the region.Wang said the fundamental solution to tensions lay in addressing what he called the root causes of the problem and pressing... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 11:00 LONDON
Breakfast News Recap: Kyiv hit by deadly strikes as Gaza probes, Iran pressure and market jitters dominate
Russian missile strikes hit Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight, killing at least nine people as rescue crews continued searching through the rubble and officials warned the toll could rise further. 🔗In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also dismissed senior aide Iryna Mudra amid a fresh corruption investigation, adding to the political strain in Kyiv as the war grinds on. 🔗In the Middle East, the Israel Defense Forces released findings from five internal probes into deadly incidents in Gaza, and said two cases would be referred to military police for investigation. 🔗 Israeli forces also opened criminal probes into the killings... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Recap | 20 Aug 2026 08:40 LONDON
Europe opens mixed as gold and energy surge, CAC, DAX and Euro Stoxx 50 slip on risk-off tone
Executive summary: European markets opened under pressure, with the CAC 40, DAX and Euro Stoxx 50 lower while the FTSE 100 was only slightly down. The biggest moves were in commodities and FX, where gold pushed to fresh highs, Brent crude and natural gas advanced, and the euro and pound firmed against the dollar. Ether also posted a sharp jump. The pattern points to a market that is pricing in tighter supply, softer dollar conditions and a cautious equity backdrop. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 20 Aug 2026 08:15 LONDON
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North Korea says Trump's scale-back of joint military exercises with South Korea 'changes nothing'
North Korea has said that Donald Trump's decision to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea "changes nothing," in a fresh reaction to the long-running dispute over drills on the Korean Peninsula. The statement was reported on 20 August 2026 and follows an earlier response from Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who said she had "no interest" in the move. The latest comment suggests Pyongyang is continuing to downplay any diplomatic significance in the adjustment.The supplied material does not give details on the size of the reduction, the timing of the exercises, or whether... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 05:59 LONDON
US national debt tops $40 trillion as borrowing costs stay elevated
US gross national debt has passed $40 trillion for the first time, according to Treasury Department data, marking a new milestone in the country's long-running fiscal expansion. The total stood at $40.05 trillion at the close of business on Tuesday, the figures showed. The move comes as borrowing costs remain elevated and investors continue to watch the scale of federal deficits.The Treasury data put the increase ahead of an earlier Congressional Budget Office forecast that overall borrowing would reach $39.4 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2026. The row links the rise to higher borrowing, interest costs and tariff-related... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 05:29 LONDON
Trump orders South Korea-US drills cut to five days amid Iran dispute
US and South Korean forces have agreed to cut their annual joint military exercise from 11 days to five after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce the drills. The change came as the exercise was already under way, and it has intensified concern in Seoul about the reliability of US security guarantees. South Korean officials were caught off guard by the announcement, which Trump made on social media just hours before the drills were due to begin.Trump said the exercises sent an "inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea and linked his decision to what he described... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 03:32 LONDON
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
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Israel faces rising emigration as experts warn of a future 'tsunami'
Nearly 270,000 Israelis have left the country over the past three years, according to a study cited in the supplied material, as concerns grow over political uncertainty and security. The trend is being described by some analysts and lawmakers as a significant shift in a country that has long relied on immigration and population growth. The latest reporting says the outflow is increasingly affecting people who are better educated and more affluent.The study, published earlier this month by the Israeli tax authority and drawing on Central Bureau of Statistics data, found that emigration was higher in 2023 and 2024 than... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 02:02 LONDON
Pentagon questions NATO allies on support for US policy in alliance review
The Pentagon has circulated a questionnaire to NATO allies asking whether they are publicly supportive of US foreign policy priorities and aligned with the Trump administration's approach to the transatlantic alliance. The three-page document, titled "Questions for NATO Allies & Other Key Stakeholders," was obtained from an official who received it. It also asks about restrictions on US access to bases and military flights over allied territory.The questions appear to be part of an ongoing six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe. According to the document, officials are seeking to assess whether allies have endorsed the administration's "NATO 3.0"... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Aug 2026 01:33 LONDON
Tokyo Opens Lower as Nikkei Slides Nearly 5%, Gold and Ether Surge on Yield Relief
Executive summary: Tokyo and broader Asia-Pacific markets opened under pressure, with the Nikkei 225 and Nikkei 225 ETF both down sharply, while gold, silver, platinum and Ether extended strong gains. The move points to a risk-off equity tone in Japan and parts of Asia, alongside a powerful bid for precious metals and crypto that appears linked to lower bond yields and shifting Treasury policy expectations. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 20 Aug 2026 01:15 LONDON
Russians pull billions from banks for a second day amid fears over savings
Russian citizens are continuing to withdraw cash from banks amid fears that savings could be frozen or restricted, according to central bank data cited in the supplied material. The latest figures point to a sustained confidence shock in the banking system rather than a one-day reaction. The pressure is centred on Russia and is being linked to rumours circulating online about possible limits on deposits or withdrawals.During the first two weeks of August, cash in circulation rose by 286.4 billion roubles, or about £2.5 billion. The highest daily outflow cited was 56.8 billion roubles on 12 August, while the previous... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 22:32 LONDON
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AfD could win outright in Saxony-Anhalt vote, raising fears over Germany's postwar political consensus
Saxony-Anhalt is heading towards a state election on 6 September that could become one of the most consequential in Germany's postwar history. The far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is polling strongly enough that it could win an outright majority and govern the state alone for the first time. Such an outcome would break a decades-long political consensus that has kept the far right out of power in Germany.The party's local branch is officially classified by the domestic intelligence service as a confirmed right-wing extremist organisation. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD is polling at up to 42%, according to the reporting... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 16:05 LONDON
Trump says Canada tariff pause is linked to a deal and possible Keystone XL revival
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "The most gratifying loss last night was that of a real treasonous creep, Alexander Vindman, to a Radical Left Lunatic, who can't speak or think properly, and who will go down to certain defeat at the hands of Ashley Moody, a truly Fantastic Senator, from the Great State Florida. Vindman, if you remember, was the one who lied about my "Perfect Call" with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, only to find out that the conversation was routinely recorded and proved that I was 100% in the right... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 16:00 LONDON
UK inflation rises to four-month high as energy bills climb
UK inflation rose to 2.9% in the 12 months to July, reaching its highest level for four months as higher household energy costs pushed prices up. The latest figures show gas prices rising at the fastest pace in almost four years, according to the Office for National Statistics. The increase comes after Ofgem raised the household gas and electricity price cap on 1 July, lifting typical annual bills by £221.The energy regulator's 13% cap increase was the main immediate driver of the move, with the ONS saying higher energy bills fed directly into the monthly reading. The figures also showed... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 10:34 LONDON
US Navy destroyer USS Benfold loses power in the Pacific for four days
A US Navy destroyer carrying about 300 sailors was left without power for four days after a major engineering failure in the Pacific Ocean. The USS Benfold suffered what the Navy described as an engineering casualty involving its generators, which cut off basic shipboard services. The incident left the crew without drinking water, meals, functioning toilets and air conditioning.Navy spokesman Commander Matthew Comer said the loss of power began on 24 July. He said there were no injuries among the crew and praised sailors for their response to the breakdown. According to his statement, the ship later received assistance from... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Aug 2026 05:08 LONDON
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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
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
Tokyo Opens Lower as Nikkei Slips, Kospi Surges on a Risk-On Commodity and FX Mix
Executive summary: Asia-Pacific trading opened with a sharp split: South Korea’s Kospi surged +8.3% while Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell -1.2% and Australia’s ASX 200 dropped -1.5%. WTI crude climbed +3.9%, gold edged higher, and the yen weakened slightly against the dollar, a mix that points to a market still balancing geopolitical energy risk, rate pressure, and sector rotation. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 19 Aug 2026 01:15 LONDON
US judge allows Ethiopia TPS termination to proceed
A US federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can move ahead with ending Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopians, removing the final judicial block to the policy change. The decision affects more than 5,000 people who had been shielded from deportation under the programme. It marks a significant step in the administration's wider effort to end TPS protections for multiple nationalities.US District Judge Brian Murphy gave the government permission on Tuesday to terminate Ethiopia's TPS designation. According to the ruling, the legal protection allows foreign nationals in the United States to remain in the country and apply for work... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 21:00 LONDON
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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
Russia alleges Western false-flag plot over arms claim tied to Latin American cartels
Russia has accused an unnamed Western intelligence agency of preparing what it calls a false allegation that the Kremlin sells weapons to drug cartels in Latin America. The claim was made on Tuesday by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, known as the SVR, which said the supposed accusation was intended to encourage anti-Russian policies across the region. Russia did not identify the agency or the country behind it.According to the SVR, the alleged plan would be designed to damage what Moscow described as constructive relations with countries in Latin America. The agency said the aim would be to push regional... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 13:00 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
Europe opens lower as oil spikes, gold firms and defensive flows dominate early trade
Executive summary: European equities opened under pressure, with the FTSE 100 down -1.1%, the CAC 40 off -1.1% and the DAX slightly lower. The sharpest move in the early cross-asset picture is Brent crude, which jumped nearly +4.9%, while gold rose more than +2.1%. The combination points to a market leaning toward inflation hedges and away from cyclical risk at the European open. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 18 Aug 2026 08:15 LONDON
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Iran threatens fresh offensive as US ceasefire talks stall
A senior Iranian official has said Tehran will shift to a fully offensive military posture as efforts to secure a permanent end to the war with the United States stall. The warning comes amid renewed tension over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that remains central to the wider dispute. Washington has ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement, leaving the diplomatic track under fresh strain.The official said Iranian entities should be prepared to escalate tensions in the strait and the wider region, and added that Tehran would carry out a timely and precise military attack if diplomacy failed.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Aug 2026 01:00 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
Likud holds primaries ahead of Israel's general election
Israel's governing Likud Party is holding primaries to choose its candidate list for the country's upcoming general election. The vote is taking place on Monday and is being described as one of the most heated and unruly events in Israeli politics. It comes as the party prepares for a legislative contest that is expected to be highly consequential for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for Likud itself.The primaries will determine the order of candidates on Likud's list for the 120-member Knesset, Israel's parliament. Under the country's proportional representation system, parties submit ranked lists and seats are allocated according to their... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 18:30 LONDON
Ben-Gvir defends killing 30 to 40 people a night in Gaza amid election campaign
Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has defended killing 30 to 40 people a night in Gaza, according to remarks reported from an interview published on Sunday. The comments were made in a conversation with Rom Braslavski, a former Israeli captive held by Hamas, and were later circulated by Palestinian outlets. Ben-Gvir was criticising what he described as a reduction in Israeli attacks on the territory when he made the statement.The minister is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition and is one of the most prominent figures on Israel's far right. He does not command the armed forces and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 17 Aug 2026 17:29 LONDON
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Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim discusses middle-power strategy amid superpower rivalry
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has spoken about Malaysia's position between major powers in a discussion focused on justice, trade and sovereignty. The conversation examined how middle powers are responding as the rules-based international order comes under strain. It also raised the question of whether smaller states can still hold superpowers to account when those powers ignore the rules they helped shape.The remarks were made in an interview format featuring Anwar Ibrahim and journalist Sreenivasan Jain. The discussion centred on the pressures facing countries that do not have the military or economic weight of the largest powers, but still want... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 23:03 LONDON
Lula and Bolsonaro camp launch Brazil presidential race with rallies in Sao Paulo and Rio
Brazil's two main presidential camps have opened their campaigns with large rallies in their political strongholds, setting up what is expected to be a closely fought October election. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed more than 10,000 supporters at Vila Euclides Stadium outside Sao Paulo, while Senator Flavio Bolsonaro gathered thousands on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The launches underline how the contest is already being framed around foreign interference, trade pressure and control over Brazil's natural resources.Lula, who is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term, spoke in a city where he first rose to prominence 47 years ago... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 22:33 LONDON
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War and blockade deepen Iran's economic strain as prices rise and wages lag
Months of war with the United States and a naval blockade of Iranian ports are intensifying economic pressure across Iran, according to a report published on 16 August. In Tehran, residents described a labour market with few attractive openings, low pay and worsening living costs. The report said the strain is being felt most sharply by workers trying to cover basic expenses while searching for better-paid jobs.One Tehran resident, Saeed, said he was looking for work beyond his current elementary school teaching job because the available postings offered poor conditions and little security. He said many employers were offering monthly... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 13:38 LONDON
Israel orders plan to transfer West Bank civilian law enforcement to police amid annexation warnings
Israel's defence minister has ordered the military to prepare a plan to transfer civilian law enforcement in the occupied West Bank to the Israeli police. The move was announced on Friday and is being presented by officials as a change in how civilian matters are handled in the territory. It comes after criticism of the army's response to Israeli settlers who besieged a Palestinian home in the village of Qusra.Defence Minister Israel Katz said the army's role is to combat Palestinian terrorism and not to pursue what he described as "hilltop youth". The Defence Ministry said the police would establish... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 13:30 LONDON
Taliban marks five years in power in Kabul with rally and calls for recognition
Thousands of Taliban supporters gathered in central Kabul on Saturday as the group marked five years since its return to power. The event took place outside a compound housing key ministries, where convoys of cars and pick-up trucks carrying Taliban banners moved through the streets before the main gathering. Heavily armed fighters were stationed around the area while senior officials addressed the crowd.Officials used the anniversary to praise what they described as the "victory of the Islamic Emirate" and to argue that the Taliban had restored security and national sovereignty. They pointed to the absence of large-scale fighting since foreign... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 10:01 LONDON
Ireland faces pressure over planned fuel excise restoration as pump prices stay high
Ireland's government is under renewed pressure over its plan to begin restoring excise duty on petrol and diesel on 1 September. The move comes after months of temporary cuts introduced to cushion motorists, hauliers and farmers from higher fuel costs. But continuing instability in the Middle East and a long, hot summer that has reduced crop yields have kept pressure on prices and added to political concern.According to the supplied material, the government first approved a temporary excise cut in March. After nationwide fuel protests in April, ministers agreed to deeper reductions and initially set the end of July as... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 16 Aug 2026 08:32 LONDON
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New South Wales gun buyback to begin on November 2 after Bondi Beach attack
New South Wales will begin a gun buyback scheme on 2 November, becoming the first Australian state to offer cash for eligible firearms in response to the Bondi Beach attack. The programme will cover handguns, shotguns and rifles in its first phase, with payments of up to A$1,000 for some weapons. A second phase is due to start early next year and will cover higher-value firearms.The scheme is being jointly funded by New South Wales and the federal government. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the aim was to have guns handed in, compensated for and safely destroyed. Prime Minister Anthony... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 23:01 LONDON
Canadian petition to expel US ambassador Pete Hoekstra passes 171,000 signatures
A petition before Canada's House of Commons calling for the expulsion of United States Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has passed 171,000 signatures and is set to be discussed by Parliament. The petition asks Canadian lawmakers to declare Hoekstra persona non grata and seek his removal as ambassador to Canada. It comes amid renewed friction between Ottawa and Washington over tariff policy and public remarks by the envoy.The signature total is far above the 500 needed for a petition to be considered by the House of Commons. The petition was authorised by Green Party leader Elizabeth May after being put forward by... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 22:00 LONDON
Syrian intervention in Lebanon would be too costly for Damascus, analysis says
The Syrian government is unlikely to send forces into Lebanon to act against Hezbollah, according to an analysis published on 15 August. The assessment says the idea has been repeatedly raised in recent weeks by United States President Donald Trump, but argues that Damascus has stronger reasons to reject military involvement than to pursue it. It says any cross-border move could strengthen Hezbollah politically, destabilise both countries and expose Syria to retaliation linked to Iran.The analysis says Washington has not set out a clear and comprehensive vision of what it expects from Damascus. It describes a limited version of Syrian... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 09:04 LONDON
UK hits back after Netanyahu labels it the 'Islamic republic of Britain'
The British government has rejected comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing the UK as the "Islamic republic of Britain." A government spokesperson said the remarks were "completely unacceptable" and confirmed that the issue had been raised with the Israeli government. The exchange has added to already strained relations between London and Jerusalem. Netanyahu made the comments during an interview on an army radio podcast, where he also joked that Britain was the "first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons." He linked the remark to a discussion about media coverage of Israel and praised Randolph Churchill, the son of former... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 08:02 LONDON
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Netanyahu makes inflammatory nuclear remark about the UK in podcast interview
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn criticism after describing the United Kingdom as the "first Islamic republic to obtain a nuclear weapon" during a podcast interview. The remark was made in a conversation on an army radio podcast, according to the supplied report, and was presented with a smile. It has added a new flashpoint to already strained political relations involving Israel, Britain and Iran.In the interview, Netanyahu also referred to the UK as the "Islamic Republic of Great Britain" and linked his comment to a line he said someone had once used about nuclear weapons. He said: "We... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 07:30 LONDON
Countries deepen contacts with Taliban as Afghanistan isolation eases
The Taliban in Afghanistan are stepping up efforts to end their international isolation as several regional and international actors expand contacts with the group. The renewed engagement comes despite continuing concerns over human rights, including restrictions on women's education and employment, and pressure on journalists, activists and minorities. The development reflects a broader shift in how some governments are dealing with the authorities in Kabul, nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.According to the supplied report, India, Qatar, China, Iran and several Central Asian states have recently welcomed Taliban officials or opened new channels of communication.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 06:32 LONDON
Taiwan passes delayed $93bn defence budget, retains drone funding
Taiwan's parliament has approved the government's annual budget after a record 266-day delay, preserving funding for a drone programme that is central to the island's defence planning. The vote came late on Friday in the opposition-controlled legislature, ending a deadlock that had forced the administration to rely on a provisional budget mechanism. The approved package totals $93bn and was passed after lawmakers missed the legal deadline.The drone funding survived after the main opposition Kuomintang dropped an earlier proposal to cut it by 70 percent. The party said it had concluded there was no wasteful overlap between the development and procurement... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 15 Aug 2026 06:03 LONDON
White House says tariff evasion via transshipment is costing $19bn-$26bn a year
The White House has accused more than 40 countries of helping China route goods through third countries to avoid US tariffs, in a report released on Thursday. It said the alleged network has allowed Chinese products to enter the United States under false labels, with the administration describing the practice as a major enforcement problem. The report said the issue is costing the US government tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue.The Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy said the countries named include the European Union, Mexico, Canada, India, Japan and South Korea, as well as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 10:34 LONDON
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Trump orders Navy to revert Ford-class carriers to older steam catapult system
US President Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to remove the electromagnetic system used to launch fighter jets from its newest aircraft carriers and return to older steam catapults. The directive, issued on Thursday, instructs the Pentagon and the Navy to present plans within two months for removing the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, known as EMALS, and replacing Ford-class electromagnetic weapons elevators. The memo says the fourth Ford-class carrier, the USS Doris Miller, would be the first ship affected.The order would not apply to the earlier Ford-class ships already in service or under construction, including the USS Gerald R.... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 06:33 LONDON
Israel reportedly warned the US multiple times over alleged Iranian plot against Trump
Israel repeatedly warned the United States over the past year about an alleged Iranian plan to assassinate Donald Trump, according to people briefed on the matter. The reported warnings included possible scenarios involving a sniper or a knife attack at a public event. The alerts were said to begin in June 2025 and to have intensified before the US decision to enter war against Iran in February.The most detailed warning reportedly came before a NATO summit in Ankara in July. According to the supplied material, US officials and the Secret Service took precautionary steps despite the lack of independent verification... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 06:30 LONDON
Trump imposes tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones
President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and drone components, in a move the White House says is intended to reduce US dependence on foreign suppliers. The measures cover imports from a range of countries, including some of Washington's closest allies, and are set to take effect in 21 days. The announcement marks a new escalation in the administration's use of trade policy for national-security aims.According to the proclamation signed by Trump, a 100% ad valorem tariff will apply to drones of a certain size or with certain capabilities that the White House described... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 14 Aug 2026 01:35 LONDON
Zambia election shaped by economy and critical minerals wealth
Zambia's election is being framed by voters' concerns over the economy, poverty and the country's mineral wealth. President Hakainde Hichilema is presenting the vote as a test of the economic recovery he says has taken place under his leadership. The contest is also drawing international attention because Zambia is rich in critical minerals, even as many citizens say they have yet to see the benefits.The report says the World Bank estimates that 70 percent of the population lives on less than three dollars a day. That figure underlines the scale of the economic challenge facing the country and helps explain... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 23:00 LONDON
Papua LNG project faces renewed push for approval in Papua New Guinea
Global oil and gas companies are pressing to advance the long-delayed Papua LNG project in Papua New Guinea's Gulf Province, with one government minister saying it could be approved by the end of the year. The project would tap the Elk-Antelope gas field and build a 320-kilometre pipeline to move gas to a liquefaction facility. If completed, it is expected to produce more than 5 million tons of LNG a year.The renewed momentum comes after years of delays linked to political upheaval, cost blowouts, design changes, investor uncertainty and disputes with landowners. The field, discovered in 2006, is described as... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 20:32 LONDON
Lebanese Americans file US lawsuit over war damage in Lebanon
Dozens of Lebanese Americans have filed a class action civil lawsuit in a US federal court in Michigan, accusing the US government and several defence contractors of helping enable Israel's conduct in Lebanon. The case was filed on Tuesday in the US District Court in Michigan and names Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Caterpillar as defendants. The plaintiffs say their property in Lebanon was damaged during the war and argue that US military support should have been halted under the Leahy Law.The lawsuit was brought by the Michigan-based Arab American Civil Rights League and 16 individual... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 15:37 LONDON
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France and Iran trade accusations after international statement on executions
France and Iran have entered a public diplomatic row after Paris helped lead a multinational statement condemning executions in Iran. The exchange unfolded after the joint declaration was published on Wednesday and quickly moved onto social media, where senior officials from both countries traded accusations. France said it had played a prominent role in the initiative, while Tehran responded by accusing Paris of hypocrisy and double standards.French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticised Iran in a post on X, saying the authorities were continuing what he described as bloodshed through an increasing number of executions. The French foreign ministry said the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 13 Aug 2026 14:03 LONDON
The Unspoken Stats: Who is Raping Europe?
Answering this question requires a direct look at the empirical data so, below is the comprehensive, data-verified draft for my article, formatted to analyse the relationship between immigration demographics and police-recorded sexual offense figures across Europe. Data vs. Perception: An Asymmetric Analysis of Migration and Sexual Offence Statistics in Europe While my primary field of research is rooted in macro-geopolitics, the responsibilities of independent journalism often demand transitioning from international balance-of-power metrics to domestic social realities. A recent high-profile criminal incident in England involving the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by four Afghani nationals where one of them is... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 16 Jun 2026 20:09 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 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]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 30 Apr 2026 09:50 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
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]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 02 Apr 2026 09:44 LONDON
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
