Oil prices fall as Strait of Hormuz traffic resumes after US-Iran deal
Oil prices have fallen to levels not seen since before the Iran war as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz gradually resumes. Global benchmark Brent crude briefly dropped below $72.48 a barrel before edging back up, putting it near the price seen the day before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February. The move reflects a sharp easing in market fears over disruption to one of the world's most important energy shipping routes.The latest decline follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the US and Iran on 17 June, which set out a 60-day period for... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 25 Jun 2026 08:30 LONDON
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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]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 25 Jun 2026 07:45 LONDON
US Senate withdraws Iran war powers resolution as Hormuz shipping routes remain contested
The US Senate has withdrawn a resolution related to limiting the president's military force against Iran, even as tensions continue over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The move comes amid a fragile interim understanding between Washington and Tehran and renewed warnings from Iran's Revolutionary Guards about vessel movement in the waterway. The Strait remains one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints, and the latest statements underline how quickly legal, military and commercial issues are converging there.According to the supplied reporting, the Senate had earlier passed a war powers resolution directing President Donald Trump to halt military action against... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 25 Jun 2026 06:59 LONDON
Iran, the US and Oman clash over control of Strait of Hormuz navigation
Iran, the United States and Oman are at odds over who will control navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. The dispute comes as peace talks aimed at ending the war continue to advance, adding a new layer of uncertainty to an already sensitive regional file. Conflicting statements on Wednesday raised questions over whether ships will move freely through the waterway or under a permit-based system.According to the reported statements, Iran and Oman said they intend to establish a joint mechanism to control navigation through permits. Oman also said it... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 25 Jun 2026 06:00 LONDON
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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]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 25 Jun 2026 01:15 LONDON
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 Markets Intelligence | 24 Jun 2026 21:15 LONDON
France and Vanuatu begin talks over disputed Matthew and Hunter islands
France and Vanuatu have begun formal negotiations over the future of Matthew and Hunter islands, two small volcanic islands east of New Caledonia that have been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute for decades. Vanuatu is seeking to secure sovereignty over the islands, which remain under French control as part of New Caledonia. The talks mark a new phase in a long-running territorial disagreement that has been politically sensitive in both countries.The islands lie about 300 kilometres east of New Caledonia and are described as rugged, mineral-rich and volcanically active. Matthew Island and Hunter Island are separated by about... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 24 Jun 2026 20:30 LONDON
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]
360LiveNews | 24 Jun 2026 17:29 LONDON
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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]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 24 Jun 2026 16:45 LONDON
Iran and US talks strain over Hormuz and inspections as Trump threatens to halt negotiations
Iranian and US officials remain divided over the terms of their framework deal, with the latest dispute centring on the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear inspections. The disagreement has sharpened as technical talks continue under a 60-day framework, even as both sides publicly claim progress. Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the arrangement as a US defeat, while Washington has warned that the process could collapse if key assurances prove false.Ghalibaf told a parliamentary summit in Baku that the understanding was not the result of pressure, but of what he called Iranian resistance and authority. He said Washington and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 24 Jun 2026 15:59 LONDON
Rubio tours Gulf allies amid US-Iran ceasefire talks
Marco Rubio is continuing a visit to the Gulf aimed at reassuring regional allies that the emerging US-Iran memorandum will take their security and economic concerns into account. On Wednesday, the US secretary of state held a working lunch in Abu Dhabi with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and senior officials, including National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He is due to travel on to Kuwait and Bahrain in the coming days.Rubio said on arrival in Abu Dhabi that Washington wanted to hear... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 24 Jun 2026 15:02 LONDON
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]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 24 Jun 2026 14:45 LONDON
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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]
360LiveNews | 24 Jun 2026 14:30 LONDON
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]
360LiveNews | 24 Jun 2026 10:00 LONDON
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]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 24 Jun 2026 08:15 LONDON
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]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 24 Jun 2026 07:45 LONDON
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Oman opens temporary maritime corridor through the Strait of Hormuz
Oman has announced a temporary maritime corridor for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most sensitive shipping routes. The measure was coordinated with the International Maritime Organization, according to the state news agency. It comes amid heightened concern over disruption in the strategic waterway.The corridor is intended for ships seeking to pass through the strait and will require coordination with the International Maritime Organization, using coordinates announced by the organisation and Omani authorities. Oman said the arrangement is designed to preserve freedom of navigation in line with international law and the law of the sea. Those... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 24 Jun 2026 04:30 LONDON
Tokyo Opens Lower as Dollar Strength and Commodity Rout Hit Asia-Pacific Risk Appetite
Executive summary: Tokyo and broader Asia-Pacific markets opened under pressure, with the Nikkei 225 down -1.8% and the Nikkei 225 ETF lower -1.7%. The heaviest moves were in commodities, where silver, gold, platinum, palladium and WTI crude all fell sharply, while USD/JPY pushed higher and USD/CNY also firmed. The pattern points to a risk-off start, with exporters, cyclicals and commodity-linked assets taking the brunt of the selloff. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 24 Jun 2026 01:15 LONDON
UN begins phased evacuation of 11,000 stranded sailors in Strait of Hormuz
The United Nations' International Maritime Organization has begun evacuating more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after the waterway was effectively closed during the US-Israel war on Iran. The operation is being carried out in phases and is centred on one of the world's most sensitive shipping corridors. Shipping traffic has started to resume, but officials say the process remains controlled because of the risks involved.IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the evacuation is taking place in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, other coastal states in the region, the United States and the maritime industry. He said safety... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 23 Jun 2026 22:59 LONDON
Wall Street closes sharply lower as tech and precious metals lead a broad risk-off move
Executive summary: US equities ended the session under heavy pressure, with the Nasdaq Composite down 4.1% and the S&P 500 off 2.5% as investors rotated away from high-multiple technology and AI-linked names. Tesla, Microsoft, Nvidia and Meta all fell sharply, while gold, silver, platinum and palladium also sold off, pointing to a broad de-risking across growth and defensive havens. The Dow was nearly flat and small caps outperformed, but the day was defined by weakness in megacap tech, chips and commodities. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 23 Jun 2026 21:15 LONDON
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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]
360LiveNews | 23 Jun 2026 19:10 LONDON
Europe closes mixed as DAX edges higher, FTSE slips, and metals selloff dominates the session
Executive summary: European equities finished mixed, with Germany’s DAX eking out a gain while the FTSE 100, CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 all ended lower. The biggest market story was a sharp retreat in precious metals, led by silver, gold, platinum and palladium, alongside weaker Brent crude and softer euro and sterling exchange rates. Natural gas was the main notable riser. The moves point to a broad risk reset across commodities and FX, even as European equity losses remained relatively contained. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 23 Jun 2026 16:45 LONDON
Wall Street Opens Lower as Tech, Metals and Oil Slide, While Small Caps Buck the Risk-Off Tone
Executive summary: U.S. equities opened under pressure, led by a sharp drop in the Nasdaq Composite and weakness across tech and chip shares. The move came alongside broad declines in gold, silver, platinum, palladium and WTI crude, while small caps and a few rate-sensitive pockets held up better. The opening tone points to a market repricing that is hitting growth and commodity-linked trades at the same time. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 23 Jun 2026 14:45 LONDON
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]
360LiveNews | 23 Jun 2026 11:33 LONDON
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India Welcomes US-Iran Memorandum With Cautious Optimism at BRICS Meeting in New Delhi
India's national security adviser Ajit Doval said on Tuesday that New Delhi welcomes the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran with "cautious optimism". He said the deal could help energy security and described the opening of the Strait of Hormuz as a welcome development. The remarks were made at the 16th BRICS national security advisers' meeting in New Delhi, where representatives from China, Russia and Iran were also present.Doval said India hoped the memorandum would work, adding that it could support energy security at a time of wider geopolitical uncertainty. He referred to BRICS as a "very... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 23 Jun 2026 09:00 LONDON
Europe opens mixed as DAX outperforms, metals slide sharply and Brent eases
Executive summary: European markets opened with a split tone, the DAX advanced while the FTSE 100 and CAC 40 slipped, and the Euro Stoxx 50 held a modest gain. The biggest move in the session data is in precious metals, where gold, silver, platinum and palladium all fell sharply. Brent crude also eased, while natural gas and global autos moved higher. In FX, the euro and sterling weakened against the dollar, adding to the cross-asset risk-off feel in parts of the market. [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews Markets Intelligence | 23 Jun 2026 08:15 LONDON
Qatar gas plant blast leaves 13 dead, including 12 Indians, as investigation continues at Ras Laffan
Qatar has confirmed that 13 people were killed and 66 injured in an explosion at a gas processing facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday night. The Indian Embassy in Doha said 12 of the dead were Indian nationals, while Qatari officials said the incident was caused by a technical malfunction during operations. Authorities said the injured are stable and receiving medical treatment.Energy Minister Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said the blast was an accident and not sabotage or hostile in nature. He said none of the injured were in life-threatening condition, and the fire caused by the explosion... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 23 Jun 2026 01:02 LONDON
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi expected to visit India and Guwahati from July 1 to 3
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to visit India from July 1 to 3, with Guwahati likely to host the bilateral summit, according to sources. If confirmed, it would be her first bilateral visit to India since taking office in October last year. The trip would also mark an early test of the relationship between the two governments under Takaichi's leadership.Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Takaichi in France on the sidelines of the G7 leaders' summit last week, where he said he had a "great interaction" with her. Modi added that India and Japan would continue to deepen ties... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 22 Jun 2026 15:32 LONDON
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China expands retaliation against 10 U.S. firms as finance ministry bars purchases from 46 companies
China has widened its retaliation against U.S. companies by imposing export controls on 10 American firms and separately barring government agencies from buying products from 46 others. The measures were announced on Monday by China's Commerce Ministry and Finance Ministry, and were presented as a response to recent U.S. restrictions on Chinese companies. Beijing said the export controls cover dual-use items, meaning goods that can be used in both civilian and military settings.The Commerce Ministry said Chinese exporters would be prohibited from supplying dual-use items to the listed entities, and that the restrictions also apply to organisations or individuals in... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 22 Jun 2026 10:01 LONDON
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]
360LiveNews | 22 Jun 2026 05:29 LONDON
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Trump attacks Starmer and Meloni on social media over Iran, migration and energy
Donald Trump has used social media to launch fresh attacks on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, sharpening tensions with two of Washington's closest European partners. In posts published on Sunday, June 21, the US president said Starmer would leave office and urged Meloni to support action against Iran. The comments were posted on Truth Social and focused on migration, energy and Iran policy.Trump said Starmer had "failed badly" to deal with migration and energy issues in the United Kingdom, and predicted that the British leader would soon be out of office. He then turned... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 21 Jun 2026 22:06 LONDON
Australia timber industry says Russian wood is entering via sanctions loopholes
Australia's forest products industry says Russian-grown timber is still reaching the country through third countries, despite tariffs imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Australian Forest Products Association says the material is being rerouted and processed abroad before entering Australia as products that do not attract the Russian-origin tariff. The group says the issue is affecting local producers in a market it describes as already depressed.Acting chief executive Richard Hyett said timber can be manufactured in another country or substantially transformed and then avoid the tariff. He said Russian timber can be sent to China, turned into laminated veneer lumber,... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 21 Jun 2026 03:00 LONDON
Israeli strike in Gaza kills Al Jazeera cameraman and members of family in Gaza City
An Israeli airstrike in central Gaza has killed Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmed Wishah, according to the broadcaster and Gaza health officials. The strike hit a house in the Bureij refugee camp, while separate overnight strikes in Gaza City killed four members of the al-Safadi family. The latest deaths come despite a ceasefire and amid continuing accusations between Israel and Hamas that the truce is being violated.Al Jazeera said Wishah was killed in an Israeli strike on a house in Bureij refugee camp. The Israeli military said it had struck Wishah and described him as a Hamas terrorist, but did not... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Jun 2026 20:00 LONDON
Trump repeats claims that US strikes in Iran 'wiped out everything'
US President Donald Trump has repeated claims that American strikes in Iran destroyed much of the country's military capability, saying the attacks had knocked out its navy, air force, radar and anti-missile systems. He made the remarks at an event linked to the unveiling of a new Air Force One aircraft, where he also said the United States had "wiped out everything" in Iran. The comments add to his recent public framing of the conflict as a decisive military success.Trump also warned that any further action could affect oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, saying ships carrying oil could... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Jun 2026 08:00 LONDON
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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]
360LiveNews | 20 Jun 2026 07:29 LONDON
Israel hosts Somaliland president for first state visit and signs strategic cooperation deal
Israel has given Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi a formal state welcome in Jerusalem, in what officials described as the first state visit by a Somaliland leader. The visit took place six months after Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland's independence from Somalia. It also included a strategic cooperation agreement, signalling an effort by both sides to move beyond symbolism.Abdullahi, also known as Cirro, said during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was in Israel for the first state visit ever by a Somaliland president. He said Somaliland had spent 35 years asking the world... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Jun 2026 06:00 LONDON
Australia confirms first H5 bird flu detection in wild bird as response expands
Australia has confirmed its first detection of the H5 bird flu strain in a wild bird in remote Western Australia, marking a significant biosecurity development for the country. Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the virus was found in a migratory seabird, a brown skua, and that the result had been confirmed by the national science agency. Samples from another sick bird, a giant petrel, have also shown a suspected positive result, while officials continue to assess how far the infection may have spread in wildlife.Ms Collins said there was still no evidence of mass mortalities and no evidence of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 20 Jun 2026 03:59 LONDON
Norway opens consultation on bill to ban trade with Israeli settlements
Norway has opened a consultation on a new bill that would ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. The proposal would also restrict certain property-related transactions linked to the settlements, according to the government. The move marks a further tightening of Oslo's policy on settlement activity.Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the settlements are in breach of international law and contribute to displacement and violence. He said the government intends to prohibit trade with what he described as unlawful settlements. The ministry said the planned rules would cover goods produced in the settlements, as well as the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Jun 2026 21:00 LONDON
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Vance publicly rebukes Israel from White House podium amid US-Iran deal fallout
United States Vice President JD Vance has delivered unusually blunt public criticism of Israel from a White House podium, sharpening tensions already exposed by the US-Iran deal. Speaking on Thursday local time, he said Israel should be grateful for American support and warned Israeli leaders to reassess their stance toward Washington. His remarks came as debate over the agreement continued to widen and as relations between the two allies appeared to be under strain.Vance said President Donald Trump was the only head of state in the world sympathetic to Israel at this moment, and argued that Israeli officials should not... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Jun 2026 06:29 LONDON
US launches Section 301 probe into Germany's pharma pricing policies
The United States has opened a trade investigation into Germany's pharmaceutical pricing policies, raising the prospect of new tariffs on a major European economy. The move was announced on Thursday and is being carried out under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. It focuses on whether Germany's pricing practices for innovative medicines unfairly burden US commerce.According to the US Trade Representative's office, the probe will examine whether Germany's approach amounts to persistent underpayment for innovative pharmaceutical products that is unreasonable or discriminatory. The notice said evidence indicates Germany uses unfair pricing policies and practices in relation to innovative... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Jun 2026 04:33 LONDON
EU leaders back stronger trade defences amid Chinese export surge
EU leaders have agreed to strengthen the bloc's trade defences in response to a surge of Chinese exports, while also calling for continued constructive dialogue with Beijing. The decision was taken during talks in Brussels and reflects growing concern in the European Union about industrial vulnerability and supply-chain dependence. Leaders said the bloc must be better equipped to defend its interests and reduce risk.The move comes as the EU's goods trade deficit reached about 360 billion euros last year, underlining the scale of the imbalance with China. According to an EU official, leaders asked the European Commission to continue engaging... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Jun 2026 03:32 LONDON
US and Iran sign interim memorandum in France as Brazil urges compliance and end to attacks
The United States and Iran have signed an interim memorandum of understanding in France that is intended to end their conflict and reopen key shipping routes, according to the supplied report. The agreement is being presented as a diplomatic breakthrough after months of war and repeated failed talks. It includes terms that would suspend sanctions, allow free transit through the Strait of Hormuz and halt attacks between the two sides.Brazil's foreign ministry said it welcomed the agreement with satisfaction, while stressing that the terms must be fully respected and that attacks must stop. The ministry said diplomacy was the only... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 19 Jun 2026 03:30 LONDON
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Cuba approves unprecedented opening of economy amid severe strain
Cuba's Communist Party has approved an emergency economic package that would open parts of the island's state-dominated system to more private activity. The plan was submitted to the National Assembly on Thursday and is expected to pass, according to the supporting material. It marks a significant shift for a country that has been governed by the Communist Party since 1965.The package would expand opportunities for private enterprise and seek to attract more foreign investment, including from Cubans living abroad. It could also pave the way for private real-estate development and the transformation of state-owned businesses into private commercial ventures with... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Jun 2026 23:00 LONDON
China pushes for stronger Global South representation in global governance
China's foreign minister Wang Yi has presented a new white paper calling for a more equitable system of global governance and greater representation for emerging economies and developing countries. The document argues that the United Nations should be strengthened and that the Global South should have a larger voice in international decision-making. It comes as Beijing seeks to present itself as a champion of developing countries in a period of conflict and economic strain.Wang said emerging economies remain underrepresented in global governance institutions, according to the material released in Beijing. He framed China's position as one in which all countries... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Jun 2026 20:33 LONDON
Iranian rial rebounds sharply after US-Iran agreement
Iran's rial has risen by more than 15% against the US dollar after an initial agreement between Tehran and Washington, while the country's stock market has also surged to record levels. The move came after the memorandum of understanding announced on Sunday and was reflected most visibly in Tehran's foreign exchange market on Ferdowsi Street. Exchange offices reported a rapid fall in the dollar and a sharp change in trading conditions compared with the panic seen in recent months.According to the supplied report, the dollar fell from 1.8 million rials to 1.54 million rials at one exchange office within hours... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Jun 2026 15:02 LONDON
Two men jailed in UK for assisting Chinese intelligence
Two men have been jailed in the UK after being convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service in a case heard at the Old Bailey. Chi Leung "Peter" Wai, 40, was sentenced to 10 years, while Chung Biu "Bill" Yuen, 65, received an eight-year term. The court heard that Wai, a Border Force officer, used access to Home Office computer systems to track Hong Kong dissidents living in the UK.The sentencing took place on Thursday, with the judge saying the men's actions "threaten the sovereignty of the state". Wai was also convicted of misconduct in public office. The pair were... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Jun 2026 14:02 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 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
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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
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 06 Mar 2026 17:20 LONDON
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
