Noontime News Recap: US Iran tensions deepen as EU tightens Russia sanctions and EasyJet profits slump

The US and Iran remained locked in a widening confrontation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Tehran is seeking a deal even as it faces a higher price from the conflict, while US Central Command said strikes on Iranian military targets continued for a 12th night. A tanker fire was also reported in the Strait of Hormuz, underlining the risk to shipping in one of the world’s most sensitive waterways.  🔗  🔗

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In the Middle East, more than 2,300 Israelis entered the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday during Tisha B'Av, one of the largest incursions reported at the site this year. The move is likely to add to already high tensions around the holy place.  🔗

Diplomatic efforts on the Ukraine war continued in Asia, where Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manila on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering. The talks came as the conflict drags on and Western governments keep up pressure on Moscow.  🔗

Brussels also moved to tighten pressure on Russia, with EU ambassadors agreeing the bloc’s 21st sanctions package after Greece secured an exemption on liquefied natural gas. Separately, Russia’s parliament passed a sweeping law that would sharply restrict the rights of some citizens living abroad, targeting people accused by the state of disloyalty.  🔗  🔗

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In southern Thailand, five paramilitary rangers were killed and six civilians injured in an armed attack on a checkpoint in Narathiwat province. Authorities described the assault as terrorism, highlighting the long running insurgency in the country’s south.  🔗

Europe faced a separate emergency as police evacuated residents near Madrid after a wildfire threatened homes. The fire was close enough to residential areas to prompt urgent action as crews tried to contain it.  🔗

In corporate news, EasyJet said quarterly profits plunged 70% as higher fuel costs and later passenger bookings hit the airline during the period affected by the Iran conflict. The carrier’s warning showed how geopolitical tensions are feeding through into travel and energy costs.  🔗

China said it created 6.95 million new urban jobs in the first half of 2026, with officials describing the overall employment situation as generally stable.  🔗

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