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As Iran escalates attacks on Gulf states, analysts and residents call for a coordinated regional response. Reports suggest Bahrain and Kuwait may have launched limited strikes, while US and Israeli support is seen as crucial in forming a defense alliance.
Labor's national conference has voted to support expanding voluntary assisted dying access via telehealth, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is 'yet to be convinced' and fears misuse. The government faces pressure from crossbench MPs and the Greens to change the law, while concerns about elder abuse have been raised.
US President Donald Trump has paused plans for a major military escalation against Iran, according to multiple reports, amid concerns over depleting missile interceptor stockpiles. The decision follows warnings from top military officials and reflects broader worries about the conflict's trajectory and its political fallout.
Iran has summoned Ukraine's diplomats after an attack on a ship in the Caspian Sea, which Tehran says was a commercial vessel and killed a sailor. Ukraine claims it struck a Russian warship and vessels carrying Iran-linked military cargo, including drone and missile components.
The US and Iran show no signs of de-escalation as they continue trading strikes, with Saudi Arabia hitting Hodeida in response to Houthi attacks. Iran's army warns the war could widen, while Israeli PM Netanyahu prepares to meet President Trump at the White House.
Houthi rebels have launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia, targeting oil infrastructure in Yanbu and Jizan, in retaliation for Saudi strikes on Hodeida. Yemen's internationally recognised government says it is prepared for any escalation, as the conflict threatens global shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Iran has shifted its military focus to Bahrain and Kuwait amid ongoing US-Iran conflict, with analysts citing historical tensions and the small size of these Gulf states. Meanwhile, a crackdown on documentation of attacks has led to over 1,000 arrests, raising freedom of expression concerns.
The Iranian-backed Houthis are escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia, threatening to target Saudi ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait unless the Saudi-led coalition ends its blockade. In response, Saudi-led coalition strikes have targeted missile sites and weapons depots, while the Houthis also accuse Riyadh of attacking Sana'a airport.
Dmitry Peskov stated that Kiev's attacks on infrastructure in the Black Sea and Azov Sea areas, including the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, constitute acts of international terrorism. He also alleged that Ukraine's terrorist activities are expanding globally, referencing attacks on Germany, Kazakhstan, and an Iranian ship.
Zendaya wore earrings made from ancient Iranian artefacts at a London photocall, sparking criticism from archaeologists and a petition demanding full provenance disclosure. The earrings, owned by Barron London, are attributed to the Ziwiye hoard, raising questions about the antiquities trade and cultural heritage.
Laura Loomer, a controversial far-right commentator with close ties to President Donald Trump, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and admitted she had previously repeated Russian propaganda. Her shift coincides with recent changes in Trump's stance on Ukraine, including support for Patriot missile technology and new sanctions on Russia.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed a missile attack on the Saudi city of Jazan, accusing Riyadh of a 'dangerous escalation' after Saudi strikes on Houthi targets. The US military paused its daily strikes on Iran for the first time in 13 nights, while President Trump indicated he would hold off on major operations as talks with Iran progress.
Labor MP Ed Husic has criticised his party's internal culture after his proposed resolution on Israel and Palestine failed to gain enough support for debate at the national conference. The conference adopted positions aligning with the Albanese government's view, while also agreeing to wind back fuel subsidies for big miners.
A Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker with 28 Indian crew members was attacked in Iranian territorial waters; all crew are safe, according to India's embassy. Separately, one Indian national is missing after an attack on the GFS Galaxy off Oman, with 10 rescued.
The federal government is reassuring motorists about fuel supplies as oil prices top $US100 a barrel for the first time since May, while Treasury warns of increasing economic risks. The fuel excise discount is set to expire on August 2, and inflation remains stubbornly high at 3.8 per cent.
Saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit Houthi military sites in Hodeidah, Yemen, in response to attacks on Saudi shipping. Houthi-affiliated media reported strikes on telecommunications facilities and Kamaran Island, while the Houthis claim civilian sites were hit. The conflict threatens to disrupt Red Sea shipping and worsen global economic fallout.
Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on Houthi-held sites in Yemen, including telecom facilities in Hodeida and Kamaran Island, as the group's maritime blockade of Saudi shipping escalates. The strikes follow attacks on Saudi vessels and threaten a fragile truce that has held since 2022.
President Trump reiterated that the US-Saudi civilian nuclear deal requires Riyadh to join the Abraham Accords, despite the agreement being signed without that condition. Saudi Arabia has not yet responded, while officials and analysts debate uranium enrichment provisions and their implications for the region.
China is advancing overland trade routes across Central Asia as global shipping chokepoints face continued disruptions. New railway and road links, including a multi-modal corridor to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan, aim to cut delivery times significantly. The Belt and Road Initiative's rapid development in the region has made China the largest trading partner of all Central Asian countries, with trade exceeding $100 billion.
Iran targeted American military assets in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, while US forces bombarded Iranian sites, including a Revolutionary Guard naval base. The escalation continues as US embassies warn Americans that exit options may become limited and Iran's Revolutionary Guard advises residents to stay away from bases housing US troops.