Location · 2266 published stories · 271 outlets · All places
US President Donald Trump says talks with Iran will take place in Qatar on Tuesday, but Iranian officials say no direct negotiations are planned, as the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint.
Liberal frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for a party rebrand but denied it was a push for leadership change, as the Coalition hits a historic polling low of 17% in the latest Newspoll. Treasurer Jim Chalmers defended the government's budget and economic policies, while opposition leader Angus Taylor refused to commit on extending the fuel excise cut.
Russia's stock market closed higher on Monday, with the MOEX Index adding 2.84% to 2,350.43 points and the RTS Index gaining 1.92% to 952.28 points. The yuan exchange rate against the ruble lost 11 kopecks to 11.37 rubles. Analysts from BCS World of Investment and Freedom Global offered forecasts for Tuesday's trading.
Pakistan's media regulator PEMRA suspended Geo News for 15 days after the channel aired content deemed offensive to religious sentiments during Muharram. Geo News apologized, attributing the broadcast to an editorial error and stating it had no intention to cause offense. The regulator has ordered an internal inquiry and referred the matter to its Council of Complaints.
India and the US have made significant progress toward a trade deal, but key issues remain unresolved, including tariff advantages and agricultural market access. Domestic protests in India and legal setbacks in the US add further complexity.
The South Korean won has plunged to its weakest level in 17 years against the U.S. dollar, driven by foreign investors selling off local stocks and renewed Middle East tensions. The currency has fallen nearly 6% this year, with the exchange rate breaching 1,500 won per dollar.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq for talks focused on securing the toll-free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as both leaders called for free navigation through the strategic waterway. The discussions build on a joint Franco-British agreement with Oman to restore safe transit, with the broader Multinational Military Mission poised to support the effort.
The United States and Iran have agreed to pause attacks and allow vessels to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official. Technical talks on the memorandum of understanding are set to resume on Tuesday in Qatar, following a weekend of tit-for-tat strikes that threatened the interim deal.
Following Iranian missile and drone strikes that damaged multiple US installations in the Middle East, Washington is considering relocating parts of its military footprint, including to Israel. Reports detail severe damage to the Fifth Fleet's Bahrain base and ongoing deliberations over the future of US posture in the Gulf.
Renewed US-Iran hostilities, including missile exchanges and attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, have left global markets unsettled. Despite the tensions, US stocks saw mixed sessions, with tech shares and oil prices experiencing volatility. ASX futures are pointing to a marginal gain on opening.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that attempts to bypass agreed routes through the Strait of Hormuz would increase tensions, as US and Iranian forces exchanged attacks. The UN shipping agency rejected Iran's sovereignty claim over the waterway, while observers noted a sharp decline in crossings amid the dispute.
Pakistan's petroleum minister says the country is considering purchasing cheaper Iranian oil and gas after a temporary easing of US sanctions on Tehran. Analysts note local refineries are technically capable of processing Iranian crude but face commercial challenges, while the government has announced significant cuts in petrol and diesel prices.
The US and Iran have signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding to halt active hostilities, with a 60-day window for formal negotiations. The deal, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, lifts the US naval blockade and reopens the Strait of Hormuz, but analysts remain divided on whether it represents a genuine step toward peace or a temporary intermission.
A helicopter belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco crashed on Sunday in Ras Tanura, killing all 14 Saudi nationals on board. The crash comes as Aramco resumed crude oil loadings at the terminal after a nearly four-month halt, with investigations underway to determine the cause.
The United States and Iran have exchanged new rounds of strikes, threatening a fragile ceasefire and raising concerns about the stability of the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides blame each other for violating the interim agreement, while diplomatic efforts to de-escalate continue.
Iran's hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout phase for the first time ended after Austria's stoppage-time equalizer against Algeria left them outside the eight best third-placed teams. The team completed their Group G campaign unbeaten but faced off-field challenges, including visa and travel restrictions.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched missile and drone attacks on US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain in response to continued US airstrikes, escalating the conflict as diplomatic efforts falter. Both sides accuse each other of violating the truce, while Gulf states condemn the attacks and the UN Security Council convenes.
HK Electric has raised its fuel charge by nearly 34 per cent for July, citing the Middle East conflict and a cut-off of Qatari gas since March. The company warns of further increases, while it and CLP Power have announced rebates for eligible households from August to October.
The United States has launched fresh airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Iranian attacks on commercial shipping. Iranian media report explosions in several coastal cities, and Iran's foreign ministry has condemned the strikes as a violation of the June memorandum of understanding. At least 14 people have been killed in the attacks over the past two days, according to Iranian authorities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to form a 'broad national government' during a press conference, a move that drew immediate criticism from opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, who accused him of political maneuvering. Meanwhile, Gantz reiterated his vision for a Zionist unity government, highlighting deep political divisions ahead of the elections.