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The South Korean won edged higher against the U.S. dollar in recent trading sessions, supported by exporter dollar sales and falling oil prices, while traders remained cautious over U.S. inflation data and Middle East tensions. Foreign investors showed mixed activity in local stocks, with the KOSPI experiencing sharp fluctuations.
South Korean stocks opened higher on Wednesday, driven by gains in technology shares, despite overnight losses on Wall Street and fading optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal. The KOSPI traded up 2.35 percent in early trading, with Samsung Electronics leading gains.
Paramount CEO David Ellison has threatened to move operations out of California if state Attorney General Rob Bonta does not settle the antitrust lawsuit blocking the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Bonta has canceled settlement talks, accusing Paramount of leaking confidential discussions, while a mysterious nonprofit has entered the fray, drawing criticism from free-speech advocates.
The Trump administration is escalating economic pressure on Iran with new sanctions and a naval blockade, announcing what President Trump called an 'economic D-Day.' Iran has threatened retaliation, and the UAE has suspended trade with Tehran, severing a key economic lifeline.
Intensifying conflict and seasonal floods have displaced at least 200,000 more people in Sudan since late 2025, the UN migration agency reported. Infrastructure attacks, supply chain disruptions, and funding shortfalls are compounding one of the world's largest humanitarian emergencies.
South Korea's KOSPI opened sharply lower on Thursday, falling 119.51 points, following losses on Wall Street and amid reports of progress on the Strait of Hormuz. The index had opened 59.6 points lower earlier in the week, with markets also tracking U.S. declines.
Iran's Supreme Leader has appointed six senior military commanders, signaling preparations for a prolonged confrontation with the US and Israel. Meanwhile, IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi declared Iran would continue developing nuclear weapons, drawing a firm response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and warnings from President Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump announced what he called the most crushing economic operation ever against Iran, threatening consequences for any country providing a financial lifeline as talks remain stalled. Iranian officials blamed external pressure for domestic difficulties while reports detailed soaring food inflation and currency collapse. Analysts pointed to both sanctions and long-term regime spending priorities as drivers of the crisis.
More than five months into the US war with Iran, President Trump has signalled a move from military force to economic pressure, according to Al Jazeera. The blockade of Iranian ports and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are central to the strategy, but analysts question whether it can force Tehran to capitulate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed 15-point peace plan for Gaza, marking a rare public break with President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Iran has issued tough new demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and the conflict has stranded thousands of seafarers.
Washington plans to lift its blockade on Iranian ports immediately after an agreement is reached to restore unimpeded shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to US and Iranian sources. The talks, announced by President Donald Trump, also address ending regional strikes and renewing Iranian oil exports.
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and a changing global economy are forcing African nations to rethink how they pursue economic growth. Analysts argue that old industrialisation models may no longer work, even as the continent faces a demographic surge in the coming decade.
Iran and Oman are close to a temporary agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with ships using separate lanes and joint administration. However, Tehran insists the U.S. must meet conditions including compensation and lifting sanctions, and direct talks remain stalled.
The United States and Iran are approaching a decisive phase in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying a framework for an agreement with Oman has been drafted. US Vice President JD Vance confirmed recent progress, while a regional official put the odds of a final deal at 50%. Military options, including strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, remain under discussion.
CENTCOM says US forces have redirected 55 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two since the naval blockade of Iran resumed on July 14. Multiple reports from Al Jazeera, Jerusalem Post, and TASS detail the ongoing enforcement and the number of ships involved.
Iran's foreign minister says negotiations with Oman on new maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz are nearing completion, but reopening the strait depends on separate conditions, including US compliance with a June memorandum. The US must stop violating the memorandum and correct its behavior, according to Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
Experts and senior officials warn that depleted US weapons stockpiles, stemming from the conflict with Iran, could take years to replenish and may embolden Russia and China. The Pentagon has been forced to redeploy assets from Europe and Asia to the Middle East, raising concerns about future deterrence.
Iran announced that an agreement with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is in its final stages, but reiterated that the waterway will only reopen once the US meets other conditions. The proposed deal includes new shipping lanes, potential restrictions on US and Israeli ships, and a fee structure, while US official say an agreement is close.
The joint defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan in Mecca signals a broader reordering of Gulf security, as states seek to supplement, not replace, the US security umbrella. Analysts describe the pact as fundamentally defensive, aimed at institutionalising cooperation and building domestic defence capacity.
Iran announced that a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is in its final stages, but reiterated that the strait will only reopen once the US meets certain conditions. The agreement would define new shipping lanes, with reports suggesting Iran would control inbound traffic. Pakistan expressed hope the deal could lead to resumption of US-Iran talks.