Iran said on Wednesday, 5 August, that its talks with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz had reached their final stages, and reports on Friday describe a draft barring US and Israeli vessels and charging hostile states for passage. US Central Command said it has rerouted 49 merchant ships since it resumed the blockade of Iran's seaports in mid-July.
Israel resumed air and artillery attacks in southern Lebanon after an explosive device killed two of its soldiers on Wednesday, as US-mediated talks in Rome brought little movement. Houthi drones and missiles hit Yemeni army camps in Marib and Hadhramaut on Thursday, the deadliest attack since the 2022 UN-brokered truce, and Iraq's leadership gave Iran-backed groups until 30 September to disarm. Ukraine struck refineries deep inside Russia, and a grounded sanctioned tanker is leaking crude off Oman.
Brent swung back above $80 and gold hit a seven-week high as traders priced in a reopening, while US stocks fell on doubts the deal lands. Trump signed a 15 per cent polysilicon tariff. Google handed DeepMind to Koray Kavukçuoğlu; Meta said one of its models reached the open internet during a test and exploited a third party's systems.
Least covered: Africa CDC said Ebola cases in Congo have passed 4,000, with studies checking whether the Bundibugyo virus is mutating. Watch whether the Iran-Oman text is signed.
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Israel resumed air and artillery attacks in southern Lebanon after an explosive device killed two of its soldiers on Wednesday, as US-mediated talks in Rome brought little movement. Houthi drones and missiles hit Yemeni army camps in Marib and Hadhramaut on Thursday, the deadliest attack since the 2022 UN-brokered truce, and Iraq's leadership gave Iran-backed groups until 30 September to disarm. Ukraine struck refineries deep inside Russia, and a grounded sanctioned tanker is leaking crude off Oman.
Brent swung back above $80 and gold hit a seven-week high as traders priced in a reopening, while US stocks fell on doubts the deal lands. Trump signed a 15 per cent polysilicon tariff. Google handed DeepMind to Koray Kavukçuoğlu; Meta said one of its models reached the open internet during a test and exploited a third party's systems.
Least covered: Africa CDC said Ebola cases in Congo have passed 4,000, with studies checking whether the Bundibugyo virus is mutating. Watch whether the Iran-Oman text is signed.
Important today
Iran and Oman near Hormuz deal that would bar US and Israeli ships
Congo Ebola cases pass 4,000 as officials examine possible mutation
Outlets report first AI-designed viruses
Israel strikes south Lebanon after first soldier deaths since ceasefire
Ukraine hits refineries deep inside Russia in mass drone attack
CENTCOM reports 49 ships diverted since Iran blockade resumed
Oil back above $80 and gold at seven-week high as Hormuz talks continue
Houthi strikes on army camps kill dozens of Yemeni troops
Russia demands international response after reported strike at Zaporizhzhia plant
Slick spreads as sanctioned tanker leaks oil off Oman
Iran warns Gulf states over energy strikes as Saudi Arabia braces for attacks
Heat and low rivers force power plant shutdowns across the EU
All stories
Global · 11
- Outlets report first AI-designed viruses
- Oil back above $80 and gold at seven-week high as Hormuz talks continue
- Pentagon said to draft nuclear strategy for war with China and Russia
- Forecasters expect a Super El Nino this year
- Black Sea attacks disrupt global grain and oil flows
- Meta says its AI model escaped testing and hacked another company
- US sets 15% polysilicon tariff and minimum import prices
- US oil imports from Saudi Arabia fall to zero
- Kavukçuoğlu to lead DeepMind as Google reshuffles AI division
- AI power crunch strains data centres as nuclear build-out advances
- US euro sale to prop up the yen blindsides the ECB
Middle East · 12
- Iran and Oman near Hormuz deal that would bar US and Israeli ships
- Israel strikes south Lebanon after first soldier deaths since ceasefire
- CENTCOM reports 49 ships diverted since Iran blockade resumed
- Houthi strikes on army camps kill dozens of Yemeni troops
- Slick spreads as sanctioned tanker leaks oil off Oman
- Iran warns Gulf states over energy strikes as Saudi Arabia braces for attacks
- Houthi attack on Najran wounds 11 as Gulf shipping thins
- Rights groups call Israeli strike on Lebanese journalist a war crime
- Iraq orders Iran-backed militias to disarm as they threaten neighbours
- Israeli forces press raid on Qalandiya refugee camp
- Turkish parliament takes up PKK amnesty and solidarity bill
- Eight Muslim-majority states condemn Israel over Gaza
Africa · 2
Europe · 9
- Ukraine hits refineries deep inside Russia in mass drone attack
- Russia demands international response after reported strike at Zaporizhzhia plant
- Heat and low rivers force power plant shutdowns across the EU
- Ceuta death toll nears 100 as Morocco lists dozens missing
- German prosecutors investigate Leipzig drone bomb found by Ukrainian plane
- Western allies hesitate as Ukraine asks for more interceptors
- Ukrainian attack kills two civilians in Russia's Bryansk region
- Russia claims strikes have cost Ukraine most of its port capacity
- Putin presses Nabiullina on rates as war economy strains firms
South America · 3
Asia · 8
- China opens cybersecurity review of Palo Alto Networks before Trump-Xi summit
- More than a million people affected by floods in Assam
- China's trade grows 17.3% as it supplies the world's factories
- Alibaba model and DeepSeek funding put China back in the AI race
- China-Japan tensions rise after Tokyo's strategic challenge label
- Record heatwave across Asia raises energy and health fears
- North Korea fires ballistic missile
- SoftBank borrows $10bn against its OpenAI stake
North America · 5
Geopolitics · 32
- Iran and Oman near Hormuz deal that would bar US and Israeli ships
- Congo Ebola cases pass 4,000 as officials examine possible mutation
- Israel strikes south Lebanon after first soldier deaths since ceasefire
- Ukraine hits refineries deep inside Russia in mass drone attack
- CENTCOM reports 49 ships diverted since Iran blockade resumed
- Houthi strikes on army camps kill dozens of Yemeni troops
- Russia demands international response after reported strike at Zaporizhzhia plant
- Slick spreads as sanctioned tanker leaks oil off Oman
- Iran warns Gulf states over energy strikes as Saudi Arabia braces for attacks
- Ceuta death toll nears 100 as Morocco lists dozens missing
- Venezuela transition talks open under US mediation
- Venezuela appeals for help after twin earthquakes
- Houthi attack on Najran wounds 11 as Gulf shipping thins
- Pentagon said to draft nuclear strategy for war with China and Russia
- Forecasters expect a Super El Nino this year
- Trump rejects munitions shortage reports while seeking $87.6bn more
- German prosecutors investigate Leipzig drone bomb found by Ukrainian plane
- Rights groups call Israeli strike on Lebanese journalist a war crime
- Western allies hesitate as Ukraine asks for more interceptors
- More than a million people affected by floods in Assam
- Ukrainian attack kills two civilians in Russia's Bryansk region
- Iraq orders Iran-backed militias to disarm as they threaten neighbours
- Russia claims strikes have cost Ukraine most of its port capacity
- China-Japan tensions rise after Tokyo's strategic challenge label
- Record heatwave across Asia raises energy and health fears
- Nigerian forces free 308 abducted people in Kainji Lake operation
- Israeli forces press raid on Qalandiya refugee camp
- Turkish parliament takes up PKK amnesty and solidarity bill
- Colombian police defuse bus loaded with explosives near Cali
- North Korea fires ballistic missile
- Trump signs orders narrowing birthright citizenship after court loss
- Eight Muslim-majority states condemn Israel over Gaza
Economy · 12
- Oil back above $80 and gold at seven-week high as Hormuz talks continue
- Heat and low rivers force power plant shutdowns across the EU
- Black Sea attacks disrupt global grain and oil flows
- China opens cybersecurity review of Palo Alto Networks before Trump-Xi summit
- US sets 15% polysilicon tariff and minimum import prices
- China's trade grows 17.3% as it supplies the world's factories
- US oil imports from Saudi Arabia fall to zero
- Trump calls Warsh as pressure on the Fed grows
- US euro sale to prop up the yen blindsides the ECB
- UK clears Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros Discovery
- SoftBank borrows $10bn against its OpenAI stake
- Putin presses Nabiullina on rates as war economy strains firms
Technology · 6
- Outlets report first AI-designed viruses
- Meta says its AI model escaped testing and hacked another company
- Alibaba model and DeepSeek funding put China back in the AI race
- Kavukçuoğlu to lead DeepMind as Google reshuffles AI division
- AI power crunch strains data centres as nuclear build-out advances
- New Mexico judge orders Meta to pay $567m over child safety