Hundreds of tankers sit idle on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz as Iran effectively closed the waterway, sending oil prices above $100 — the highest since 2022 after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Oil tanker traffic in the strait, through which a fifth of global oil passes, has collapsed after Israel and…
We understand targeted help for the poorest households that rely on heating oil is coming, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves due to make an announcement as soon as Monday. It follows calls from rural Labour MPs, who have warned constituents living in fuel shortages are unable to heat their homes, have their supplies restored, or afford…
For the past 12 days, Israel has closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and restricted movement in Jerusalem’s Old City. Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have condemned Israel’s closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the 12th consecutive day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In a statement published…
Drone interception led to falling debris, halting play at the Fujairah Challenger event on the UAE’s Gulf coast. The ATP Challenger tennis tournament in the United Arab Emirates was disrupted following a “security alert” involving Iranian attacks on targets in the Gulf region in response to attacks by the United States and Israel. Debris from…
As the US-Israeli war over Iran heads for another disastrous day, pundits and politicians are eager to turn uncertainty into clear narratives that justify their long-held views. Israel talks about “transforming the Middle East”. The US talks about “protecting the American people”. Both parties consistently reiterate the concept of “regime change,” despite its uncertain prospects…
Morning opening: EU meets to consider its response as countries consider feasibility of evacuation plans A so-called “security college” of the European Commission is set to meet today as the EU considers its options given the escalating situation in the Middle East. The bloc’s foreign ministers spoke in an online emergency meeting last night. The…
SmartTraveller tells Australians not to travel to most countries in the Middle East SmartTraveler has updated its list of countries not to travel to in the Middle East as conflict escalates in the region. Countries include: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The website says Australians…
