International relations, geopolitics, wars, major global shifts
Vessels are crossing the Strait of Hormuz with transponders off following renewed US-Iran strikes, replacing visible traffic with untraceable "dark crossings." The US insists the strait is open, but Iran is demanding transit permissions, creating direct uncertainty for global oil flows.
The US struck Iran for a second straight day Monday, hitting air defences, radar sites, and missile capabilities across southern Iran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, sending oil prices up more than 3.5 percent.
Russia and Iran are close to finalising a bilateral gas supply trade agreement, while US President Donald Trump asserted the Strait of Hormuz remains open and renewed criticism of Tehran. A completed deal would deepen energy ties between two heavily sanctioned economies and reduce Western leverage over both.
Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, keeping their title defence on track. The result extends Argentina's run as reigning world champions deeper into the expanded 48-team tournament.
The US struck over 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday as Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and hit US facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.
The US launched a third round of strikes on Iran after the IRGC hit a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz and declared the waterway closed. The blockade has pushed energy prices higher globally, with Gulf states reporting Iranian missile and drone attacks as Oman mediates talks.
Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed revenge for his father's killing in US-Israeli strikes, hours after Trump threatened to "completely decimate" Iran if it acts on assassination threats.
Brent crude jumped above $78 a barrel and WTI above $73 after Iran expanded military strikes into the Gulf, sharply slowing shipping traffic through a key oil transit route.
US and Iranian forces have traded their heaviest strikes since an April ceasefire, targeting oil infrastructure and US military bases across the Gulf. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz hit a two-month low and oil prices jumped 4.5 percent as the June peace agreement came under serious strain.
The U.S. military launched fresh strikes on Iran amid renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices sharply higher. The escalation threatens global crude supply flows and, combined with a tech selloff, is pressuring equity markets and complicating inflation outlooks worldwide.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged their most intense strikes in months as ceasefire efforts collapsed, with conflicting claims about the Strait of Hormuz adding fresh pressure to global oil markets. President Trump publicly stated the strait remains open, directly contradicting Iran's earlier claim that it was closed.
Oil prices jumped roughly 3% on Monday after Iran expanded strikes to hit Qatar and the UAE, threatening a fragile interim U.S.-Iranian agreement. Traders are pricing in higher supply disruption risk across one of the world's busiest energy corridors.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar's former emir and the architect of the country's rise as a global energy and investment power, died Sunday at 74. Pakistan declared a day of mourning and PM Shehbaz Sharif will visit Doha Monday to offer condolences, with US-Iran tensions also on the agenda.
US Central Command confirmed shipping is still moving through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran declaring the waterway closed. Maritime agencies warn of a severe security threat, keeping energy markets on edge and raising insurance and freight costs for vessels transiting the Gulf.
Iran claims it struck US military bases in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan in retaliation for American attacks, while burying Supreme Leader Khamenei. Washington has vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, signalling readiness to use naval force to protect global oil flows.
India condemned Iran's attack on the merchant vessel GFS Galaxy off Oman, with 11 Indian crew members caught in the strike. Ten have been rescued, but one Indian national remains missing as New Delhi urges restraint and calls for stronger maritime security.
US strikes on Iran sent Brent crude above $76 a barrel for the first time in two weeks, reversing a recent price slide. The move raises fresh fears about oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, with direct consequences for fuel costs, inflation, and rate policy globally.
US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and close Trump ally, has died at 71. His death removes one of the Senate's most influential voices on defence, Iran policy, and judicial confirmations, with South Carolina's governor now set to appoint a successor.
Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to reach the 2026 World Cup semifinals, where they will face England on Wednesday. The heavyweight clash is one of football's most charged rivalries and among the most commercially valuable fixtures the tournament could produce at this stage.
President Trump declared the Iran ceasefire "over" and ordered new U.S. retaliatory strikes after Iranian forces attacked unarmed commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump added he is "not sure" he wants a deal with Iran, closing off near-term diplomatic options and raising oil market risk.