Podcasts about omani

Caption: 1521 PERSIATONIGHT CONTENTS THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW 8-31-2026Tehran Under Siege: Sanctions, War Fatigue, and the Credibility Crisis of the UNEdmund Fitton-Brown details the bleak economic reality for citizens in Tehran living under severe economic sanctions and a low-intensity conflict. Ordinary residents are reduced to driving for ride-sharing apps like Snapp and begging for food due to skyrocketing prices of staple goods like yogurt. While the regime's elite remain insulated, sanctions have severely strained the general population without driving systemic behavior changes. Furthermore, the discussion examines the declining global credibility of the United Nations. The organization has abandoned its neutrality by focusing excessively on targeting Israel and prioritizing humanitarian relief, which frequently ends up diverted to empower oppressive regimes. (1)Demographic Doom: How the One-Child Legacy and Youth Cynicism Threaten China's FuturePiero Tozzi explores China's severe demographic crisis resulting from the legacy of the totalitarian one-child policy enacted in 1979 and officially lifted in 2015. Despite transitioning to a three-child policy, fertility rates continue to plummet due to youth disillusionment. The gender imbalance has catalyzed widespread female trafficking from neighboring countries, while a high proportion of single-child soldiers in the military creates unique domestic vulnerabilities in conflict scenarios. Young Chinese citizens are increasingly opting out of intense economic exploitation through passive resistance movements like "laying flat" and "letting it rot," directly challenging propaganda regarding national rejuvenation. (2)The Domestic Surge: AI Infrastructure, Aerospace Recovery, and US Manufacturing RenaissanceAlan Tonelson highlights the significant manufacturing revival currently taking place in the United States, driven by key sectors like aerospace and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Boeing's resolution of safety and production issues has revitalized aerospace, while a massive buildout of AI data centers has boosted demand for semiconductors, steel, and electronic equipment. Although trade tensions with Canada persist, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement protects most trade, rendering short-term disruptions minimal. Furthermore, while widespread local protests against data centers have emerged across various states, they have not yet slowed down the overall rapid pace of construction. (3)Middle East Realignment: Iranian Devaluation, Turkish Expansion, and Mediterranean Defense PartnershipsMalcolm Hoenlein covers shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics across the Middle East. Inside Iran, severe inflation, food shortages, and medicine price hikes are suffocating the middle class, prompting harsher internal crackdowns by the regime. Meanwhile, Omani channel shipping flows have partially improved following US-led mine sweeping efforts. In Syria, Turkey is pursuing a quiet military takeover, a move contested by Israel. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is utilizing pipelines to bypass shipping threats, and Finland has joined other nations in defunding the corrupt Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA. Finally, Greece and Israel have solidified a historic $3.5 billion multi-level defense agreement. (4)Cult of Rebellion: Understanding the Resilient and Hostile Ideology of the HouthisEdmund Fitton-Brown chronicles the history, structure, and ideological motivations of the Houthi movement in Yemen. Emerging in the mid-1990s as a Zaydi revivalist cult modeled after Lebanese Hezbollah, the group adopted a highly hostile five-part slogan ("the scream") emphasizing anti-American, anti-Semitic, and anti-Israel vitriol. Over decades of conflict, they waged multiple rebellions against former dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh before forming a tactical alliance with him to seize power. Known as relentless fighters who are always up for a battle, the Houthis harbor expansive territorial ambitions in southern Saudi Arabia, aiming to control the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. (5)Tehran in Limbo: Evaluating Sanctions, Bureaucratic Alienation, and Paths to Regime ChangeJanatyn Sayeh addresses the psychological state of "no war, no peace" in Tehran a year after the September 2025 conflict. The population faces deep war fatigue, compounded by blockades and new sanctions. While sanctions alone cannot topple the regime, they successfully alienate key socio-economic groups. Specifically, lower-level administrative bureaucrats and ideologues are losing their financial incentives and faith in the regime's competence. True systemic change will not happen overnight, but dragging out the process and bringing civil unrest into urban streets could break pro-regime morale and dismantle the kleptocratic elite's hold on power. (6)Deterrence and Covert Diplomacy: Analyzing CIA Trip to Moscow and the North Korean AllianceJohn Hardie analyzes CIA Director John Ratcliffe's unexpected visit to Moscow. Speculation suggests the trip aimed to deter Russian sabotage against NATO, push for a diplomatic settlement in Ukraine, and pressure Moscow to limit support for Iran. Although Russian leader Vladimir Putin remains convinced of victory and resistant to compromises, maintaining deterrence remains critical. Simultaneously, military intelligence reports that North Korea has supplied dozens of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine, with thousands of combat troops potentially deployed, further complicating the global security landscape. (7)A Shift in Rules: IDF's Aggressive Gaza Targeting, Tunnel Demolition, and West Bank Air PowerSamuel Ben-Ur highlights a shift in Israeli military operations. Following a ceasefire, the IDF returned to pre-agreement rules by striking an active Hamas militant at a Gaza bakery. The military has destroyed roughly half of Gaza's tunnels, with operations continuing on the Hamas-controlled side. Additionally, Israel executed a rare West Bank airstrike to eliminate Kais Betawi, a high-value financial and military operative, signaling strength ahead of upcoming elections. Finally, the discussion outlines the total exclusion of the heavily compromised UNRWA from future Gaza recovery efforts, noting that the United States and Israel will sideline the agency entirely. (8)Higher Education in Crisis: Rising Debt, STEM Brain Drain, and Political PolarizationTom Katsouleas critiques the declining public trust and degrees in American higher education despite high spending. Driven by cost, value, and inclusion issues, students face massive debts that delay major life milestones like marriage and housing. Public universities have increased tuition to compensate for shrinking state budgets, while investing in luxury facilities and high-end services. In graduate education, US research programs depend heavily on international students—primarily from China—for STEM fields. However, rising immigration hostility and aggressive geopolitical competition are reversing this brain drain, while perceived progressive bias further polarizes public trust. (9)The Strategic Vanguard: Hezbollah's Regional Reach, Ceasefire Probing, and Lebanese Shia PoliticsDavid Daoud outlines the strategic dynamics of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah is currently launching pinprick probing attacks to test Israel's rules of engagement under ceasefire constraints and US pressure. Within Lebanesepolitics, the Shia community remains structured around a symbiotic relationship between the nationalist Amal movement and Hezbollah, preventing any independent Shia opposition from gaining ground. Beyond Lebanon, Hezbollah acts as the tip of the spear for Iranian expansionism, training regional proxies in rocket, tunnel, and propaganda warfare. This veteran, transnational expertise makes Hezbollah an indispensable regional asset that Iran would find impossible to replace. (10)The Silent Drip: Structural Remedies for America's $40 Trillion Debt CrisisThomas Savidge addresses the economic implications of the United States crossing the $40 trillion national debt threshold, fueled by pandemic spending and mandatory entitlements. This massive debt competes with private capital, driving up consumer borrowing rates and depressing real wages through inflation. To halt this slow economic drip, Savidge proposes a "fiscal constitution." This includes strong constitutional amendments, Colorado-style spending caps tied to population growth and inflation, a silent-approval budget commission to enact spending cuts, and strict regulatory limits on the scope of government authority to prevent accounting tricks. (11)

CAPTION: 1906 OTTOMAN EMPIREMalcolm Hoenlein covers shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics across the Middle East. Inside Iran, severe inflation, food shortages, and medicine price hikes are suffocating the middle class, prompting harsher internal crackdowns by the regime. Meanwhile, Omani channel shipping flows have partially improved following US-led mine sweeping efforts. In Syria, Turkey is pursuing a quiet military takeover, a move contested by Israel. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is utilizing pipelines to bypass shipping threats, and Finland has joined other nations in defunding the corrupt Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA. Finally, Greece and Israel have solidified a historic $3.5 billion multi-level defense agreement. (4)

//The Wire//2300Z August 24, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: BODY DUMP SITE LOCATED IN OREGON. MARITIME TRAFFIC IN MIDDLE EAST REMAINS STAGNANT AS HOUTHIS STRIKE SHIP IN RED SEA. RENO WILDFIRE CONTINUES TO THREATEN SUBURBS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Red Sea/HOA: This morning a merchant vessel was struck by an unidentified munition in the Red Sea, to the west of the port of Yanbu. The M/V AMZAN was struck by the Houthis while transiting the Red Sea, and as of this afternoon remains on fire.Ukraine: This morning a mass stabbing attack was reported at a monetary in Donestk. An unidentified group of assailants breached the compound of the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra Monastery, and began attacking the clergymen living at the compound. This attack resulted in the murder of at least one monk, and the wounding of several others. An investigation is currently underway to identify the culprits of the attack.-HomeFront-New York: Over the weekend, Buffalo-Niagara International Airport ran out of jet fuel, resulting in aircraft diverting to other airports to refuel. Delays continued throughout the evening for some flights, with most flights returning to normal this morning.Analyst Comment: This is more of a localized issue resulting with problems internal to the airport. Initially, statements indicated that the problem was within the supply chain itself, as this airport is supplied by trucks carrying fuel and not a pipeline like many other airports. However this afternoon, the airport stated that the issue was due to an electrical wiring problem at the fuel point.Oregon: On Saturday, authorities discovered a body dump site at a rural home in Washington County. Local authorities initially responded to a fire at a residence on NW Otis Lane, after neighbors reported seeing a vehicle on fire at this location. Once firefighters arrived on scene, they discovered a series of human remains. All total, 5x bodies were found at this location, along with several deceased animals. Once police arrived on scene, the suspect was identified as Benjamin Charles Parker, who was tracked to an undisclosed location in Enumclaw, WA. At this location, Parker was discovered deceased in his vehicle. No further information has been provided on this incident, and the investigation into what actually happened continues.Nevada: Major wildfires continue to spread in the vicinity of Reno, with roughly 14,000 homes remaining under mandatory evacuation orders. Residential areas to the north and west of the city remain threatened as the Hawk Fire remains at zero-percent containment. Local authorities state that this fire was caused by human activity, though the exact point and circumstances of the origin has not yet been disclosed.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the Middle East, maritime traffic throughout the region remains stagnant as the war of information continues. On Friday, reports circulated claiming that 40x ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz secretly, using the southern Omani route. In reality, this report is a complete fabrication. Not only is merchant traffic easily verifiable via a number of sources, but the UKMTO themselves (which work for USNAVCENT) stated that this entire week, the amount of traffic through the Strait has been in the "single digits" both ways.This report was almost certainly intended to manipulate financial markets once again, as Brent crude started climbing back up due to the announcement of the economic warfare campaign intended for Iran. TankerTrackers has stated that all total, over the past 7 days, the entire region has exported 6 million barrels of oil per day, though not all of such has transited the Strait (some has originated from Oman and the UAE, which have pipelines bypassing the Strait). This figure is also the totality of petroleum that has been exported to the global market; the exact amount of petroleum which has specifically been exported to the United States is not as easy to parse from the total. Nevertheless, the total figure is still much less than the pre-war average of roughly 20 million barrels per day, which is the main reason for why the United States continues to drain the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

The first of Russia and Iran's aging shadow fleet is sinking. The tanker is carrying ~1 million barrels of crude bound for India, but that oil is already leaking into the water off the Omani coast. Join the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/PeterZeihan Full Newsletter: https://bit.ly/4fSbqTM

In the last few episodes we have tracked the miraculous discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand — the importance of which cannot really be overstated. While diamonds placed South Africa on the map, gold was going to convert the struggling region into a financial paradise for British financiers — and therein lies the imperial rub. However, it's time to step back a tad to provide an historical overview for the late 1880s and it's also time to zoom out of southern Africa to take a good hard look at global events. For centuries before European powers drew border lines across maps of the continent, the western Indian Ocean functioned as a single economic basin. Fleets of dhow's linked Gujarat, the Persian Gulf, the South Arabian coast, and the Swahili littoral, their journey's dictated by the predictable rhythm of the monsoon winds which blow southwest toward Africa from November to March and reverse northeast toward Arabia and India from April to September, This was a commercial matrix of city-states fueled by the exchange of African ivory, timber, gold, and slaves for Indian textiles, Chinese porcelain, and Middle Eastern metalwork. The Sultanate of Zanzibar was born directly out of this maritime deep history. In 1840, Sultan Seyyid Said of Oman moved his royal court from Muscat to Stone Town on the island of Zanzibar. By anchoring his authority off the East African coast, he consolidated control over the lucrative trade routes stretching deep into the African interior to the Great Lakes. The island served as a massive commercial emporium and agricultural power, built heavily on clove plantations operated by slaves while Indian merchant financiers—the banyans—backed the long-distance caravans into the mainland. Sultan Barghash bin Said was a proud son of the legendary Seyyid Said, inheriting the throne of Stone Town in 1870 while his brother Majid was bequethed Oman itself. Sharper and more ambitious than Majid, Barghash spent his eighteen-year reign modernizing Zanzibar—building piped water systems, telegraph links, and grand stone palaces. But his survival relied on a faustian bargain. Guided by Sir John Kirk—the British Consul-General who became his shadow advisor—Barghash aligned his dynasty entirely with London. Kirk was the single most influential British official in East Africa during the late 19th century. A Scottish physician, naturalist, and explorer, he first gained prominence as David Livingstone's trusted second-in-command on the Zambezi Expedition between 1858 and 1864. In 1866, he was appointed to the British Agency in Zanzibar, eventually rising to become Consul-General and Political Agent. When German agent Carl Peters began seizing territory on the mainland, London chose European alliance-building with Berlin over its promises to Zanzibar. In 1873, under direct British gunboat pressure, Barghash signed the treaty that outlawed the maritime slave trade and shut down Stone Town's notorious public slave market. It was an act of political self-mutilation; it deeply alienated his own Omani elite and rich plantation owners, but Barghash traded his domestic standing for what he believed was an ironclad guarantee of British protection over his mainland empire. Unfortunately, that gamble proved fatal. The Foreign Office in London watched the global map with growing anxiety as rival flags sprouted across the continent. What infuriated British diplomats most was a sudden, unnatural alliance between their two greatest rivals: France and Germany. Furious over Britain's unilateral grab of Egypt in 1882, the French teamed up with Otto von Bismarck to check British ambition. London had tried a sly maneuver in West Africa—signing a treaty with a weak Portugal to recognize Portuguese control over the mouth of the Congo, effectively using Lisbon as a buffer to keep other powers out. But Bismarck saw right through it.

In the last few episodes we have tracked the miraculous discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand — the importance of which cannot really be overstated. While diamonds placed South Africa on the map, gold was going to convert the struggling region into a financial paradise for British financiers — and therein lies the imperial rub. However, it's time to step back a tad to provide an historical overview for the late 1880s and it's also time to zoom out of southern Africa to take a good hard look at global events. For centuries before European powers drew border lines across maps of the continent, the western Indian Ocean functioned as a single economic basin. Fleets of dhow's linked Gujarat, the Persian Gulf, the South Arabian coast, and the Swahili littoral, their journey's dictated by the predictable rhythm of the monsoon winds which blow southwest toward Africa from November to March and reverse northeast toward Arabia and India from April to September, This was a commercial matrix of city-states fueled by the exchange of African ivory, timber, gold, and slaves for Indian textiles, Chinese porcelain, and Middle Eastern metalwork. The Sultanate of Zanzibar was born directly out of this maritime deep history. In 1840, Sultan Seyyid Said of Oman moved his royal court from Muscat to Stone Town on the island of Zanzibar. By anchoring his authority off the East African coast, he consolidated control over the lucrative trade routes stretching deep into the African interior to the Great Lakes. The island served as a massive commercial emporium and agricultural power, built heavily on clove plantations operated by slaves while Indian merchant financiers—the banyans—backed the long-distance caravans into the mainland. Sultan Barghash bin Said was a proud son of the legendary Seyyid Said, inheriting the throne of Stone Town in 1870 while his brother Majid was bequethed Oman itself. Sharper and more ambitious than Majid, Barghash spent his eighteen-year reign modernizing Zanzibar—building piped water systems, telegraph links, and grand stone palaces. But his survival relied on a faustian bargain. Guided by Sir John Kirk—the British Consul-General who became his shadow advisor—Barghash aligned his dynasty entirely with London. Kirk was the single most influential British official in East Africa during the late 19th century. A Scottish physician, naturalist, and explorer, he first gained prominence as David Livingstone's trusted second-in-command on the Zambezi Expedition between 1858 and 1864. In 1866, he was appointed to the British Agency in Zanzibar, eventually rising to become Consul-General and Political Agent. When German agent Carl Peters began seizing territory on the mainland, London chose European alliance-building with Berlin over its promises to Zanzibar. In 1873, under direct British gunboat pressure, Barghash signed the treaty that outlawed the maritime slave trade and shut down Stone Town's notorious public slave market. It was an act of political self-mutilation; it deeply alienated his own Omani elite and rich plantation owners, but Barghash traded his domestic standing for what he believed was an ironclad guarantee of British protection over his mainland empire. Unfortunately, that gamble proved fatal. The Foreign Office in London watched the global map with growing anxiety as rival flags sprouted across the continent. What infuriated British diplomats most was a sudden, unnatural alliance between their two greatest rivals: France and Germany. Furious over Britain's unilateral grab of Egypt in 1882, the French teamed up with Otto von Bismarck to check British ambition. London had tried a sly maneuver in West Africa—signing a treaty with a weak Portugal to recognize Portuguese control over the mouth of the Congo, effectively using Lisbon as a buffer to keep other powers out. But Bismarck saw right through it.

An oil slick off Oman has begun contaminating beaches as it edges closer to shore. It came from the Russia-linked tanker, Caroline Bezengi, which was under sanctions and disabled by an explosion in June. Environmentalists are also warning about the long-term impact of pollution to the region caused by the Iran war. Iraq and the US have reached a final agreement on the withdrawal of the international force set up to fight ISIS. The move comes as Baghdad also seeks to disarm militia groups and shift its relationship with the US towards economic and security co-operation. Lebanon's parliament has passed a contentious amnesty law aimed at easing overcrowding in the country's prisons. But some critics fear that it would spare prisoners convicted of attacking or killing members of the Lebanese army, allowing them to escape their full punishment. Syria has formally protested to the UN after Colombia recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. New Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella – a staunch supporter of Israel – made the announcement days after being sworn in. And in the UAE, stargazers headed for the desert early on Thursday morning to watch the Perseid meteor shower light up the sky. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

Bridget Toomey reports the Houthis have escalated their regional campaign by striking Saudi Arabia's Jazan refinery, demonstrating their ability to disrupt global energy markets despite recent defense pacts. Within Yemen, the Houthis are intensifying attacks on government-held ports like Mocha and oil-rich regions like Marib to expand their territorial control. These strikes often target civilian displacement camps, using ballistic missiles and drones to sow terror and gain leverage in future negotiations. While Saudi Arabia pursues diplomatic off-ramps through Omani mediation, the Houthis continue to use military pressure to force an agreement favorable to their long-term dominance. (6)

TABLE OF CONTENTS JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-10-2026.John Hardie reports North Korea is deploying a specialized unit equipped with KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles to assist Russia's war efforts. This shipment, potentially totaling 120 missiles, significantly bolsters Russia's magazine depth as it continues pounding Ukrainian cities. The relationship is mutually beneficial: Russia receives much-needed munitions and troops, while North Korea gains combat experience and technical assistance for its satellite and missile programs. Ukraine, facing a critical shortage of air defense interceptors, is seeking to use Starlink within Russian territory to hunt and strike these missile launchers before they can fire. (1)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa report Venezuelan negotiators have established a timeline for a political transition, aiming to restore rights and select new electoral authorities by December. However, there are significant concerns regarding the lack of a firm election date and the ongoing militarization of the Bolivarian revolution. Simultaneously, diplomatic relations between Brazil and the U.S. have deteriorated, resulting in the U.S. revoking the credentials of Brazil's ambassador. In Colombia, new president Abelardo de la Espriella has launched a decisive military response against narco-terrorism, a move that regional leaders hope will dismantle the cross-border havens used by Venezuelan-linked criminal groups. (2)Malcolm Hoenlein discusses a new mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan that has emerged to counter Iranian influence and the Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, in Gaza, empirical data from UNICEF and the WHO challenges international narratives of famine, showing malnutrition rates are actually lower than in many neighboring countries. Theft of aid by Hamas remains a primary obstacle to relief efforts. In Iran, the regime faces severe domestic instability due to energy and water shortages, yet it continues to make extreme "non-negotiable" demands of the U.S., including $300 billion in reparations, while escalating public executions to silence internal dissent. (3)David Daoud explains Iran is currently leveraging negotiations with the U.S. to secure a ceasefire that protects Hezbollah from further Israeli military pressure while allowing the group to rebuild. Critics argue that U.S. security assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is a poor investment, as the LAF lacks the political will to disarm Hezbollah within its own borders. While a fragile ceasefire has shifted active war toward localized "policing operations" and skirmishes, Hezbollah explicitly rejects any linkage between an Israeli withdrawal and its own disarmament. The Trump administration is reportedly prioritizing "quiet" in Lebanon, which has forced Israeli forces into a more reactive posture. (4)Mariam Wahba reports the Sudanese civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now entering its fourth year, has left over 400,000 dead. The conflict has evolved into a complex proxy war; the UAE supports the RSF to gain access to gold mines, while Egypt and Turkey lean toward the SAF. Iran has further complicated the battlefield by selling drones and hardware to both factions. Although neither side is seen as morally superior, civilians frequently celebrate when the SAF liberates territory from the RSF. Sudanese activists continue to call for a transition to civilian government despite the ongoing violence. (5)Bridget Toomey reports the Houthis have escalated their regional campaign by striking Saudi Arabia's Jazan refinery, demonstrating their ability to disrupt global energy markets despite recent defense pacts. Within Yemen, the Houthis are intensifying attacks on government-held ports like Mocha and oil-rich regions like Marib to expand their territorial control. These strikes often target civilian displacement camps, using ballistic missiles and drones to sow terror and gain leverage in future negotiations. While Saudi Arabia pursues diplomatic off-ramps through Omani mediation, the Houthis continue to use military pressure to force an agreement favorable to their long-term dominance. (6)Edmund Fitton-Brown describes the Houthis' methodical campaign, likely coordinated with Iran, to intimidate Saudi Arabia and prevent its entry into the Abraham Accords. Recent strikes on Mocha and Jazan highlight a resurgence of the 12-year-old Yemeni civil war, which remains a primary source of regional instability. While a new Sunni alliance between Pakistan and Turkey offers symbolic support to the Saudis, it lacks the practical military "teeth" to intervene on the ground. Meanwhile, the UAE is asserting itself as an agile regional powerhouse, investing in high-tech infrastructure and maintaining an uncompromising stance against the Muslim Brotherhood. (7)Janatyn Sayeh analyzes the appointment of Mohsen Rezaei, an original IRGC veteran, to the Supreme National Security Council, signaling a return to hardline, ideologically driven decision-making in Tehran. Rezaei, linked to past international terrorism, reinforces the regime's aggressive stance against the U.S. and Israel. Iran currently refuses to engage in talks until the U.S. meets extreme demands, including unfreezing all assets and paying billions in reparations. The regime utilizes a "good cop, bad cop" strategy between factions to maximize leverage, but remains unified in its goals of expanding its nuclear program and securing regional dominance through its "resistance axis." (8)Conrad Black reports Prime Minister Mark Carney is under pressure to revitalize Canada's economy 16 months after his election. Despite being a "treasure house" of resources, Canada suffers from lengthy project delays caused by redundant provincial regulations and indigenous land claims. Black notes that Canada's public sector workforce is disproportionately large, representing 12% of the population, and calls for corporate tax cuts to foster competitiveness. While Carney is exploring diversified trade, the U.S. remains Canada's indispensable partner, accounting for roughly 64% of its trade. Carney's political survival depends on achieving the kind of robust growth seen south of the border. (9)Scott Harold explains the U.S. and Japan are adopting a "walking quietly and carrying a big stick" approach to deter a Chinese attack on Taiwan. This strategy involves creating a "hellscape" of thousands of drones and missiles to make an amphibious assault impossibly risky for Beijing. While Japan's official documents avoid explicitly naming Taiwan to prevent escalation, its leadership views a conflict as a survival-endangering situation. China's attempts to annex portions of the Western Pacific as domestic waters pose a direct threat to the global economy. Persistent deterrence remains essential, as the Chinese military currently lacks high-end operational experience and faces leadership purges. (10)Bill Gertz reports a Pentagon official's attendance at a People's Liberation Army (PLA) celebration has sparked fears of a "defeatist" accommodation policy toward Beijing. Critics argue that seeking "respectful relations" with a Leninist regime is interpreted as subservience and weakness. This shift is reportedly influenced by concerns over Chinese control of rare earth minerals. China continues its global expansion and military bullying against neighbors like the Philippinesand Japan. Gertz warns that the U.S. education system is failing to inform the public about the threats of China's high-tech totalitarian system, which seeks to dominate through economic and military coercion. (11)

//The Wire//1700Z August 11, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: DETAILS EMERGE REGARDING LAST MONTH'S SECURITY INCIDENT INVOLVING AIR FORCE ONE. MULTIPLE OIL SPILLS CONTINUE TO SPREAD AROUND PERSIAN GULF AND ARABIAN SEA.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: Overnight the targeting of merchant shipping continued, with both Iranian and American strikes on commercial vessels. Iran struck an oil tanker sometime over the past 24 hours, which resulted in an oil spill which washed up on the shores of Qeshm island this morning. In the Gulf of Oman, the United States struck a different merchant vessel for violating the American blockade.Analyst Comment: Similarly, a separate oil spill has continued to expand in Omani waters, after unclear circumstances (i.e. some sort of attack) led to an explosion onboard the M/T CAROLINE BEZENGI two months ago. Since that time, this vessel has been adrift until she ran aground in an Omani nature preserve. This morning Oman announced that the subsequent oil spill now covers roughly 150 square miles.Red Sea/HOA: The Houthis struck another vessel in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait last night.Analyst Comment: Locals claim this vessel was the M/V TIHAMAH a smaller regional containership that the Houthis had suspected of carrying out weapons shipments from Saudi Arabia, to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. If this is true, this would not be surprising, but every ship that gets struck in this Strait increases apprehension among commercial shipping companies.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Overnight, more details were released regarding the security incident affecting Air Force One during President Trump's visit to Turkey last month. At the time, a brief scandal emerged after President Trump switched from the newer Air Force One to the older airframe, due to an unidentified security incident of some kind. More specifically, the threat involved the newer Air Force One airframe allegedly not having sufficient missile defense systems, due to having been pressed into service too quickly for the appropriate countermeasures to be installed.However yesterday, more of the truth came out. President Trump actually pulled a double-switch. Instead of boarding the older legacy Air Force One, the Secret Service used a catering van to covertly move the President to an Air Force C-32A (one of the administrative backups that frequently accompanies AF1). From there, both aircraft flew to the United Kingdom (with President Trump's actual aircraft flying completely blacked out and not emitting any radio signals), where the President transitioned back to the newer Air Force 1 airframe for the trip back to the United States.Many people who are not familiar with the world of counterterrorism may think this is a super cool, James Bond-like operation that fooled those pesky journalists. However, this incident proves that a clear and present danger to the President existed, and was significant enough to warrant extreme measures. At the time, the White House claimed that the switch to a different plane was conducted out of an abundance of caution. Now, we find out that he was actually secretly switched to a third plane, and smuggled into that plane in a catering van. From the perspective of executive security, placing the principle in unorthodox situations like this to ensure security is a last-ditch method...a tactic that is utilized when the danger isreal enough to outweigh any inconvenience to the protectee. The Secret Service resorting to cramming the President in the back of a catering van is a tactic that has been used in the past, but only under extreme circumstances. Bill Clinton allegedly used this trick top avoid the press during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and Joe Biden was also suspected of having used this tactic when he had trouble climbing the AF1 staircase a few years ago. As it stands, President Trump's use of this technique is one of the first public uses for security reasons. Perhaps the most entertaining aspect to the story is that President Trump left the media on the plane that was threatened with being shot down. Most of these journalists, even in retrospect, don't seem to realize that they were they were bait.More broadly, this incident is yet another peek behind the curtain regarding the shocking levels of security that President Trump is now surrounded by. A few days ago President Trump was spotted playing golf mere feet away from an Avenger Surface-to-Air Missile defense system, which had been set up near the fairway of Trump's golf course in Bedminster while the President played a few rounds. Similarly, a few months ago, the President quietly began having Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft holding station near him at all times, just in case enemy fighter jets or cruise missiles enter the airspace.To be sure, this security is very likely necessary, but therein lies the problem: If the President now requires a SAM system to be parked mere feet away from him during an ad hoc trip that only takes a few hours...this is indicative of how serious the threats are within the homeland. Even the notoriously paranoid Vladimir Putin, who got his start in the KGB and who's bedroom in the Kremlin has been targeted (so far unsuccessfully) by Ukrainian drones, doesn't travel around with an AWACS aircraft at all times. This is also very unlikely to be a case of President Trump himself being scared, and fortifying his surroundings as his predecessor did. President Trump is not a military man, and he would not have known to ask for a SAM system, and it's highly unlikely that Trump even knows that an AWACS follows him around everywhere now.Unfortunately, all of these extremely substantial security practices are probably not an overreaction, but likely a response to legitimate and very specific threats. What's more, the security practices that we visibly observe are not the countermeasures that would be effective against the standard lone-wolf terrorist or the standard variety of screeching lunatic who might want to target the President. These countermeasures are only for countering nationstate-level threats. In Turkey, for instance, the only entities that could have targeted President Trump's plane are national-level actors. Similarly, the use of an Avenger SAM system implies that the threat might be so quick to materialize, that the standard Combat Air Patrol that is mere minutes away...might not be fast enough of a response. If any other President had been observed chipping the ball onto the green with a SAM system parked in the rough just off the fairway...the American people would be panic buying cases of water and digging a bunker in their back yard by now.But because a level of tension that surpasses the height of the Cold War has become normalized, the general population barely notices. As long as Netflix works and Doritos are on store shelves, the fact that the United States government has rapidly increased steps to prepare for major, nationstate-level attacks within the homeland will continue to go unnoticed by most.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

//The Wire//2300Z August 6, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OUTAGE RESULTS IN MINNEAPOLIS CENTER DIVERTING MOST AIRCRAFT TO OTHER SECTORS. NEW CDC DIRECTOR CONFIRMED BY SENATE. IRAN REPORTEDLY STRIKES TWO TANKERS IN HORMUZ.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: Iranian targeting of merchant vessels has continued, with two more vessels being struck this afternoon in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian sources claim that they struck the M/T NISSOS KEA (heading outbound) and the M/T NISSOS KEROS (heading inbound) while the two vessels were being escorted by the United States through the southern Omani route.Analyst Comment: These two strikes have not yet been confirmed by the UKMTO, but reporting regarding strikes on ships is ironically hit-or-miss at this point. If these ships were being escorted at the time, these strikes would be quite important, but this detail is the most questionable at this time. What is certain is that both vessels shut off their transponders when they got close to the Strait, and the status of both vessels is not known.-HomeFront-Minnesota: This afternoon all flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were grounded for several hours, due to a communications issue with Air Traffic Control. Most aircraft diverted to different air control sectors while Minneapolis Center was down, and many delays were reported nationwide due to the cascading affects of an outage in a busy air corridor. The exact cause of the outage has not yet been disclosed.Washington D.C. - The FAA is investigating air traffic control procedures at Ronald Reagan International Airport after an incident involving the President. Yesterday afternoon, MARINE ONE lifted off from the White House grounds to transport President Trump to Joint Base Andrews to depart for Los Angeles. Normally, when MARINE ONE flies this routine route, commercial aviation at Reagan is halted for a few minutes to provide a security standoff for Presidential aircraft. Tuesday night, this did not occur, and a civilian airliner passed within one mile of the President's helicopter.Analyst Comment: In terms of security incidents, this is comparatively minor and no safety concerns came about. There was no risk of collision, but due to the extreme levels of caution that is in place with any Presidential aircraft (and the zero-fail nature of the mission) ATC at Reagan making this mistake is concerning. Especially in the context of the long list of aviation mishaps that have plagued this specific airport for the past few years.Washington D.C. - Yesterday the Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the CDC. Before this position, Schwartz was a clinician for the Coast Guard, with her entire career being spent in the realm of creating and managing vaccine policy. Her latest position was to serve as the Preventative Medicine Chief in the Operational Medicine Readiness Division at headquarters in Washington, and was in charge of creating all vaccine policies for the USCG. Her priority areas for vaccine management and administration have been in Haiti, New Orleans (after Hurricane Katrina), and more recently with the Ebola outbreak in Africa.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The confirmation hearings to get the CDC Director position across the line were initially a bit uncertain, as Schwartz's main interest is in the world of vaccines. As HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy has been extremely outspoken on the topic of vaccine policy management, most of her confirmation hearings involved Senators questioning if she would continue the ways of the "old guard" at the CDC, or if she would follow the newer policy initiatives of her boss (Secretary Kennedy), who most of the traditional bureaucracy opposes. After a few brief rounds of questioning, the Senate was satisfied with her answers and she was confirmed with the vote splitting mostly along party lines.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Iranian and Omani officials reported further progress toward an arrangement governing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This is including agreement on the proposed maritime route's coordinates. We get the details from Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Iranian and Omani officials reported further progress toward an arrangement governing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This is including agreement on the proposed maritime route's coordinates. We get the details from Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

US President Trump said they are moving along very nicely regarding Iran, and we will know in 48 hours about Iran.Axios reported that the proposed deal would route inbound Gulf traffic through Iranian waters and outbound traffic through Omani waters for 60 days, with no fees and the central lane cleared of mines within 30 days ahead of a permanent arrangement.Yemen's Houthis said they attacked a vessel in the Red Sea, attacked a Saudi oil tanker off the Yanbu and stated operations will continue and escalate in targeting Saudi oil tankers.US equity futures are mixed, with AMD and SPCX weighing on the NQ.DXY flat, NZD underperforms after weak employment data.Energy benchmarks climb as markets await for a potential agreement over the Strait of Hormuz.Looking ahead, highlights include US ADP Employment Change (Jul), S&P Services/Composite PMI Final (Jul), ISM Services PMI (Jul), NBH Minutes (Jul), US Treasury QRA/Press Conference, BCB Policy Announcement (Aug). Speakers include Fed's Cook. Earnings from Eli Lilly, Uber, Walt Disney & SanDisk.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

US President Trump said they are moving along very nicely regarding Iran, and we will know in 48 hours about Iran.US is nearing a Hormuz deal and is aiming for an announcement on Wednesday, according to Axios.Axios reported that the proposed deal would route inbound Gulf traffic through Iranian waters and outbound traffic through Omani waters for 60 days, with no fees and the central lane cleared of mines within 30 days ahead of a permanent arrangement.Crude futures remained pressured overnight after sliding yesterday as multiple reports pointed towards progress surrounding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.APAC stocks were mostly higher as the region took its cue from the rally on Wall Street; European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open.Looking ahead, highlights include Global S&P Services/Composite PMI Final (Jul), US ADP Employment Change (Jul), ISM Services PMI (Jul), NBH Minutes (Jul), US Treasury QRA/Press Conference, BCB Policy Announcement (Aug). Speakers include Fed's Cook & Schmid. Supply from Australia & Germany. Earnings from Eli Lilly, Uber, Walt Disney, SanDisk, Siemens Energy, Infineon, Deutsche Post, Glencore & Novo Nordisk.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Ukrainian drones have been striking warehouses belonging to Russia's online retailer Wildberries. Ukrainian officials say the company provides Russian forces with drone components and navigation equipment; but the Wildberries' CEO rejects the claim. Also, Ireland has introduced a public register of people convicted of serious domestic violence offenses, following a four-year campaign by the family of a murdered Dublin woman. And, climbers mourn the death of the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest. Plus, the Slovakian town that wants to get rid of its UNESCO designation. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this episode, David looks at the ongoing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, new threats to shipping in the Red Sea, a new Omani proposal for joint Gulf State oversight of Hormuz transit and the supply crisis facing the diesel market.  

Iran warns sustained naval pressure risks wider war as Oman advances strait plan伊朗警告：持续海上施压或将引发更大规模战争，阿曼推进海峡管控方案US President Donald Trump said on Monday that "very friendly negotiations" with Iran were underway and touted the US Navy's "good blockade", even as Tehran warned that a continuous naval blockade would amount to an expansion of the war.美国总统唐纳德·特朗普周一称，美国正与伊朗进行“十分友好的谈判”，并夸赞美国海军实施的封锁举措成效良好；与此同时，德黑兰方面警告，持续海上封锁行为等同于扩大战事。Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters accused the US on Monday of threatening Iranian vessels, commercial ships and tankers in Iran's coastal and territorial waters over the past three days as part of an "illegal naval blockade".伊朗哈塔姆安比亚中央总部周一指责美国近三日在伊朗沿岸及领海水域，威胁伊朗船只、民用商船与油轮，实施非法海上封锁。"We warn that this American action is considered an expansion of war in the region," it said in a statement, adding that Iran's armed forces would respond to any threat posed by the US military.该机构在声明中表示：“我们警告，美方此举属于在中东地区扩大战争范畴”，并补充称伊朗武装部队将对美军带来的任何威胁予以回击。Trump also told US news outlet Axios that Washington was engaged in "very deep talks" with Tehran, but warned, "If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action."特朗普还向美国新闻网阿克西奥斯透露，华盛顿正与德黑兰展开深度磋商，但同时发出警告：“倘若谈判无果，美国将重启高强度军事行动。”Control of the Strait of Hormuz has remained a major point of contention since Iran and the US reached an interim memorandum of understanding last month, with tensions over the strategic waterway repeatedly fueling regional instability.自上月美伊达成临时谅解备忘录以来，霍尔木兹海峡的管控权一直是双方主要争端焦点，这条战略水道周边的紧张局势不断加剧，持续破坏地区稳定。Oman has proposed a joint regional mechanism for managing the strait with voluntary fees, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a Gulf source.路透社周二援引海湾地区消息人士消息称，阿曼提议建立区域性联合海峡管控机制，并推行自愿缴费制度。The proposal, which reportedly has regional backing, would prevent Iran from exercising sole control over the waterway. It is modeled on the Strait of Malacca, where users voluntarily contribute to navigation, environmental protection and search-and-rescue efforts.据悉该提案已获得多国支持，旨在杜绝伊朗独自掌控这条航道。方案参照马六甲海峡管理模式设计：航道使用方自愿出资，用于航道通航维护、生态保护以及海上搜救工作。Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi held phone talks with his counterparts in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran to discuss ways to advance "practical, fair and sustainable understandings" on navigation and supply chain flows through the strait, Oman's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.阿曼外交部周一发布消息，阿曼外交大臣巴德尔同卡塔尔、科威特、沙特阿拉伯、埃及以及伊朗外长通电话，商议如何围绕海峡通航、供应链运输达成务实、公平且具备长效性的共识。The developments follow weekend talks between Iranian and Omani officials on navigation security, transit arrangements and sovereign rights, according to Tehran.伊朗方面表示，上述外交互动的背景是：上周末伊阿两国官员已就通航安全、过境安排以及国家主权事宜举行会谈。Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Washington for his eighth meeting with Trump since the US president began his second term, which is "more than any other international leader", according to Netanyahu's office.另一边，以色列总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡正在出访华盛顿，这是特朗普开启第二任期以来二人第八次会面；以色列总理办公室称，会面频次远超其他各国领导人。"We will discuss all the issues on the agenda, first and foremost, Iran," Netanyahu said before leaving for the US on Monday. "Naturally, our goal is to safeguard our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us."内塔尼亚胡周一启程赴美前表态：“我们将商讨所有议程议题，伊朗问题位列首位。我们的核心目标是保障以色列自身安全，同时不断扩大周边和平伙伴圈层。”Sujata Ashwarya, a professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, told China Daily that Netanyahu has little influence over when Washington launches attacks and is unlikely to use the meeting to press for it.新德里的贾米亚·米利亚伊斯兰教大学西亚研究中心教授苏雅塔·阿什瓦里亚接受《中国日报》采访时表示，内塔尼亚胡无法左右美国发动军事打击的时机，也难以借此次会晤敦促美方开战。"His purpose is to shape the terms of whatever settlement follows, which is where Israeli absence from the negotiations has cost most," Ashwarya said.阿什瓦里亚称：“内塔尼亚胡此行意在敲定后续任何和平协议的条款内容；以色列此前始终未能参与谈判，已经为此蒙受了诸多损失。”She explained that the interim US-Iran deal lacked any agreement on Israel's main sticking points: limits on Iran's ballistic missile program, preventing the rebuilding of its network of regional allies, and International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of nuclear sites.她解释道，美伊临时协议并未敲定以色列最为关切的几大分歧事项：限制伊朗弹道导弹研发计划、阻止伊朗重建地区盟友网络、允许国际原子能机构核查伊朗核设施。Ashwarya added that Netanyahu's departing remarks were "revealing".阿什瓦里亚补充说道，内塔尼亚胡临行前的一番话颇具深意，暴露了其真实诉求。A prime minister who measures a relationship in meetings cannot yet measure it in outcomes, she said.她表示：一位只能依靠会面次数来衡量双边关系的总理，尚且无法用实际成果印证两国情谊。"His stated goal also carries a second clause, expanding the circle of peace, and with Saudi normalization now attached to Washington's nuclear offer to Riyadh, that is where Israeli leverage actually sits," she said.“他宣称的目标包含两层含义，扩大和平圈层便是其二；当下沙特关系正常化事宜与美国向沙特提供核合作提议深度绑定，这恰恰是以色列手中最关键的筹码。”The two leaders want different things from the same war, she added. "Trump wants closure he can present as an achievement; Netanyahu wants Iranian recovery prevented, which is served by keeping options open."她最后指出，两位领导人对于这场冲突抱有截然不同的诉求：特朗普希望结束争端，并将停战包装成自身执政政绩；内塔尼亚胡则意图遏制伊朗国力复苏，而保留一切军事选项最有利于实现这一目的。tout /taʊt/大肆宣扬；吹捧；标榜contention /kənˈtenʃn/争端；争执；争论焦点interim /ˈɪntərɪm/临时的；过渡性的memorandum /ˌmeməˈrændəm/备忘录ballistic /bəˈlɪstɪk/弹道的leverage /ˈliːvərɪdʒ/影响力；筹码；优势

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 112-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 41,491 on turnover of 13.6-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan posted the third largest single-session point decline Tuesday as tech stocks took a beating amid lingering concerns over massive spending on AI development that may not deliver comparable returns. Analysts say the index faced pressure soon after the market opened as investors witnessed losses posted by tech stocks in the United States overnight. And memory chip suppliers in South Korea also tumbled, triggering more of a sell-off among local semiconductor stocks. (CNA - NS) Taiwan Search and Rescue on Standby After Kumamoto Quake Taiwan's elite search and rescue teams are on standby to deploy to Japan following a powerful earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture. President Lai Ching-te and Premier Cho Jung-tai has instructed emergency agencies to prepare for deployment (部署). The National Fire Agency says it has contacted the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency to express sympathy and offer support. And officials say Taiwan's international humanitarian aid mechanism will officially activate as soon as Japan's government formally requests emergency assistance through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (NS) Japan 13 Dead** After Kumamoto Quake** Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said 13 people have been found dead after a powerful quake shook part of southwestern Japan. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the southern main island of Kyushu late Tuesday afternoon. Takaichi says this morning that many other people were injured or still missing as rescue work continued overnight. Part of a shopping center collapsed, apparently due to a gas leak, and a huge chimney at a paper factory collapsed (倒塌). The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said more than 260,000 people were advised to evacuate, most of them in Kumamoto prefecture, but also in the neighboring Nagasaki prefecture. IRAN VOWS 'ANY ACTION' TO KEEP CONTROL OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS TRUMP AND NETANYAHU DISCUSS TEHRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has said on Tuesday that Tehran will take any action to keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting an Omani proposal to divide shipping routes and refusing to negotiate (談判) with Washington. The declaration came as US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded White House talks the two described as excellent — with both leaders reaffirming what the White House called an ironclad commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Attention has now turned to whether Washington has given Israel permission to strike Iranian energy infrastructure — something Israel's defence minister says the United States has so far blocked. Mitch Mccann has more from New York. Kashmir Pakistani Officials Accuse Outlawed Political Group of Sabotage Officials in Pakistan administered Kashmir are accusing an outlawed political group of trying to sabotage elections for the region's constitutional assembly. They also allege that Pakistani Taliban militants have infiltrated ongoing protests. The accusations follow clashes on Monday that left one paramilitary officer dead and several others wounded. Armed protesters reportedly opened fire on police and security personnel during a sit-in. The protests have overshadowed (給……蒙上陰影) the election, which began Monday and runs through Aug. 10-th. Authorities claim the Joint Awami Action Committee is behind the unrest and warn that armed militants pose a threat to public order. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 清爽鹹香鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/9erfrd -- 旅遊優惠別錯過！ 可樂旅遊17瘋搶日，每月限定3天搶限量優惠！ 1號訂房折10% 7號票券折7% 17號機票折1.7% 熱愛自由行的你，肯定要每個月鎖定！ https://sofm.pse.is/9erg2k -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

The Daily Business and Finance Show - Wednesday, 29 July 2026 We get our business and finance news from Seeking Alpha and you should too! Subscribe to Seeking Alpha Premium for more in-depth market news and help support this podcast. Free for 14-days! Please click here for more info: Subscribe to Seeking Alpha Premium News Today's headlines: Current stock market is in the early stages of a ‘generational trade' – JPM's Phil Camporeale Oil rises after-hours as Iran attacks U.S. troops, rejects Omani proposal to share Strait of Hormuz SK hynix falls 12% in Korean trading following Q2 results ‘The easy money is made, but hold onto memory stocks' – analyst Sandisk drops again, its third consecutive double-digit percentage slide Bloom Energy jumps on improved outlook as AI power demand grows Most undervalued U.S. energy stocks during Q2 earnings season Rémy Cointreau SA reports Q1 results Asian markets mixed as KOSPI plunge and Middle East risks offset local tailwinds; Fed decision and earnings awaited Explanations from OpenAI ChatGPT API with proprietary prompts. This podcast provides information only and should not be construed as financial or business advice. This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FILE 11. Headline: The Houthi-Iran Alliance and the Fragile Conflict with Saudi Arabia Guest: Edmund Fitton Brown Summary: Edmund Fitton Brown discusses the Houthis' motivation as a revolutionary Islamic force aligned with Iran's campaign against the West. While independent-minded, they share deep ideological ties with Hezbollah. The U.S. prematurely ceased military operations against them last year due to budgetary issues and Omani pressure, failing to stop Red Sea attacks. Recently, tensions escalated as Saudi Arabia challenged Houthi attempts to establish direct flights to Iran. 

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes. On today's podcast: 1) The US and Iran extended their pause in hostilities, with the focus turning to talks between Tehran and Oman over restarting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.Omani and Iranian negotiators met in Tehran over the weekend and discussions are ongoing, according to people familiar with the situation, asking not to be identified referring to sensitive matters. A deal to get ships moving through the waterway more frequently would enable the Islamic Republic and the US to resume formal negotiations about Tehran’s nuclear program and permanently ending their five-month war, the people said. 2) A selloff in semiconductor stocks deepened as signs of progress in China’s advanced chipmaking compounded worries about the sustainability of the artificial intelligence spending boom.US technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.6%, while in Asia, a 7.5% slump put a Bloomberg gauge of semiconductor shares on course for its biggest decline since April 2025. 3) Taiwanese prosecutors detained an Nvidia Corp. employee as part of a probe into the alleged smuggling of AI chips into China, thrusting the US company into a high-profile case concerning the black market for its products.Local investigators searched the home of the staffer and his desk at Nvidia’s Taipei office on July 24, according to people familiar with the matter. The courts later granted prosecutors’ request to detain the person on allegations of forgery and breach of trust, the people said, asking not to be named as the employee’s identity isn’t public.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 68-points this morning from Friday's close, at 43,585 on turnover of 8.6-billion N-T. The market took a beating on Friday, plunging over 1,000 points as a spike in crude oil prices due to escalating military conflicts in the Middle East and lingering concerns over a possible AI bubble spooked investor sentiment. 6,000 more doses of COVID-19 vaccine now available in Taipei The Centers for Disease Control says 6,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be delivered to the Taipei City Department of Health this week and will be distributed to contracted (承包的) medical institutions and outpatient hospital clinics. The statement comes amid claims that clinics in Taipei were reportedly out of COVID-19 vaccine doses. Concern over a lack of vaccine doses comes after the C-D-C last week announced the extension of its publicly funded COVID-19 vaccination program through September 28 due to a rise in the number of cases. According to the C-D-C, Taiwan entered a new COVID-19 epidemic phase two weeks ago, as outpatient and emergency room visits rose by 66.5-per cent in the week of July 12 to 18 from the previous week. The publicly funded vaccination had been scheduled to end July 31. Miaoli Mazu** temple becomes Taiwan's 1st to retire carbon credits** The Baishatun Gongtian Temple in Miaoli County has become the first in Taiwan to offer visitors the option of offsetting their carbon emissions through the retirement of Gold Standard carbon credits. According to the Tourism Innovation Association of Taiwan, data shows the average visitor to the temple generated about 0.04 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent. Under the new scheme, government agencies, businesses, schools, organizations and religious groups visiting the temple for worship, company outings, or cultural tours can apply to retire carbon credits based on the number of participants. The association is also partnering with the Miaoli County government's Culture and Tourism Bureau to develop travel itineraries centered on Gongtian Temple that have also obtained carbon credit retirement certification. US Seattle Shooting Multiple Dead In the US… Multiple people were injured in a shooting Sunday night at an events complex (大型展演場館) close to the Space Needle in Seattle, police said in a statement. Authorities did not immediately release more information. US AND IRAN HOLD FIRE FOR SECOND DAY AS OMAN BROKERS TALKS ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ SHIPPING ROUTES The United States and Iran have held their fire for a second consecutive day, as negotiators work to revive an interim (暫時的) ceasefire deal to end the war. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz has said US President Donald Trump is giving the talks room, while a senior Iranian source has told Reuters that Tehran will maintain the pause as long as Washington does. An Omani delegation is now in Tehran to discuss the management of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — the issue at the heart of the conflict. Jagruti Dave reports from Washington. Brazil Recalls Ambassador to Argentina After Milei Insult Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has recalled its ambassador to Argentina after President Javier Milei insulted Brazilian officials while in their country. The decision comes a day after Milei was in Sao Paulo participating in an event where Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, a son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, was confirmed as the presidential candidate of his father's party. During his speech at Saturday's event, Milei accused Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of being a “thief” and a “delinquent” (違法者) among other things. Lula is seeking reelection and will run against Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, whose family has many ties with the Trump administration. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 出國前最怕匯率一直漲?中國信託銀行挺你聰明換匯 設定匯率到價智慧通知，匯率相對低點不錯過 再領優惠券享美金最高減3分等優惠 立即設定：https://sofm.pse.is/9epgd4 投資外幣如幣別轉換可能產生匯兌損失，應評估涉及自身情況審慎投資。 完整注意事項詳見網站資訊。 -- 【可樂旅遊17瘋搶日】 每月限定3天搶限量優惠！ 1號訂房，享9折優惠，最高折千元 7號票券，享7%優惠，最高折300元 17號機票，享1.7%折扣，最高折千元 https://sofm.pse.is/9erlcw -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

//The Wire//2300Z July 20, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: CENTCOM CONFIRMS FOUR AMERICAN CASUALTIES FOLLOWING IRANIAN STRIKES IN MIDDLE EAST. ARSON ATTACK REPORTED AT FEDERAL BUILDING IN NYC.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Jordan: Over the weekend CENTCOM confirmed the deaths of three US service members, who were killed as a result of the strikes on a barracks building at Muwaffaq al Salti Airbase. Two of the casualties have been identified as 1LT Tyler James Feehan, and Private Isabella Gonzales. The third casualty officially remains classified as Missing in Action as the remains will require DNA analysis to confirm identity, and has not yet been officially identified. A fourth casualty was also reported somewhere in Iraq, which was the result of an Iranian drone strike.Middle East: Following Iranian targeting of the al-Subiya Power Station, Kuwait has begun to rely on portable substations and generators to provide electricity while repairs are made. The scale of the power outages is not known, but Iranian forces have struck several logistical hubs and electrical power plants over the past few days. In Bahrain, Iranian targeting has remained heavy over the weekend, with several ballistic missile strikes reported at American installations around the country.Strait of Hormuz: Several more merchant vessels were struck over the past few days, most of which were tankers attempting to use the southern Omani route instead of the Iranian route. At least one of these vessels resulted in the crew abandoning ship before being rescued.Iran: After these collective strikes over the weekend, American targeting efforts intensified with the latest bombing campaign focusing on the targeting of bridges and civilian roadway tunnels around Bandar Abbas. Many of the roads that lead to the port city are now cut off, with only a few major roadways allowing access to the city. Several bridges have also already been repaired, and the status of others remains unclear until better satellite imagery is available.-HomeFront-New York: This morning an arson attack was reported at the Federal building in downtown Manhattan. One assailant approached the building with a bucket of gasoline, dumping the bucket at the northeast side of the structure. The suspect immediately ignited the pool of gas, which also contained a mix of commercial grade fireworks. The suspect was immediately detained by the plethora of police already on scene, as the accelerant burned on the sidewalk. Analyst Comment: No motive has yet been conveyed regarding this attack, however some of the paraphernalia scattered throughout the scene of the attack appears to be political in nature, opposing ICE.Washington D.C. - This morning, the latest numbers for Strategic Petroleum Reserve levels were released indicating that over the past week, the US has drained the SPR by an additional 5.1 million barrels, to it's lowest level since the Tanker War in 1983.Analyst Comment: Many might have assumed that the US might have re-stocked the SPR during the two-week ceasefire in the Middle East, however very little oil actually made it out of the region during that time, which amounted to only a tiny fraction of US daily usage. Since the war began five months ago, only a very small percentage of oil has exited the region, and the US has been draining the SPR at breakneck pace in order to keep the country going.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Concerning the American casualties sustained over the weekend, it is extremely important to note that the deaths of 1LT Feehan and PVT Gonzales are officially classified under Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR)...not under Operation EPIC FURY (OEFU). Inherent Resolve is the long-standing mission to combat ISIS in Syria, and not in any way linked to the current war in Iran. As a result, the true number of casualties sustained warrants further investigation. This classification could have been an administrative error, but this would also be a way of camouflaging casualty figures. The Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) is the main database for logging all American casualties, which are defined by military operation. In this case, these deaths are not cataloged under either operation yet, adding to the more broad (but also growing) concerns that the database has been concealing the true number of casualties, specifically the numbers of personnel wounded.In fact, while admonishing these concerns as "baseless and malicious accusations" Assistant Secretary of War Sean Parnell directly contradicted the numbers his own department was producing. He stated in an interview with CBS News that roughly 100 personnel had been wounded throughout the war over the past month....while his own database states that a grand total of zero personnel had been wounded for the month of July, and three in June. If this testimony is accurate, this confirms beyond all doubt that the Pentagon is lying about the number of troops wounded during this campaign. Considering that the Pentagon has disclosed a total of 413x soldiers wounded during this entire campaign, ~100x WIA being reported within a month (which also included a two-week ceasefire) is alarming to say the least.The cause of the fatalities reported over the weekend is also important to note as these deaths were very likely preventable. In the days leading up to the ballistic missile striking the housing at this base, the Iranians successfully struck the Patriot battery in Erbil, Iraq. This missile defense site would have been one of the sites providing protection for missiles launched into Jordan. With this battery offline or at least degraded in some way, it is possible that a clear air corridor existed that allowed Iranian ballistic missiles to fly unchallenged through a gap in air defense coverage. If the Erbil strike also damaged the radar array, it is also very possible that the warning time for an incoming ballistic missile would have been reduced, so any defenses at the target base would have been less effective. Obviously, the true scale of the damage to this air defense site would be classified, so in the public eye we have to guess as to how bad it was based on blurry satellite imagery. However the military commanders who knew the systems and did NOT have to guess, were also the same commanders who had the authority to either issue warnings or orders to disperse from the unprotected Containerized Housing Units (CHUs) that were struck by Iran. The failure of command to disperse their soldiers is what led to these fatalities.The very minute that the Patriot battery was struck in Erbil was a major clue that the Iranians were conducting shaping fires of their own...they were striking the air defense sites so as to open up a gap in air defense coverage, and reach out to American positions with their larger ballistic missiles.Though it is usually in poor taste to reflect on failures in the immediate aftermath of the death of troops, in the interest of expediency sometimes uncomfortable conversations must be had in order to prevent further loss of life. If a gap in air defense coverage is what allowed this strike to happen, it is almost certain that this gap still exists and that the danger to American service members is still not mitigated. For ALL American troops in the Middle East, this observation must be noted: If the Iranians are striking air defense sites, the next assumption must be that the Iranians are planning to strike something that would have been protected by that site. In retrospect this is common sense, but even at this very moment, the continued strikes on American positions (and the nearly total lack of fortification efforts at these bases, even to this day) continues to indicate that the Iranian targeting efforts are not being taken seriously by senior American decision makers. Five months into this war, CENTCOM leadership has still not figured out that the Iranians can strike their bases at will, and as demonstrated by the strikes in Kuwait and Jordan, the US is still not digging in, and also not dispersing enough to avoid troops getting killed. No underground fortification efforts have been undertaken at any base in the Middle East, and satellite imagery indicates that no substantial fortifications have been undertaken either. Granting as much leeway to the Pentagon's decision making process as possible, it is possible that no hardening of defenses would have mattered considering the missiles Iran is launching. Drone defense is one thing, but it would take years to build a bunker that would withstand the impact of an Iranian Fattah or Ghadr missile. Nevertheless, when it comes to defending American positions, doing something is better than doing nothing, and concrete does not take half a year to dry.Even if large-scale construction projects are off the menu, ALL military publications, textbooks, and training scenarios dictate and demand what has been obvious since World War One...Dispersion is the name of the game. This is what kept casualties to a minimum in Bahrain, but different theater commanders have different personal initiatives. Some are more proactive with their defense, and others have done nothing at all, besides making sure that all of the vehicles in the motorpool are lined up neatly.Where this goes from here is anyone's guess, but unless radical and immediate changes are made, the United States will continue to suffer casualties. And as long as the bombing continues which is motivating Iran to target our bases, this indirectly highlights the deficiencies with American air defense technologies, not just for this war, but for the wars to come.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be72

//The Wire//2300Z July 15, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: STRIKES CONTINUE TO ESCALATE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS WAR REMAINS HOT. PARASITIC INFECTION CONTINUES TO SPREAD IN USA. POLICE OFFICERS AROUND THE NATION INVESTIGATED FOR ILLEGALLY SPYING ON AMERICANS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: Mutual targeting continued overnight throughout the region, with Iranian forces striking many American-aligned military bases in several Gulf states. Isa Air Base in Qatar was hit hard overnight, and several storage warehouses were hit in Kuwait. Iran claims to have also struck the parking apron at Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base in Jordan, targeting the fighter aircraft which have been staged at the base for weeks. On the American side, the US has conducted several waves of attacks, with constant bombings continuing in many major port facilities. The ports of Bandar Abbas, Jask, and Chabarhar have been targeted regularly for several days, in addition to the Gulf Islands which have served as communications nodes for ships transiting the Strait.Throughout the morning, the Strait remained somewhat navigable via the Iranian route. Several ships were observed making the crossing using only the northern Iranian traffic scheme. After the targeting of several merchant vessels over the past few days in the southern route, no ship has taken the Omani route, all ships are diverting north. Analyst Comment: In terms of how much oil is getting out, it's not much. No American tankers were observed transiting overnight via either route, and the severity of the oil crisis remains a major concern for impacts to the homeland. This afternoon CENTCOM struck a merchant vessel themselves, highlighting that the American blockade of the Strait is still in effect.-HomeFront-USA: Around the nation, an outbreak of Cyclosporiasis has continued to sweep through the country, with roughly 7,000 cases of parasitic infection being reported. Most of the cases are clustered in Michigan, but the food-borne illness has been reported in many other states. Health authorities are working to narrow down the point of origin for the parasite, which appears to be linked to contaminated lettuce or unclean food preparation practices at fast food chains.Georgia: This morning, five police officers with the Albany Police Department were fired after an internal investigation revealed that they were using their access to the Flock camera/sensor database to stalk and illegally surveil citizens.South Carolina: This morning, two police officers in the city of Greer were fired after an internal investigation revealed that they were using their access to the Flock camera/sensor database to stalk and illegally surveil citizens.Texas: Yesterday, one police officer with the Pasadena Police Department resigned after an investigation was launched into his misuse of the Flock camera/sensor network. Sgt. Michael Palitz is currently under investigation for allegedly using the intelligence network to stalk a female police officer. No further details on this incident have been provided as the investigation is still ongoing.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Though it is purely anecdotal at the moment, locals on the ground in many Middle Eastern countries are reporting that this time, the fighting is different as fewer successful interceptions are being reported. As always, if interceptions of drones and missiles are successful, these munitions are usually destroyed out over the waters of the Gulf, out of view of the civilian populace. However, a lot of people have been rather dismayed that the fighting has resumed, and from their perspective it looks like their country is not intercepting anything because they are out of interceptor missiles. The stockpiles of interceptors running low for Gulf states has been a common theory for a while, after the war drew to a lull two months ago. After the ceasefire went into effect, it was generally assumed that the United States would sell more interceptor missiles to the Gulf countries (in addition to resupplying our own missile defense sites), but now that the fighting has resumed and locals are observing slow-flying drones very clearly not being intercepted in many cases, the concerns of missile stockpiles have come to the front page once again.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

The US-Iran ceasefire is in crisis following a violent weekend of escalation. From the IRGC damaging a ship in the Strait of Hormuz so badly that the crew had to abandon it, to President Donald Trump declaring he "bombed the hell out of them" after striking dozens of targets, the war appears to be back on in all but name. Now, Trump has reimposed the US naval blockade and announced a toll.On today's episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey and Roland Oliphant break down a frantic weekend of military action, including the US deploying one-way attack sea drones for the first time and the collapse of Omani negotiations to reopen the Hormuz waterway. Plus, the damage done by Iran repeatedly launching missile and drone strikes against US airbases across the Gulf and Jordan is growing. King's College London security expert Dr. Andreas Krieg unpacks how China and Russia are actively backing Iran's underground missile infrastructure to bleed Western interceptor stocks and distract the US from the Indo-Pacific.HighlightsTrump reimposes Strait of Hormuz blockade and attacks Iran with sea dronesIran attacks on American bases across Middle East ‘leave US in the dark'CONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyRoland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantAndreas Krieg, King's College London and Institute of Middle Eastern Studies @andreas_kriegWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Telegraph View: The Iranian regime continues to sow chaoshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2026/07/13/the-iranian-regime-continues-to-sow-chaos/Iran bombs US supply lines in fight for Strait of Hormuzhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/12/iran-aims-to-cripple-us-navy-supply-in-major-air-strikes/Starmer proscribes Iran's IRGChttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/13/keir-starmer-proscribes-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guards/ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026Producer: Max BowerVideo Producer: Peter ShevlinResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive Producer: Venetia Rainey ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US has carried out more strikes on Iran after accusing it of attacking a container ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic efforts continue to solve the crisis, with talks held between the Omani and Iranian foreign ministers. Also: the Trump administration issues subpoenas to journalists who wrote an article about Air Force One; we're in the western Canadian province of Alberta as people there consider the idea of becoming an independent state; the US government pays compensation for the first time to staff affected by "Havana Syndrome"; Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine kill at least seven and wound dozens; and why some people are welcoming a bid by the satirical website The Onion to convert the right-wing conspiracy platform Infowars into a parody of itself.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Vessel in the Strait of Hormuz near the beach of Bandar Abbas, Iran. Credit: Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA/via WANA via Reuters

In the 23 days since the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, strikes have returned, following a familiar pattern: Iran attacks vessels using an internationally backed sea lane in Omani territorial waters, the US retaliates against Iranian military infrastructure, and Iran strikes back at US bases across the region. This week, alongside funeral processions for the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, both physical and verbal attacks escalated. Yet, both the US and Iran are still signaling they prefer diplomacy over a return to full-scale war. Despite this week's events, Brent crude oil prices are only $5 above levels that preceded the war. Some 200 million barrels of oil stranded on vessels and in storage have managed to exit the straits since late May. But this crisis is far from over. Inventories of crude oil and oil products have been severely depleted. The trapped oil that has exited Hormuz represents only several weeks of supply, perhaps eight million barrels per day of production remain shut in, and Qatar has yet to restore its LNG production. Today, host Daniel Sternoff sits down with Center on Global Energy Policy experts Anne-Sophie Corbeau and Karen Young to consider the near- and long-term outlook for energy markets. They discuss what's at stake for Iran, how renewed strikes impact traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and how a sustained uptick in hostility could impact the LNG market heading into winter. Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff, Bill Loveless, and Daniel Sternoff. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Engineering by Gregory Vilfranc.  

//The Wire//1900Z July 10, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: HORMUZ TRAFFIC SLOWS AS AIRSTRIKES CONTINUE IN IRAN OVERNIGHT. PRESIDENT TRUMP STATES THAT THE CEASEFIRE IS OFFICIALLY OVER. WIRED-GUIDED FPV DRONE DISCOVERED IN CARTEL WEAPONS CACHE IN MEXICO. RUSSIAN AFRICA CORPS CONTINUES CONFLICT IN MALI.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: Yesterday's targeting continued throughout the night, with dozens of targets being struck within Iran. Much of the targeting centered around the major port of Bushehr, with a SAM site being struck and the runway being cratered again last night.Strait of Hormuz: This morning the UKMTO published a notice reaffirming their assurance that the southern Omani route remains open for use. Despite this assurance (and highlighting that sentence in red in their notice), most of the maritime community is no longer trusting this route at the moment due to Iranian targeting which kicked off the war again. No vessels transited either route overnight due to the targeting, however some ships attempted to make the crossing this morning.Far East: This morning China imposed an export ban on Helium, effective immediately. The Ministry of Commerce stated that this decision was made to allow domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities to maintain their supply of the gas, which is essential for the production of computer chips.Analyst Comment: Most of the world's supply of Helium is produced as part of the process of refining natural gas in the Middle East. Since the war began, crude oil has not been the only concern, but also other distillates and byproducts such as jet fuel and helium. China halting exports is a substantial indicator of the severity of the current war. China has also been able to get more of their ships out of the Gulf than anybody else, so if even they are hurting for helium, this is not a good sign.Africa: The conflict between Russian mercenaries and FLA militants has continued to escalate, with fierce fighting being reported in the vicinity of Anefis over the past few days. The Russian Africa Corps base in Anefis has been routinely targeted by FLA, with most of the attacks taking the form of ground skirmishes or drone attacks.Mexico: During a counter-narco raid in Durango yesterday, Mexican forces located a fiber-optically controlled drone platform within a weapons cache in the Dolores del Río neighborhood. This drone was reportedly fitted with an explosive charge similar to that which has become more commonly used throughout the region for carrying out attacks between rival cartel factions.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the Middle East, yesterday evening contradictory reports circulated on social media regarding which nation actually carried out some of the strikes within Iran. Some reports claimed that the strikes in the afternoon were not conducted by the United States, but actually another nation. The most obvious culprit is Israel, but reports also claimed that the Kuwaitis also conducted attacks of their own last night as well. No matter who actually dropped the munitions, the effect is the same: the Iranians consider all attacks on their territory as originating from the same US-led coalition. What the Iranian response will be is unclear. Previously, they have been extremely forthcoming with the target list they would strike, if the US conducted more serious targeting within Iran. Desalination plants, energy production facilities, oil export terminals, and the aircraft at US bases in the region which are once again within Iranian missile range, are all likely targets if the Iranians so desire. Considering that President Trump announced that the ceasefire is officially off this afternoon (but that talks will continue) the next few days will be instrumental in determining if the war will return to it's full form, or if the attack-peace-attack cycle will continue.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Donald Trump has dramatically declared that the US-Iran ceasefire is officially "over", calling Tehran an "evil cancer" during a fiery outburst alongside Nato chief Mark Rutte in Ankara, Turkey. He also attacked fellow Nato members including Spain and reiterated his demand to take over Greenland from Denmark. Roland Oliphant and Joe Barnes report live from the Nato summit on a second day of drama. The sudden escalation in the war follows a wave of Iranian attacks on oil tankers taking the Omani route in the Strait of Hormuz, including one from Qatar for the first time since the war began. The US responded with its own strikes on coastal targets and cancelled an oil sanctions waiver, prompting Iran to send drones and missiles at Bahrain and Kuwait. On today's episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey breaks down the latest military and diplomatic news from the Middle East with Dr. Dania Thafer, director of the Gulf International Forum, and asks whether it's time for military action to break Tehran's grip on Hormuz. HighlightsTrump ends US-Iran ceasefire and axes oil licenceUS bombs 80 Iran targets after Tehran's Strait of Hormuz oil tanker blitzCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyRoland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantDania Thafer, director Gulf International Forum @Dr_DaniaThaferWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Listen to Ukraine: the Latest: https://linktr.ee/UkraineTheLatestTrump: Ceasefire with Iranian scum is overhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/08/trump-ceasefire-with-iranian-scum-is-over/We are ready to defend Greenland, Denmark's PM tells Trumphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/08/we-are-ready-to-defend-greenland-denmark-pm-tells-trump/David Blair: Iran's regime is now stronger than before Trump's warhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/08/iran-stronger-because-of-trump/US carries out fresh strikes on Iran in response to Hormuz attackshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/07/trump-ban-iran-from-selling-oil-hormuz-attacks/Producer: Peter ShevlinVideo Producer: Max BowerResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive Producer: Venetia Rainey ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

//The Wire//2300Z July 7, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: EXPLOSIONS REPORTED NEAR HOTEL HOUSING FRENCH PRESIDENT DURING STATE VISIT TO DAMASCUS. MONACO BOMBER FOUND DEAD IN UKRAINE. IRAN RESUMES TARGETING OF UNAUTHORIZED TRANSITS OF HORMUZ STRAIT. CONCERNS GROWING REGARDING STATUS OF SENATOR MCCONNELL'S HEALTH, COMPLICATING UPCOMING ELECTION.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Syria: This morning several explosive devices were detonated in Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit. The first device took the form of a Vehicle-Borne IED (VBIED) which was detonated on the street adjacent to the Ministry of Tourism, wounding many people including the Assistant Deputy Minister of Tourism. A few minutes after this device detonated, another device detonated on the street immediately adjacent to the initial blast site. At the time of the blasts, President Macron was staying at the Four Seasons hotel directly across the street from the blast site. Macron was not wounded during the attack, and has not canceled his state visit to Syria.Analyst Comment: This complex attack was very likely targeting Macron himself, or at least trying to get as close as possible to cause diplomatic trouble. Throughout the region, it's extremely common for terror groups to conduct attacks while foreign dignitaries are visiting, so as to embarrass their political leadership.Ukraine: Yesterday one of the lead suspects in the Monaco bombing case was found dead. Anastasiia Berezovska was the individual suspected of dropping off the bomb at the residence of Vadym Yermolaiev a few weeks ago. Berezovska was found at an undisclosed location in Ukraine with multiple gunshots to the head. After her death was discovered, an actively-serving member of the Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian MoD confessed to her murder.Analyst Comment: Very clearly, someone is tying up the loose ends in this case, and doing so very publicly to send a message. Now that the lead suspect in the bombing case is dead, the entire affair is tidied up neatly, and no further investigation can be undertaken regarding who Berezovska was working for.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - Concerns are growing regarding the status of Senator Mitch McConnell, who has been hospitalized for several weeks. On June 14th, McConnell was found unconscious on the floor of his home in Capitol Hill after suffering an apparent heart attack. CPR was performed at the scene, and he was transported to a hospital. Apart from those initial details, there is currently no indication of his status beyond unconfirmed rumor.Analyst Comment: McConnell's health has been extremely concerning over the past few years, with several viral media incidents indicating that he is not well. In this case, three days after his heart attack, his wife Elaine Chao traveled to China to meet with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. As a result of the timing of this visit, and the extreme secrecy surrounding the health of a man who has been of ailing health for years, concerns are growing regarding McConnell's status. In Kentucky, election law regarding position appointments has recently changed. Instead of the Governor being able to make an appointment for the seat, if a Senator dies in office, a special election is now mandatory. As such if McConnell passes away before the election, a special election would have to be held to fill the vacancy of only a couple of months, before the general election in November.However, the timing matters. If a Kentucky Senator dies in office (and thus vacates the seat) less than 63 days before the election, a special election would probably not be required and the normal election goes on. In this case, McConnell is not running again this year but the law regarding his seat still applies, so he must remain alive until September 1st, in order to prevent a special election which would allow a third-party candidate to run for his seat.New York: This morning evacuations were conducted after a high-rise building experienced a partial collapse in midtown Manhattan. The former Pfizer building at 235 E. 42nd St was undergoing major renovations/construction this morning, when approximately 5 floors of the building experienced a partial collapse. A perimeter cordon is currently in place around the building, as pieces of the structure have been falling on the street and sidewalk throughout the morning.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the Persian Gulf, the Ayatollah's funeral has served as a sort of ceasefire-within-a-"ceasefire", and the United States and Iran took the past week to actually stop shooting at each other. During that time, merchant vessels also took the opportunity to slip through the Strait of Hormuz via the southern Omani route...something that Iran has repeatedly warned against. During the funeral, Iranian forces let this take place, however as of last night patience ran out and the Iranians have returned to striking commercial vessels for taking this route. So far today, a total of 4x confirmed (and probably one more unconfirmed) merchant vessels have been engaged by Iran for trying to sneak through the Strait. This is the most ships that have been struck since the hot-phase of the war, and these targeting efforts were not the result of ship captains unilaterally changing the route.Yesterday, the UKMTO directly stated that merchant traffic may take the southern route without coordinating with the Iranians. This statement was issued knowing full well that the Iranians have been warning ships that they must take the Larak Island route. Exactly who made the decision to issue this statement is unclear, but in effect the UKMTO told ships to take a route that they knew would be unsafe, gambling on the Iranians not conducting strikes during the Ayatollah's funeral. Now, the burning hulls of five ships are evidence that this gamble was ill advised. In response to these attacks, the United States has re-imposed sanctions on Iranian oil exports after granting them permission to export their oil a few weeks ago. Other than the sanctions, the United States is likely to conduct the standard retaliation strikes at random targets near Bandar Abbas over the next few days.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Donald Trump arrived at the 2026 Nato summit in Turkey and instantly started taking potshots at his Nato allies, blasting them for not helping the US in the Iran war. On today's episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant reports from Ankara on a day of dramatic meetings, fighter jet pledges and fiery speeches. Meanwhile, Iran has struck another oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz it accused of taking the banned Omani route. Tehran also threatened to call off peace talks following Trump's blistering warning that he would flatten Iranian energy infrastructure in "a small part of an afternoon". Plus, recently resigned British Armed Forces Minister Al Carns joins the show to deliver a blunt assessment of Western vulnerabilities and why Nato is fundamentally unprepared for the terrifying reality of mass drone warfare on its eastern flank. They also discuss the threat of Iran, Trump's anger with his Nato allies over the war, Ukraine and defence spending in the UK. HighlightsTrump blasts Nato over Iran war as Tehran strikes ship in HormuzResigned UK armed forces minister Al Carns on Trump, Nato and IranCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyRoland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantDom Nicholls, associate defence editor and Ukraine: the Latest @DomNichollsWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkProducer: Max BowerVideo Producer: Peter ShevlinResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive Producer: Venetia Rainey ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran's IRGC fired at least two missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported, citing a US official. It was separately reported that one was a Qatari LNG tanker.Fars reported that the Qatari tanker attempted to pass through the Omani route and ignored repeated warnings.Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said negotiations on a final deal will not commence if threats continue.KOSPI slumped following post-earnings losses in Samsung Electronics (-9.7%). Co. topped forecasts, but failed to calm fears surrounding elevated valuations. European equity futures are indicative of a weaker open.DXY is incrementally firmer, whilst the JPY marginally outperforms after a Japanese official pushed back on reports that the government is urging the BoJ to lower interest rates.Looking ahead, highlights include German Industrial Production (May), French Trade Balance (May), US ADP Employment Change Weekly, Trade Balance (May), New York Fed SCE (Jun), Atlanta Fed GDP (Q2), Canadian Trade Balance (May), Ivey PMI (Jun), EIA STEO (Jul), NATO Ankara Summit. Supply from the UK, Germany and the US. Speakers include BoE's Mann.Click for the Newsquawk Week Ahead.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Iran's IRGC fired at least two missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported, citing a US official. It was separately reported that one was a Qatari LNG tanker. Brent Sept'26 +1.2%.Fars reported that the Qatari tanker attempted to pass through the Omani route and ignored repeated warnings.Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said negotiations on a final deal will not commence if threats continue.Global tech stocks fall after Samsung Electronics (-6.9%) shares plummeted post-earnings; NQ -1%.DXY is incrementally firmer, JPY marginally outperforms after a Japanese official pushed back on reports that the government is urging the BoJ to lower interest rates.Looking ahead, highlights include US ADP Employment Change Weekly, Trade Balance (May), New York Fed SCE (Jun), Atlanta Fed GDP (Q2), Canadian Trade Balance (May), Ivey PMI (Jun), EIA STEO (Jul), NATO Ankara Summit. Supply from the US. Speakers include BoE's Mann.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

//The Wire//1800Z July 3, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI'S FUNERAL BEGINS IN TEHRAN. IMMOLATION INCIDENT REPORTED IN NEW YORK. DHS REPORTS CYBERATTACK AFFECTING INFORMATION EXCHANGE NETWORK.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Iran: This week, the official state funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei began, which has drawn large crowds to Tehran. Khamenei's remains will lie in state in Tehran for three days, before a funeral procession is carried out through the streets of Tehran. On July 7, the body is scheduled to be transported to the city of Qom, before various ceremonies are carried out and he's finally buried in his hometown of Mashhad.Analyst Comment: As nearly all of the upper echelons of Iran's political leadership will be participating in some of these ceremonies, concerns are growing that the Israelis will attempt another series of decapitation strikes during the funeral. Striking the Ayatollah's coffin during the funeral procession just to send a message would also be right up the IDF's alley, but the question remains as to whether the IDF can even manage such an operation so far into Iran at this point. This possibility is pure speculation, however due to the potential for a very serious conflagration to occur once again, this would be worth keeping an eye on for the next few days. On a related note, a surge of several tankers was observed in the Strait of Hormuz, taking advantage of the southern Omani route while the Ayatollah's funeral is ongoing. These vessels were probably gambling on the Iranians not wanting to carry out strikes during a period of mourning, while a lot of the senior decision makers are occupied with traveling to Tehran for the funeral. This clever trick is probably a one-time thing, as the Iranians have demonstrated in the past that they will allow this for a couple of days, before they start striking vessels again.-HomeFront-New York: Yesterday evening an immolation incident was reported at the United Nations building, after a protester set himself on fire during a livestream at the main entrance on United Nations Plaza. The individual has been identified as Lobga Rangzen, an activist affiliated with the Tibetan independence movement. Rangzen was eventually extinguished by building security, but later died at an area hospital.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security announced an investigation into an alleged breach and/or cyberattack on their Homeland Security Information Network, an information sharing network for coordinating between various federal agencies. The breach reportedly involved an older unclassified computer system, and was only discovered recently after occurring back in May. This is a developing story at the time of this report, and so far the main primary sources of this breach are two unidentified whistleblowers who leaked the story to the mainstream media. Following this leak, the DHS quietly confirmed that the breach did take place, but no further comment has been made regarding the national security implications of this incident, or who the culprit was.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

EP226: As Hormuz Turns, Kirk: Exploding Mic Update, Mandami Kingmaker, Buffalo Bills New Stadium SPORTSNFL ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ Buffalo Bills New Stadium ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ OJ Simpson ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ Hochul(VIDEO) ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ Tickets https://www.dailymail.com/sport/nfl/article-15933293/Buffalo-Bills-tickets-NFL-games-stadium.html?banner=worldcupCLICKSGameStop https://stocktwits.com/news-articles/markets/equity/gme-stock-jumps-after-hours-game-stop-hikes-fy-26-ebitda-outlook-to-600-m-nearly-double-of-fy-25/cZ1dfZMR7WQ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ Ryan Cohen rescinds CEO performance award to focus on eBay w/$500M personal investment  ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ Announces first forward guidance $600M+ FY 2026Tulsi Resigns Amid Cult Reporting https://www.rawstory.com/tulsi-gabbard-2677071298/SCOTUS Rules in Favor of Monsanto https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/court-rules-for-roundup-maker-in-dispute-over-cancer-warnings-on-pesticide-labels/Kirk Assassination https://open.substack.com/pub/jshepard/p/game-over-charlie-kirks-rode-mic?r=2gng6&utm_medium=iosBaron Coleman releases photo of Kirk's chest  ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ Shattered Glass in SUVPOLITICSMandami Kingmaker https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/06/rise-tammamdani-hall/414492/Midterms https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/29/us/politics/israel-iran-democrats-republicans-midterms.html?unlocked_article_code=1.t1A.lwKt.xzScWcwVp1Fi&smid=url-shareStrait of Hormuz https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/iran-escalating-drone-strikes-bahrain-yet-another-attack-foreign-vessel-hormuz-strait ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ Iran attacks ships in Omani waters  ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ US retaliates; Announces after markets close  ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ ⁃ Truce, before Futures openhttps://x.com/truthstreamnews/status/2032093786575089906#RonPaulWasRight#EpsteinDidntKillHimself#NothingEverHappens#GoAnalog#TouchGrassAbout the Sports, Clicks & Politics PodcastSCAPP is a weekly podcast with a Livestream every Monday at 12pm on eastern.Join hosts Shawn Hannon and Ben Hussong as they separate the latest news from the noise impacting New York State. The podcast has frequent guest interviews for additional perspectives in the worlds or sports, politics and beyond!Follow the show on social mediaFacebook: facebook.com/scappodcastTwitter: @SCAPPodcastFollow Shawn & Ben on social mediaFacebook: facebook.com/hannon44Twitter: @hannon44Facebook: facebook.com/ben.hussong.3Twitter: @benhussong

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) An attack on a container vessel sailing through the Strait of Hormuz has prompted some shipowners to review exit plans, but traffic continued to flow in both directions through the vital thoroughfare on Friday. Two fully laden tankers are heading out of the Persian Gulf, while four empty, inbound, very large crude carriers are among the vessels sailing along the Omani coast, ship-tracking data show. This southern route is managed by Oman and coordinated by the US.2) The death toll from twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela rose to 235 with thousands more injured, as rescue teams desperately cleared away rubble to reach trapped victims. The powerful 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, toppling buildings and severely damaging the country’s main international airport. People across the country were frantically searching for missing relatives, with social media filling with photographs and appeals for information.3) Technology stocks once again pulled global indexes lower as renewed selling in semiconductor manufacturers and a possible delay to OpenAI’s public debut hit sentiment. Oil resumed its slide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

//The Wire//2300Z June 25, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: TWO MAJOR EARTHQUAKES STRIKE VENEZUELA, WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION REPORTED. SEPARATE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES JAPAN. HORMUZ CRISIS CONTINUES AS IRAN STRIKES MERCHANT FOR TAKING UNAUTHORIZED ROUTE THROUGH STRAIT. OIL PRODUCTION SHUT DOWN IN IRAQ DUE TO LACK OF TANKERS TO OFFLOAD CRUDE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Venezuela: Yesterday afternoon two major earthquakes struck just west of Caracas. The first earthquake struck shortly after 4:00pm local time, and was estimated to be a magnitude of 7.2. Less than one minute later, a separate earthquake struck in nearly the same area, measuring a magnitude of 7.5. Widespread destruction has been reported throughout La Guaira, the coastal metropolitan area that was closest to the epicenter of the quakes. Many structures within Caracas also experienced heavy damage, or were destroyed outright by the earthquakes, and major rescue and recovery operations are underway.Analyst Comment: This disaster is already one of the worst ever recorded in South America, and so far the casualty count is expected to be in the thousands. Right now, the latest figures estimate roughly 11,000 missing with thousands of people currently entrapped within collapsed buildings. Due to the complete devastation throughout much of the region, the true scale of yesterday's earthquakes may take some time to become known, though the videos that have emerged so far indicate devastation on an unfathomable scale.Japan: Overnight, another earthquake was reported off the coast of the northern province of Iwate. An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.2 struck just offshore, however not much damage was reported due to the remote nature of the epicenter.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the Middle East, the situation has become complicated on multiple fronts. Firstly, the peace talks continue, which at this point is good news all on it's own, even if rhetoric has been flying all around. None of this rhetoric is trustworthy at the moment, but progress appears to be made toward solidifying a final deal.Another point of confusion or contention over the past 24 hours has been the complicated management of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil is flowing to some degree, and though the number of tankers transiting crude out of the Gulf is nowhere near historic norms, progress is progress. This progress was briefly derailed this morning, after Iranian forces conducted a drone strike on one vessel which was attempting to take the southern route through Omani waters. Ships have been disregarding Iranian demands to take the northern route for a few days, and this morning Iranian patience apparently ran out, and one vessel was hit. How the US responds to this will be notable, but right now the complicating factors are the discrepancies of which routes are being used by ships.More broadly, global oil futures have fallen sharply since the announcement of the MOU being signed, and gas prices are subsequently falling. However, gas prices still remain at around $4.00 per gallon nationwide, because there is still a large discrepancy between the futures prices, and the actual delivery price of crude that is being pumped off of tankers into the United States right now. As a result it is important to understand how long this recovery process will take. For instance, yesterday the West Qurna 2 petroleum facility in Iraq (one of the largest oil fields in the world) had to shut down production, because their storage tanks are full, and there are no tankers available to load onto for export. This is simply due to timing...nothing moves fast when it comes to moving tankers around the world. This is why the world may breathe a sigh of relief that the war appears to be over at this point, but we're not out of the woods just yet. The next major questions will be whether or not the complex balance of oil production and maritime shipping can stabilize before the more serious impacts arrive. And now that the Iranians have continued to demonstrate that they are willing to enforce their control of the Strait with explosives, this crisis is certainly not over.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Last fall, I traveled to Oman for the World Inclusive Sailing Championships. It was an incredible experience. The inaugural event brought together many of the best adaptive sailors in the world, all competing to be world champion in one of three different classes – the RS venture connect - a two person boat, the Hansa 303 - a one person boat, and the Far East with three visually impaired sailors and three sighted sailors per boat.  Beyond the racing and crowning world champions, the event had a larger mission: to showcase the skill, passion, and level of competition of the international parasailing community, in an effort to get sailing back into the Paralympics after it was dropped following the 2016 Rio Games. Over 100 sailors from 36 different countries competed. In addition to enjoying the wonderful warmth of the Omani people, culture, landscape and weather, and mixing it up on the racecourse, my highlight was meeting the other sailors from around the world. In the quiet moments in between racing and exploring, I spoke with three of them to hear their stories.Guest info:@pintobp05Additional Resources:https://www.sailing.org/world-sailing-inclusion-championships/Contact us: Instagram: @unexpectedjourneypodEmail: tim@unexpectedjourneypod.com Hosted and produced by Tim BrownEditing and sound design by Louis ArevaloOriginal theme music by Jesse LaFountaineEpisode cover art by Lewis Falconer Cover art and logo design by Anne Holt and Lewis Falconer

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Monday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan breaks down the new US-Iran peace memorandum, a deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian and Omani oversight while extending the current ceasefire by 60 days. He digs into the billions in protection payments Arab nations are reportedly sending to Tehran, how Russia has helped Iran rebuild its missile stockpile after the war, and why Trump is furious with Netanyahu over new strikes on Hezbollah just as this fragile deal comes together. Bryan also covers the growing US weapons shortage and how China's grip on rare earth minerals is complicating America's ability to rearm. Plus, conservative wins take shape in Peru and Colombia, Cuba makes a surprising pivot away from communist economic policy, the Tren de Aragua gang leader is killed in a US strike, new details emerge on ballot harvesting in Los Angeles, Elon Musk becomes the world's first trillionaire and Democrats react, Pennsylvania steelworkers get a major boost, diesel mechanics receive pardons, and a new study links low vitamin C to brain health in older adults. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32   Keywords: Wright Report, Bryan Dean Wright, Iran peace deal, Strait of Hormuz, Trump Iran memorandum, Netanyahu, Hezbollah, IRGC, Israel Iran ceasefire, Peru election Keiko Fujimori, Colombia Gustavo Petro, Cuba economic reform, Venezuela Tren de Aragua, China rare earth minerals, Elon Musk trillionaire, SpaceX, US Steel Pennsylvania, diesel mechanic pardons, Los Angeles ballot harvesting, Karen Bass, vitamin C brain health

//The Wire//2300Z June 10, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR REIGNITES IN IRAN AS MUTUAL TARGETING CONTINUES AROUND THE REGION. PRESIDENT TRUMP REVEALS ALLEGEDLY SECRET OPERATION IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. RIOTS AND UNREST REMAIN CONSTANT IN NORTHERN IRELAND.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: The war has continued to escalate as all sides remain engaged in active targeting operations throughout the region. After the reported shootdown of the American helicopter, the United States conducted 10-12x strikes throughout Iran in retaliation. Similarly, the Iranians attacked Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain again, striking airfields that are being used by American aircraft to conduct the war. This afternoon President Trump stated that American bombing will continue, and bombing sorties have already resumed with targets reportedly being struck once again throughout Iran.Northern Ireland: Unrest continued throughout Belfast throughout the night, with most of the more kinetic phases of the evening focusing around arson attacks on migrant housing projects throughout the city. Several dozen different sites and residential structures were burned down, and throughout the afternoon the riots have continued around the city.Analyst Comment: According to local reports, nobody was killed or stabbed during the night, so as of this morning at least, the "Chicago Way" has not been relied upon for conflict resolution throughout the city just yet. All things considered, the city has probably gotten off lightly so far considering the gravity and circumstances of the case that started all of this. However, as of this report, the second night of rioting has begun, and unrest looks to be in the forecast for the next few days.-HomeFront-Texas: Local dissent continues to grow in the wake of the Karmelo Anthony verdict, as Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison yesterday afternoon. So far only low-level unrest has been observed, however some BLM protests have remained persistent outside the Collin County courthouse, which have involved assaults and incidents between groups of protesters.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: This afternoon, President Trump revealed what is alleged to be a secret campaign to get more oil out of the Persian Gulf. This plan, the exact details of which remain very unclear, allegedly has resulted in hundreds of ships transiting the Strait, along with 100 million barrels of oil since the start of the operation. It's not immediately clear as to if this operation is still ongoing or not, but speculating a bit, this master plan appears to involve the US Navy attempting to conduct a grand shell game using a variety of electronic trickery, so as to sneak some vessels out of the Strait. Once in the Gulf of Oman, Ship-to-Ship transfers of oil are conducted, and the same ships run back through the Strait to pick up another load of oil. This has been suspected for some time as it's not exactly easy to hide a massive tanker vessel.In President Trump's social media post disclosing the operation, this "200 ship" claim needs more clarification because so far the numbers don't add up. This figure could be a total number of ships and not specifically oil tankers...small regional fishing boats are probably included in this figure. Even so, using his own numbers, the US has allegedly moved 100 million barrels of oil since May, during this secret operation. The average Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) carries about 2 million barrels of crude oil, so this would be equivalent to 50x trips...over a period of at least a month.Before the war, about 20 million barrels of oil transited the Strait every day. Since the war started, this flow has been effectively cut off. The Saudi's have helped supplement the situation with their East-West Petroline system which runs overland, with a capacity of 7 million bbl/d. Similarly, the Emirates have tried sneaking oil out through Omani terminals on the Gulf of Oman side of the Strait (which is why Iran has been striking Oman semi-regularly since the start of the war).Since deception has been disclosed and confirmed in this case, honesty is not a part of this equation. It is possible that this "secret" operation was more effective than at first glance. However, since it's unwise to tell the world about a secret military operation that is currently ongoing, it's also possible that it was less effective than stated, and thus has been concluded much like Project Freedom initially was. The latter option is the most likely based on the little information that we have, because the claim of 100 million barrels of secret oil only amounts to about five days worth of crude due to the US consuming about 21 million bbl/d in the summertime (from all sources, including domestic production). Credit must be granted where credit is due, and this alleged operation is at least an attempt for the White House to fix the energy crisis that it started, which is a step in the right direction. However in this case the grand question remains as to whether or not it was worth it. Civilian mariners putting their lives at risk while drone boats guide them through a minefield, for so little oil that the world did not even notice...might be a rather suboptimal arrangement on the strategic level.As a result, if this deception campaign was working to alleviate some pressure on the global oil crisis, nobody seems to have told the Department of Energy because the United States has continued to drain the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) at record rates. All total, the US has released around 172 million barrels from the SPR since the war began, most of which was sold for export as most US domestic refinement is heavily reliant on crude from the Middle East. If the US did indeed succeed in a total of 100 million barrels exiting the Strait...it did not just disappear, it had to go somewhere and somebody had to account for it over the past few months. Ships carrying oil don't just vanish into thin air, and there is undoubtedly a paper trail leading to the truth. Consequently, it's possible that the truth is being bent quite heavily and the numbers don't add up. Taking all of this at face value however, even with clever tricks, the Saudi's backup pipeline, US refinement booming, and draining our strategic reserves, basic arithmetic indicates that this is not enough to halt the energy crisis from getting more serious with each passing day.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Today, a look at markets testing the lows again yesterday, but trying to put in a rally ahead of a huge market event tomorrow that could define where this market heads next in what could prove an either-or moment. Elsewhere, interesting market reaction to Oracle's earnings report after the close, and super-critical support levels have come into play for the gold price, which faces its own either-or moment technically and thematically as the USD remains strong. Lots more on macro and FX and more in today's pod, which is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy. Links In "The abundance illusion" noted oil industry analyst Jeff Currie notes the risks the oil market (and the wider global economy) faces this summer as seasonal demand rises inexorably while oil has yet to begin meaningfully flowing through the strait of Hormuz again. Also, he notes China's "New Joule Order" which has its own tremendous implications as the country puts its energy system resilience on display. HT to FTAlphaville for another great link today, this one to a Kardamow substack article that discusses the same concerns Currie discusses in the above link, with some more data specifics. An FT Article looks at US attempts to piece together a "dark transit" system for oil tankers to transit the Hormuz Strait via a narrow and risk shipping lane that hugs the Omani coast. Stratechery.com has a much more positive take on Apple's AI strategy with Siri than the market's very negative assessment in recent days, in a piece it calls The iPhone's Last Stand. This year's Microsoft Build conference is seeing the company's Project Solara announcement, the company's attempt to envision a new operating system and network of new devices, among other things, aimed at addressing the transition to the agentic AI era. The Verge discusses this as well as Microsoft's broader AI strategy. About twice per week (in normal times, hopefully soon to resume), you will find links discussed on the podcast and a chart-of-the-day over at the John J. Hardy substack. Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here. Please reach out to us at marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions. Click here to open an account with Saxo. Intro music by AShamaluevMusic DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

//The Wire//2300Z June 5, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: UKRAINIAN DRONE BOATS FOUND IN ROMANIAN PORT NEAR OIL TERMINAL, ONE DETONATION REPORTED. KARMELO ANTHONY TRIAL BEGINS IN TEXAS. SOCIAL TENSIONS CONTINUE IN UNITED KINGDOM.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: The conflict has continued to expand, with Iranian drone attacks taking place at Oman's oil terminals in Mina Al Fahal. Omani authorities suspended oil export operations this morning, before claiming that operations had returned to normal a few hours later.United Kingdom: Societal tensions continue as old criminal cases reach a conclusion this week. Yesterday, a group of migrants were sentenced for crimes committed during an attempted revenge killing that took place in Stoke-on-Trent back in 2021. Five years ago, this mob of migrants broke into a home and set a woman on fire in front of her child, during a cultural murder attempt that stemmed from one of them stabbing the other, triggering an honor-killing retaliation attempt. Several people were also stabbed during this attack, as a fight between rival migrant factions broke out in the street during the incident. Five of these men were recently found guilty of this attack, and earlier this week two of the attackers, Naveed Hussain and Bilal Ahmed, were sentenced to what ended up being time-served, a small fine, and community service.In Southampton, significant law enforcement operations are underway to identify rioters which pushed garbage cans toward police during the recent Southampton unrest resulting from the Nowak murder trial. So far three demonstrators have been arrested and charged, and continuing the recent trend, one individual who was arrested on Thursday has already been tried, convicted, and sentenced. This individual was sentenced to 3-5 years prison time for throwing a traffic cone in the general direction of the police, which never made contact with them.Analyst Comment: These contrasting incidents are just two of a dozen that have stoked tensions throughout the British Isles this week. As a result, these events have been piling on after the Nowak murder trial elevated public anger to new heights, and last week a different case involved a pair of migrants being acquitted, even though they broke a policewoman's nose during a street fight with officers at Manchester airport two years ago.Romania: This morning at least one (possibly up to four) Ukrainian naval drones were discovered floating in the port of Constanța. One Sea-Baby Mark II (Avdiivka) type Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) was discovered floating inside the port by workers at one of the oil terminals. Before Romanian EOD teams could respond to the scene and tow the boat to a safer location, the explosive boat self-detonated, catching locals off guard who were inside the blast zone. After this explosion, a search was conducted for other drone boats in the general area, and some reports claim that three more Ukrainian USVs were found, though the exact geolocation of these vessels has not been disclosed.-HomeFront-Texas: The Karmelo Anthony murder trial has begun in Collin County, with demonstrations and protests already set up outside the courthouse. The jury in this case has not been sequestered, and they are being sent to their own homes every night without any security or protection measures despite the activists threatening to kill people outside the courthouse.Analyst Comment: This is going to be a hot trial, with a high potential for riots no matter the outcome. Like it or not, this is already a racial thing, and the situation at the courthouse has been rather spicy even though the trial has just begun. So far, the numbers of activists and militant groups on site at the courthouse remains comparatively low; only a maximum of few dozen people have been observed, with most of the persistent protests being hosted by a handful of people who can afford to attend a protest during a workday. Nevertheless, the more hostile crowds are already on site, and the potential for riots and violence is already high, with larger crowds expected to gather over the weekend.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Based on the geolocation alone, there is nearly zero chance that the drones found in Romania were merely off-course munitions, which washed ashore after losing contact or becoming damaged. The main explosive boat that was discovered, was found deep inside the port (past multiple breakwaters) nestled directly adjacent to a major oil terminal where oil tankers normally are berthed to onload petroleum. More broadly, drone boats washing ashore (either from some kind of mechanical failure, or due to combat damage) is not exactly a rare sight along the Black Sea coast as these things happen sometimes in war. However in this case, it would be extraordinarily unlikely for this vessel to end up where it did, just based on the drifting of the tides. The addition of three other drones, all with independent guidance systems and control measures, also being found in the same area decreases the chance that this was an accident. The drones found outside the port can be explained away easily, but the one found deep inside the port right next to a highly flammable oil terminal of all things, is harder to justify.As a result, this was almost certainly a deliberate action, though the motive for such is questionable. Romania and Ukraine are on the same side during this conflict, and it would make no sense to target Romanian oil, because Ukraine itself is one of Romania's biggest clients. It's possible that this attack is a false-flag incident conducted by Russia, but that's unlikely at the moment because Russia has not had much success in mimicking Ukraine's drone boats, and if this was the Russians it would be an uncharacteristically well-detailed deception operation. On the other hand, it's also possible that this was a false-flag attack conducted by Ukraine, using their own drones (which were planned to detonate before being discovered), but due to either jamming or some other mistake, did not explode before the sun rose this morning and the drones were discovered. Regardless of what the investigation eventually discovers, it is almost certain that these drone boats were genuinely Ukrainian, and did not end up inside the harbor by accident.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

The US military is secretly helping ships circumvent Iran's stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz along a new route hugging the Omani coast. Bryan Clark, a former US Navy officer and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, looks at whether this is a solution to the Hormuz crisis that has plagued Donald Trump and the rest of the world since the war began.Plus, Hezbollah accuses Lebanon of “surrendering” after agreeing a deal with Israel. Venetia Rainey and Sophia Yan discuss the latest news, including the significance of the US House passing a war powers resolution to curb further American military activity and the death of British MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger. HighlightsThe secret US operation evading Iran's Strait of Hormuz blockade Israel and Lebanon to use “pilot zones” to push out Hezbollah CONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineySophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yanCONTENT REFERENCED:Sir Alex Younger, long-serving head of MI6 who shaped the service for a ‘fourth generation of espionage'https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2026/06/03/sir-alex-younger-mi6-secret-intelligence-service-edward-sno/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-03/us-looks-to-unblock-hormuz-with-quiet-version-of-project-freedomThe Economist: A former spy chief's take on intelligence and the Iran warhttps://www.economist.com/insider/inside-defence/a-former-spy-chiefs-take-on-intelligence-and-the-iran-warProducer: Peter ShevlinExecutive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk ► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rates are climbing, carriers are piling on surcharges, and peak season is arriving ahead of schedule. This week Lars Jensen runs the numbers on why the market is where it is and it has everything to do with the Red Sea and almost nothing to do with how consumers are feeling.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why Pacific and Asia-Europe spot rates continue their upward momentum and what the futures curve is signaling for peak season, including a sharp expected pullback as early as SeptemberThe statistical relationship between US consumer sentiment and container volumes: Lars ran the analysis and the correlation coefficient is 0.3. There effectively isn't one.Hormuz update: no deal, drone strikes on Kuwait, a suspected mine in Omani waters, and an MSC 18,000 TEU vessel that went dark for five days and reappeared off West AfricaHow CMA-CGM continues to quietly expand its Suez routing while every other carrier goes around AfricaChina PMI at exactly 50, and why the raw materials sub-index shooting above 60 post-Hormuz is the inflation signal worth watchingGlobal trade imbalances since 2019: full containers up 17%, fleet up 43%, TEU miles up 41% and empty container movements up 102%

Omani and Iranian officials have held talks focusing on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional developments.

The third hour of The Tara Show on Friday, May 22, 2026, opened with an emergency deep dive into an alarming escalation in the Middle East that threatened to tank international diplomacy.Iran's Strategic Tollbooth ExtortionThe "Toll" Infrastructure: The segment broke down Iran's aggressive announcement establishing a three-tiered transit fee system through its newly minted "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" (PGSA). Tehran claimed the fees—which could reach up to $2 million per vessel—were strictly for "navigational services" and environmental safety. However, U.S. officials blasted the maneuver as a lawless, extortive "toll booth" designed to fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).The Strategic Breakdown: Ships from nations lacking a bilateral agreement with Iran faced a staggering $150,000 to $2 million base charge to pass, while enemies faced a continued blockade. Worse yet, Iran claimed total management of the entire waterway, encroaching directly on Omani and Emirati territorial waters.The Peace Deal on Life SupportThe Framework Collapses: The show detailed how this sudden tolling system sent the fragile U.S.–Iran peace deal into a tailspin. While Donald Trump had previously teased a potential breakthrough to lift the U.S. naval blockade in exchange for a free, open Strait of Hormuz, Iran's unexpected insistence on taxing global maritime traffic left negotiations "on life support."The U.S. Countermeasure: The segment analyzed the immediate, fierce response from Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared the tolls completely illegal and publicly warned that the U.S. and its allies needed an immediate "Plan B" if Iran refused to back down. Concurrently, the Treasury Department issued a stern warning to commercial shipping firms: paying the Iranian tolls would violate U.S. sanctions, effectively freezing the critical shipping route.

In this powerful episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two picture book creators whose work helps families navigate some of life's hardest—and most beautiful—truths. First, Shannon Gibney joins from Minnesota to talk about her picture book "Where Is My Sister?", inspired by the stillbirth of her daughter. Shannon shares the shattering experience of losing a baby late in pregnancy and the long emotional healing that followed. As a writer, she went searching for honest, non‑sugar‑coated books about infant loss and found almost nothing, especially for families who aren't all of one faith tradition. That gap led her to co‑edit a collection of memoirs by women of color and Native women about infant loss and miscarriage, and eventually to write Where Is My Sister?—told from the perspective of a young girl whose baby sister dies before coming home. Shannon and Jed discuss our culture's discomfort with grief, how adults can be present for children without trying to "fix" the pain, and why including differing beliefs about death within one family matters. Then Nazneen Akbari joins from Delhi to introduce her debut picture book "Home Away From Home." The story follows an American Omani girl visiting her grandmother and feeling out of place—until a walk through a historic Omani market helps her see that this culture, too, is part of who she is. Drawing on her own life across India, Oman, Dubai, and the U.S., Nazneen talks about identity, the "Where are you from?" question, and why we need joyful, authentic stories from the Middle East to counter stereotypes and remind kids that we all belong to one human family.

//The Wire//2300Z May 04, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: VBIED ATTACK CONDUCTED IN OREGON. NAVCENT PUBLISHES TRANSIT PLAN FOR VESSELS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ, WITH MIXED SUCCESS. IRAN CLAIMS TO TARGET US NAVY "PATROL BOAT" IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ, CENTCOM CLAIMS TO SINK 6X IRANIAN GUNBOATS IN GULF. VEHICLE RAMMING ATTACK REPORTED IN GERMANY.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Strait of Hormuz: Major developments have taken place in the Strait over the weekend. Last night, President Trump announced the creation of "Project Freedom", a plan to allegedly "guide" third-party commercial ships out of the Persian Gulf, so as to at least get non-affiliated ships out of the combat zone for humanitarian reasons. Today, the details of the plan became more clear, and it also became clear that the Iranians did not agree with this plan, nor were they notified ahead of time. Early this morning, the United States revealed that the plan was actually the publishing of an alternate traffic scheme for merchant vessels to transit the Strait using Omani territorial waters. Immediately after this plan was published, two merchant vessels made the crossing attempt, both of which were either struck with Iranian cruise missiles or drones. Later on, a third vessel was reportedly on fire in the Strait, though the cause of the fire is not yet known. Following this incident, the IRGCN released a new map of the Strait, with two no-go barriers depicted to the east and west, further stressing that the Strait is closed. At some point throughout the day, the United States has claimed that two unidentified vessels were able to make it out of the Gulf, though the names of these vessels have not been released yet.Separately, kinetic targeting between the United States and Iran appears to have resumed on the high seas. After the United States announced the implementation of Project Freedom, US Forces conducted kinetic strikes on 6x Iranian gunboats patrolling either the Strait of Hormuz, or the Persian Gulf itself.On the Iranian side, the IRGCN have claimed to have targeted what they describe as an American Patrol Boat with two cruise missiles during the earlier strikes on merchant vessels. The Iranians claim that these missiles were not targeting the vessel, but were serving as warning shots to prevent the US vessel from proceeding further.Analyst Comment: Due to the linguistic and cultural barrier, all Middle Eastern nations tend to use doctrinally incorrect terminology when referring to American warships. In this case, "patrol boat" might not refer to an actual Riverine Command Boat (RCB), but might refer to a Destroyer (DDG) or maybe a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). CENTCOM issued a carefully worded statement confirming that a ship had not been hit, but did not address the claims directly. On the other hand, the Iranians have been known to make outlandish claims regarding the targeting of American warships, so it's equally possible that the Iranians tried to sink the vessel, then claimed that the missiles were "warning shots", so as to save face from successful interceptions. However, last night the sky over Hormuz was filled with munitions, and multiple hulls are burning in the Strait as of this morning, so out of all of the prior claims made by the Iranians, this one is the most plausible situation where the Iranians might have actually come close to hitting an American vessel.United Arab Emirates: After this morning's scuffle in the Strait, four Iranian drones/cruise missiles were reported in Fujairah, as Iranian forces targeted the large oil refinery complex which has been used to circumvent the need for merchant tankers to transit the Strait. The UAE indicated that three of these munitions were intercepted, but one made it through to it's target, with several large fires being reported at the refinery this afternoon. In response to these attacks, the UAE has begun to re

President Donald Trump says he will direct every federal agency to immediately stop using technology from AI developer Anthropic. The company behind the AI assistant Claude is mired in a row with the White House after refusing demands to give the US military unfettered access to its AI tools. Anthropic says “no amount of intimidation or punishment” will shift its opposition to its technology being used for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, and says it will challenge the White House decision in court.Also: the former US President, Bill Clinton, tells a Congressional committee he did nothing wrong during his acquaintance with Jeffrey Epstein. President Trump says he's "not happy" with the outcome of the third round of nuclear negotiations with Iran, but the Omani mediator says "peace is within reach" and calls for more time to be given to diplomatic efforts. We look back at the career of the American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, who has died aged 86. Argentina's president Javier Milei tries to scrap laws protecting glaciers from the mining industry, promising the changes will lead to one million new jobs. And why the English Premier League is to launch its first direct-to-customer streaming platform next season.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: YURI GRIPAS/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock