Hormuz traffic hits lowest level since May as Iran-US tensions escalate

33 min agoSaudi Arabia is preparing to grant the IAEA additional verification and monitoring powers over uranium enrichment, uranium conversion, and reprocessing, though it will not sign the Additional Protocol that gives the UN watchdog sweeping inspection rights. The arrangement follows a July US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement permitting Riyadh to enrich uranium and build reactors using American technology.

47 min agoRussia's Foreign Ministry announced on September 7 it was closing the German consulate in St. Petersburg after Germany closed the Russian consulate in Bonn and Russian House in Berlin. Germany accused Russia of an attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport in early August. Russia ordered the German consulate closed by September 18.

1 h agoRussia has ordered the closure of its German consulate general in St. Petersburg by September 18, escalating tensions with Berlin. The move follows German measures related to a drone incident in Leipzig and comes after Germany announced it would close the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin.

1 h agoA man in his sixties killed a 60-year-old neighbour and seriously wounded her 55-year-old partner in Finistère on Friday before turning a weapon on himself. Gendarmes found him unconscious and armed, and he was airlifted to hospital in very critical condition but has since died. Prosecutors opened an investigation for murder and attempted murder.

2 h agoThe Kremlin said it does not rule out resuming trilateral talks with Russia, Ukraine and the United States, though it is too early to discuss location and dates. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend to advance peace negotiations.

2 h agoAn average of 10 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily over the past 10 days—the lowest volume recorded since May—following strikes on tankers by the United States and Iran. Iran's foreign ministry cautioned South Korea that involvement in Strait operations would be interpreted as backing US aggression, warning of serious repercussions.

3 h agoRussia and North Korea held an opening ceremony on Monday for their first road bridge, which crosses the Tumen River and is designed to handle up to 300 vehicles daily. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin addressed the event via video link, saying the bridge would strengthen ties between the two countries as they deepen military and economic cooperation.

3 h agoGoldman Sachs said oil prices could reach $120 per barrel if attacks on vessels in the Middle East intensify. The bank's co-head of global commodities research said recent developments show that risks of widening shipping disruptions are an important factor to consider. Oil could fall to $80 per barrel if regional exports return to normal levels, the bank added.

4 h agoThe two companies are expanding efforts to navigate flights around zones where contrails form, which contribute substantially to aviation's warming effect. The second phase will run randomised controlled tests on ultra-long-haul routes in partnership with Contrails.org.

5 h agoAn Amazon Prime Air cargo flight overran the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, struck vehicles and caught fire. Five people died and five others were injured in the crash. The FAA and NTSB have begun investigating the incident.