Iceland to submit bill banning commercial whaling

2 min agoSouth Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the Middle East and Strait of Hormuz freedom of navigation in a Friday call at Iran's request. South Korea said it is reviewing options, including military measures, to support maritime security in the strait.

47 min agoOil prices are on track to end the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May. Increasing attacks along key shipping routes in the Middle East are fueling concerns about prolonged supply disruption.

47 min agoThe UK economy grew by 0.4% in July, according to official figures. Economists had predicted no growth for the month.

47 min agoAn Israeli official said dozens of bodies of Hezbollah militants were found in the destroyed tunnels. Israel conveyed a message to Tehran and Beirut that it would respond disproportionately to any response to the tunnel explosion.

1 h agoRussian officials hosted a screening of the 81-year-old Soviet documentary "Smashing Militarist Japan" for about 20 Taiwanese guests in a small Taipei office building. Taiwan's government said Russia was helping China push a narrative about rising military threats from Japan and seeking to sow discord between Taipei and Tokyo.

2 h agoIsrael said it destroyed an underground Hezbollah complex at the Ali Taher ridge in South Lebanon, 15 kilometers from the border, using 1,100 tons of explosives. The operation involved two tunnels more than 2 kilometers long, where Israeli forces said they found dozens of Iran-made rockets. The explosion registered as a 4.1 magnitude seismic event and was felt across South Lebanon and in Beirut.

2 h agoIceland's government will introduce legislation in February 2027 to permanently ban whaling in its waters. Only Norway and Japan would then permit commercial whaling. The proposal follows a 2023 government report finding that harpooned whales took two hours to die, which prompted a temporary suspension of hunts that year.

2 h agoThe Saudi Crown Prince called President Trump twice to request American military strikes against Houthis approaching the Bab al-Mandab strait, but Trump declined the request. The US administration said it has no intention to intervene directly.

4 h agoRepublican lawmakers plan to bring the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to the House floor next week to address electricity bill increases tied to data center expansion. Government officials nationwide face pressure to prevent data center power costs from being passed to households.

5 h agoAryna Sabalenka advanced to the US Open final on Thursday with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Jessica Pegula, extending her winning streak at Flushing Meadows to 20 matches. The top seed is bidding to become only the third woman to win three consecutive US Open titles, joining Chris Evert and Serena Williams.