World News

Trump reverts to economic squeeze as 'entrenched' Iranian regime resists

Facing munitions shortages and growing pressure over the conflict, the Trump administration is turning again to sanctions and a naval blockade to squeeze Iran's oil exports

Trump sued over paid early access to US policy posts on Truth Social

The suit asks that Trump Media be forced to end both the new paid service, called Truth API, and its exclusive access deal with his company in general

China sees underground market for leaks on Xi's next corruption targets

Secretive online groups are selling purported clues on officials under scrutiny as Xi Jinping's anti-graft campaign fuels anxiety across the political system

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to leave role at month's end

Leavitt, who served Trump as a press aide during his first go-around in the White House, has been one of the most visible advocates of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' movement

Asian stocks rise as US inflation data dents Fed's September rate hike bets

Asian equities gained after US consumer prices rose in line with expectations, while oil prices held near $80 a barrel amid a standoff between Washington and Tehran

Hormuz remains blocked: Iran dismisses Trump's 'total US control' claims

Tehran says the strategic waterway remains blocked and will not reopen until Iran's conditions are accepted, rejecting US claims that the Strait is under total US control

Zhu Rongji: Fmr premier who was the architect of economic overhaul in China

A young Communist star in the 1950s, Zhu was expelled from the party in one of Mao Zedong's ideological purification campaigns.

Taiwan slams Indonesia, China over planned naval drills near its coast

China's defence ministry said on Tuesday the drill, to take place in mid-August at a location east of Taiwan it did not detail, would be a "navigation exercise" with an Indonesian navy ship

China's Tencent posts 11% Q2 revenue rise, profit misses estimates

For the three months ended June, the ​Shenzhen-based gaming and internet ‌company reported revenue of ​204.8 billion yuan ($30.36 billion), in line with analyst ‌estimates of ​202.2 billion ‌yuan

Meta faces biggest youth social media test yet as 29 US states go to trial

The seven-week trial will test claims that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to keep children hooked and misled users about the safety of its platforms.

Taiwan's Foxconn reports 35% rise in Q2 profit on AI demand, beats forecast

Foxconn expects its capital expenditure to continue growing and forecasts a 30 per cent increase in 2026 from a year earlier.

Putin says Russia will respond in kind if EU nations seize Russian vessels

TASS cited Putin as saying of those ​measures: "Of course, this is nothing short of piracy and ‌banditry. And if this is actually put into practice, ​we will be forced to respond in kind."

Ukraine halts strikes on tankers using Russian port at US request, FT says

Ukraine agreed not to target CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels as long as the latter were not under Ukrainian sanctions and were not carrying Russian oil or cargo, FT reported

IEA slashes 2026 supply forecast as Hormuz reopening remains elusive

IEA said oil supply has fallen well below demand due to the Strait of Hormuz shutdown, the US blockade of Iranian exports, attacks within the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and reduced Kazakh CPC Blend exports

Iran says no progress on US talks to revive June's interim peace deal

Iran and the US remain at loggerheads over reviving a June interim peace deal, with Tehran saying there has been no progress on a timeframe to implement it.

Pakistan minister meets Iran leaders to revive stalled US-Iran peace talks

An interim agreement, which Pakistan had signed as a guarantor, derailed last month as tensions escalated in West Asia with the US and Iran resuming military strikes

Trump claims total control over Hormuz as US, Iran harden their stances

Trump has oscillated for months between threatening to resume attacks on Iran and expressing confidence that talks to bring an end to America's war with the Islamic Republic are progressing

Explained: Why shipping costs through Panama Canal are soaring now

Panama Canal transit fees have surged to record levels, with auction prices for some shipping slots crossing $3 million as global demand for the key trade route rises

Total solar eclipse: Why August 12 event is special for many across Europe

The August 12 total solar eclipse will turn parts of Europe dark, with Spain and Iceland in the path of totality and the UK witnessing a major partial eclipse

Trump says his plane faced 'greater risk' in secret flight change

Following a Nato summit in Ankara, Trump was transferred from Air Force One to a military plane via a catering truck in an extraordinary deception prompted by an Iranian assassination threat