Conflict

Israeli takeover of al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock compound in Jerusalem said to be ‘imminent’ threatMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesJordan is convening an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the Arab and Islamic world over what it says is an “imminent” threat of an Israeli takeover of the most important religious site in Jerusalem, with the potential to “trigger a religious conflict”.The meeting on Wednesday – and the Jordanian warning – follow an escalating pattern of government-backed incursions by Jewish religious extremists on the compound around the al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock, in violation of a status quo treaty overseen by Jordan’s Hashemite monarchy, by which only Muslims can pray at the site. Continue reading...

Cotality data shows a drop in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, as nation’s median home price falls about $19,000 below its March peakGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHouse prices have fallen in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth as the market downturn spreads across Australia.New Cotality data, released on Monday, showed prices have fallen across most of the nation since May. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will hit Iran "very hard" in response to ongoing regional tensions. • Reports indicate that Washington is currently weighing fresh military strikes, which could specifically target Iranian energy infrastructure. • These potential operations are reportedly being considered for execution as early as this coming weekend.

• European stock indexes are currently balancing strong corporate earnings reports against market volatility caused by the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran. • Key financial gains include a 2% rise for Societe Generale following record quarterly profits and a 2.6% increase for Spain’s BBVA after reporting higher second-quarter net profits. • Asset manager Amundi also contributed to the positive momentum by beating core earnings estimates during an unusually heavy corporate reporting calendar.

Government fears social discontent on ‘most important battlefield’ of economy and livelihoods as war takes its toll amid anti-state dissentIran, in the midst of an escalating five-month war with the US, continues to stumble from one internal crisis to another – whether it is over public executions, the rising cost of living, the alleged bias of the state broadcaster or even the post-midnight destruction of pavements outside liberal-leaning Tehran cafes. Very little that happens in Iran, cultural or political, momentous or trivial, does so uncontested.But there is now a growing threat of a long diplomatic deadlock, forged by mutual distrust in which neither side believes the other will stick to any agreement. That impasse has occurred as the war broadens, drawing in Yemen, Iraq and now Egypt. In Iran, at least, the advocates of escalation are winning. As a result, a convergence of Iran’s conflicts, internal and external, becomes more likely. Continue reading...

• The European Union plans to establish a corporate advisory group following the summer break to enhance the bloc's overall economic security. • This new group will focus on sharing critical information regarding supply chain risks and managing potential trade conflicts. • The initiative matters as the EU seeks to protect its strategic interests and reduce vulnerabilities within its global trade networks.

• Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan would go to war against India if its water security is threatened. • The threat is tied to the potential suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of river waters between the two nations. • This escalation highlights the volatile nature of the long-standing territorial dispute over the Kashmir region and the critical role of resource security.

• The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has escalated attacks to exploit a period of vulnerability within Saudi Arabia. • The group aims to leverage this conflict to secure significant political concessions regarding the ongoing war in Yemen. • This escalation follows years of conflict and a Saudi strategic pullback driven by international pressure over the severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

• UNESCO has identified six World Heritage sites at risk due to conflict, insecurity, and environmental pressures. • The Palestinian site is under threat from the ongoing Middle East conflict, development, and plans for a national park that may divide the property. • South Sudan's Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape, home to the world's largest terrestrial mammal migration, is also at risk due to humanitarian crises.

• A new war in Yemen is looming, with signs indicating a re-eruption of conflict is imminent. • Recent developments have strengthened anti-Houthi forces in the country, potentially altering the balance of power. • The Houthis have shifted from rhetoric and mobilization to military action, escalating tensions.

• Tensions are rising in Ethiopia's Tigray region due to the incomplete implementation of the Pretoria Agreement. • Key sticking points include the failure to fully disarm Tigray Defense Forces and the continued presence of Eritrean troops on Ethiopian soil. • These unresolved issues have sparked fears of a potential war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, threatening regional stability.

• On Saturday, July 25, 2026, conflict escalated as Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels engaged in a series of reciprocal attacks. • The hostilities occur within the broader context of an ongoing war involving the United States and Israel against Iran. • This expansion of violence signifies a widening regional conflict, drawing in key Middle Eastern actors and increasing instability.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the UN Security Council on Thursday, July 24, emphasizing the critical role of diplomacy in resolving global crises. • Guterres acknowledged that while diplomatic efforts may have failed to prevent current military confrontations and border tensions, they remain the most effective tool for ending them. • The remarks come amid rising global uncertainty and escalating tensions that threaten international peace and security.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the UN Security Council on Thursday to emphasize the critical role of diplomacy in resolving global crises. • Guterres acknowledged that while diplomatic efforts may have failed to prevent current military confrontations and border tensions, they remain the most effective tool for ending them. • The remarks come amid a period of escalating global uncertainty and instability caused by various ongoing conflicts.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed a UN Security Council debate on Thursday, July 24, emphasizing the critical role of diplomacy in resolving global crises. • Guterres acknowledged that while diplomatic efforts may have failed to prevent current military confrontations and border tensions, they remain the most effective tool for ending them. • The remarks come amid rising global uncertainty and escalating military tensions that are disrupting international peace and security.

• Israel has launched air and ground assaults in Syria, viewing the current regime as a significant security threat. • Despite the United States easing sanctions and Arab states pledging financial aid, the country continues to face instability and minority tensions. • Humanitarian conditions remain dire as the nation struggles with a weak recovery process following years of conflict.

Benchmark rises sharply over fears Houthi militia could strangle Saudi exports as US-Iran fighting intensifiesThe oil price has climbed back above $100 a barrel for the first time in two months, as a fresh escalation of the Middle East conflict threatens to compound disruption to global oil supplies.The benchmark oil price rose sharply on Thursday, after reaching $95 a barrel the day before amid fears that Yemen’s Houthi militia could strangle Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea while US-Iran tensions over oil flows through the strait of Hormuz intensify. Continue reading...

• Approximately 50,000 people from over 100 countries gathered in Britain for the 60th convention of the nation's largest Muslim organization. • The event focused on calling world leaders to prioritize justice and peace over the strategic interests of powerful states to prevent a devastating global war. • Discussions centered on urgent international crises, specifically highlighting the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

• ASEAN diplomats are convening for a series of high-level meetings to address regional conflicts and maritime disputes, specifically the volatile situation in the South China Sea. • The summit occurs amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions and follows U.S. State Department condemnations of China's "dangerous and aggressive" provocations against Philippine maritime operations. • Key international figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, will attend, with a potential sideline meeting between the two.

• Top diplomats from ASEAN nations gathered in Manila starting Tuesday to discuss regional stability and diplomatic cooperation. • The meeting is overshadowed by the escalating conflict between the US and Iran, which adds geopolitical uncertainty to the Southeast Asian region. • Discussions are complicated by existing regional crises, including maritime tensions with China and the ongoing struggle to resolve Myanmar's civil war.

• South Korea’s Kospi led an Asian market upturn, soaring 5.68% to 7,131.43, driven primarily by a rally in technology stocks. • Other regional markets saw mixed results, with Japan’s Nikkei rising 1.71% to 67,364.56 and China's SSEC advancing 0.24%, while Hong Kong’s HSI dipped 0.40% to 25,032.24. • The growth was supported by a surge in Japanese exports, though investors remain cautious while monitoring ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

• The Middle East conflict is creating significant economic uncertainty for Pakistan, threatening to disrupt the country's fragile macroeconomic stability. • Key risks include fueling sticky inflation, widening external financial pressures, and increasing volatility in global energy prices. • These geopolitical shocks complicate the State Bank of Pakistan's (SBP) monetary policy calculus, potentially delaying necessary interest rate cuts.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for increased diplomatic efforts and restraint to end the escalating conflict between the US and Iran. • The conflict has spread across ten nations, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE, leading to attacks on vital infrastructure. • This instability is causing significant global economic pressure, specifically impacting trade systems, humanitarian access, fuel prices, and the cost of basic commodities.

• The head of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) warned that ongoing conflicts and energy market disruptions are threatening global progress in the fight against hunger. • These instabilities are driving up the costs of essential commodities, including fuel, fertilizer, and food, which could push millions more people into food insecurity. • A new United Nations report highlights that current gains in reducing global hunger remain fragile and susceptible to these external economic shocks.

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels have expanded their conflict by implementing a blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea. • This escalation follows a series of military actions, including the U.S. launching strikes against Iran for the 10th consecutive night. • The blockade is expected to increase pressure on global energy markets, while Tehran reports receiving new proposals from mediators to resolve the tension.

• The conflict in Yemen continues to be exacerbated by the Southern Transitional Council's (STC) renewed demands for an independent southern state and a surge in attacks by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). • A severe humanitarian crisis persists, with 21.6 million people requiring urgent aid, including 11 million children. • Over 4.5 million individuals remain displaced, highlighting the devastating human cost of the prolonged instability.

• Top ASEAN diplomats are convening for a summit to address critical regional and global security threats. • Key agenda items include the escalating conflict between the US and Iran, as well as the ongoing instability and civil war in Myanmar. • The meeting is significant as Southeast Asian leaders seek to navigate geopolitical tensions and maintain regional stability amidst superpower friction.

• Russia launched a deadly attack near Odesa, Ukraine, contributing to ongoing conflict and regional instability. • In legal news, Mexican drug kingpin Ismael Zambada has been sentenced in the United States, marking a significant blow to organized crime networks. • Spain achieved a notable sports victory by defeating Argentina in soccer, while Hungary progressed with its presidential nomination process.