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US announces attacks early on Thursday, as experts say strikes carried out by both sides in previous day increase risk of return to all-out war US-Saudi strikes in Iraq push region into ‘uncharted territory’, analysts warnWelcome to our live coverage of the continuing crisis in the Middle East.The ​US has said it is conducting ​airstrikes ‌in ‌Iran, after a lull of several days in direct US attacks on targets in Iran.The renewed hostilities sent oil prices spiking. Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 7.3% to $88 a barrel.The office of the Iraqi president, Nizar Amidi, called the US-Saudi airstrikes on multiple logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq “a blatant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty”.An oil refinery in Jazan, on the Red Sea coast, had temporarily shut down due to “relatively significant” damage from a Houthi attack on Saturday, a Saudi official told the Associated Press.Saudi Arabia is seeking to build an international coalition to protect ⁠shipping in the ⁠Red ​Sea from Houthi attacks, Reuters quoted two people familiar with the deliberations as saying. Continue reading...

US military says it intercepted all Iranian missiles, as fighting threatens to resume. Plus, how Armenians seek to breathe more easily by heading undergroundGood morning. The US military has claimed it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days. In what Washington cast ⁠as “an attempted surprise ⁠attack” by Tehran, Iran had launched multiple ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East, shattering a brief pause in fighting. US Central Command (Centcom) said all Iranian missiles launched on Tuesday were intercepted.Iran’s attack came as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, visited Washington. Netanyahu said he had an “excellent” meeting with Donald Trump. The closed-door meeting lasted nearly an hour and a half and was “positive and productive,” the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.Why is the US-Iran war a threat to biodiversity? The closure of the strait of Hormuz has created conditions for an extreme global biodiversity threat, with scientists warning that thousands of stranded ships could spread invasive marine species across the world’s oceans once they begin sailing again.Who else did Trump meet yesterday? Trump hosted back-to-back White House meetings with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Netanyahu on Tuesday. The Ukrainian leader was seeking more firepower for his air defenses and said: “We also spoke about diplomacy – it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.” Continue reading...

• On July 27, 2026, the United States paused new military strikes, while Iran's Foreign Ministry denied that any negotiations are currently underway with the US. • Tehran asserted it will not allow the US to dictate the timing of war and peace, following drone attacks launched from Iraq into Saudi Arabia. • The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation from multiple nations, including Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Lebanon.

• Wall Street futures are rising as a diplomatic pause between the U.S. and Iran has led to a decrease in oil prices. • The drop in energy costs is specifically boosting stocks in the airline, cruise, and technology sectors. • This market movement occurs as investors prepare for an upcoming crucial meeting of the Federal Reserve.

• U.S. stock futures are projected to open sharply higher, with Dow futures rising 500 to 600 points (1.1%), S&P 500 futures up 0.9%, and Nasdaq-100 futures surging between 1.4% and 1.6%. • The rally is driven by a global relief sentiment as oil prices tumble following a pause in military strikes between the U.S. and Iran. • This shift matters as it signals a reduction in Middle East geopolitical risks, providing a boost to markets after several consecutive weeks of declines.

• The U.S. and Iran have entered a temporary pause in fighting as of Monday, following a weekend of difficult negotiations regarding a lasting peace agreement. • Despite the ceasefire, oil prices dropped sharply, which initially triggered a surge in stock markets before gains leveled off later in the day. • President Trump has dismissed concerns regarding dwindling stockpiles, signaling a confident stance on U.S. resources amidst the ongoing geopolitical tension.

• Stock futures surged on Monday as the market entered the busiest week of the corporate earnings season. • Oil prices plummeted following a pause in military strikes and hostilities between the United States and Iran. • The shift reflects a decrease in geopolitical tension, providing a boost to investor confidence and global markets.

• Wall Street index futures rose on Monday following an announcement that the United States and Iran have paused hostilities over the weekend. • The geopolitical de-escalation caused oil prices to drop sharply, boosting premarket trading for energy-sensitive stocks, including United Airlines and American Airlines. • Investors are now shifting focus toward critical economic data, with June durable goods reports expected later on Monday.

• Wall Street futures are climbing as oil prices drop following a pause in tensions between the U.S. and Iran. • Investors are shifting their focus toward upcoming corporate earnings reports and the Federal Reserve's latest policy signals. • The U.S. central bank is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged during its current meeting.

• DeepSeek has suspended its second round of fundraising following the viral spread of leaked comments made by founder Liang Wenfeng. • The controversy centers on Liang's remarks regarding the company's reliance on Nvidia hardware, highlighting the challenges Chinese AI firms face amid chip export restrictions. • This pause is significant as it disrupts the capital flow for one of China's most prominent AI developers during a critical phase of growth and competition.

Eighteen American troops have been killed and 624 wounded since White House launched war on Tehran. Plus, International Cowboy Day in KenyaGood morning. The US has paused strikes on Iran for a third night as top military officials advised Donald Trump to halt his bombing campaign, and diplomatic negotiations have continued to avoid a return to all-out war. Oil prices fell on Monday as markets responded to the pause in combat. Tehran said on Sunday it would pause what it called “retaliatory” attacks against US allies in the region.Trump is said to be weighing up diplomatic and military options in the nearly five-month-old conflict. Axios reported on Sunday that Adm Bradley Cooper, the top US military commander in the region, had told Trump the US military campaign had reached the limits of its effectiveness.How many US service personnel have been killed and injured in Trump’s Iran war? The Pentagon updated its official war casualty database over the weekend, adding more than 140 wounded service members. The new figures show that 18 US troops have been killed and 624 wounded since the US launched its war against Iran on 28 February.How has Katy Perry become embroiled in debate over the war? The pop star has condemned the White House after it used her hit song Firework in a TikTok video showing US military strikes on Iranian targets, saying: “I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it. I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength … my music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare.”What has the international court accused Netanyahu of? The court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, issued a warrant accusing the Israeli prime minister of being “allegedly responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare and of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts”. Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets generally advanced following a pause in U.S.-Iran attacks, with gains seen in the Philippines' PSEi Composite (0.8%), Malaysia's FTSE KLCI (0.5%), and New Zealand's NZX 50 (0.3%). • In Indonesia, the Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite Index rose 0.2% as investors reacted to the surprise resignation of Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo. • Market participants are now assessing how this leadership change in Indonesia will impact future monetary policy and the stability of the rupiah.

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsYet another company has been picked off London’s stock exchange this morning: DCC Energy has agreed to a £5.75bn takeover by private equity investors KKR and Energy Capital Partners.Shareholders in the FTSE 100 energy distributor will receive £65.25 per share ‌in cash, a proposed ‌final dividend of 147.22p per share, and a potential payment of up ‌to £1.25 per share if DCC can sell its technology unit for at least $800 million.Whilst the DCC Energy Board remains confident in the energy strategy and associated 2030 Ambition announced in 2022, the Board believes the Consortium’s offer represents a compelling opportunity for shareholders to crystallise value in cash at an attractive premium to DCC Energy’s historical trading price.We are confident that the Consortium will be strong stewards of DCC Energy’s 50-year heritage and support the business during its next phase of growth.” Continue reading...

• The Trump administration has signaled a pause in military strikes against Iran to provide "some space" for diplomatic efforts and negotiations to progress. • Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that defending Hezbollah remains a strategic priority and demanded a "complete and unconditional" end to Israeli attacks. • Khamenei's letter accused the U.S. and Israel of oppression, claiming that "jihad and resistance" are the only viable paths forward for the region.

• Chinese AI pioneer DeepSeek has verbally informed prospective investors that it is suspending its second fundraising round. • The decision follows the leak of transcripts attributed to founder Liang Wenfeng, which triggered intense online debate regarding China's technological gap with the U.S. • This pause highlights growing concerns over China's heavy reliance on American hardware to power its domestic artificial intelligence development.

• DeepSeek has reportedly informed its backers of a pause in funding following the circulation of viral posts regarding the company's internal outlook. • The suspension was allegedly triggered by founder Liang Wenfeng's frustration over unverified transcripts of a meeting where he discussed China's AI competition with the U.S. • Reports from Chinese media, including Yicai, suggest Liang highlighted China's continued reliance on Nvidia chips and a persistent gap in AI sophistication compared to American technology.

• DeepSeek has suspended its second funding round following the viral leak of comments made by founder Liang Wenfeng. • The leaked discussions centered on the company's heavy reliance on Nvidia chips and the existing gap in AI capabilities between China and the West. • The pause comes as DeepSeek, owned by Zhejiang High-Flyer Asset Management, prioritizes open-source development and aggressive pricing over immediate revenue.

Top military officials say campaign has reached its limit of effectiveness and warn of dwindling stocks of munitionsThe US has paused strikes on Iran for a second night as top military officials advised Donald Trump to halt his bombing campaign, and diplomatic negotiations have continued to avoid a return to all-out war.Trump is said to be weighing up diplomatic and military options in the nearly five-month-old conflict, with Benjamin Netanyahu expected to visit the White House on Tuesday. The Israeli prime minister is a vocal critic of Washington’s negotiations with Iranian leaders and has pressed for the US to continue its strikes against Iran. Continue reading...

• Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has paused its second fundraising round shortly after securing a record $7 billion in previous funding. • The decision follows the viral spread of comments attributed to founder Liang Wenfeng regarding China's AI industry and its competition with the United States. • This pause highlights the volatility of the AI investment landscape and the potential impact of public statements on corporate financing.

• DeepSeek has paused its second round of financing, which was targeted at raising $1.5 billion. • This delay follows a record-breaking first round of $7 billion led by Tencent, CATL, and a state-backed AI investment fund. • The pause comes amid viral posts by founder Liang Wenfeng, highlighting the volatility surrounding the company's rapid growth.

• DeepSeek has reportedly paused its funding process after founder Liang Wenfeng expressed frustration over viral online reports regarding his previous investor communications. • The company gained global attention last year by developing a cutting-edge AI model that achieves high performance using significantly fewer computing resources than industry standards. • This breakthrough is significant as it proves Chinese firms can compete with Silicon Valley leaders despite strict US export restrictions on advanced hardware.

• DeepSeek, a leading Chinese AI firm, has suspended its second fundraising round and delayed the signing of investment agreements. • The pause follows the viral spread of comments attributed to founder Liang Wenfeng concerning the ongoing AI competition between the U.S. and China. • This move highlights the volatility of AI investment in China, where geopolitical tensions and public statements can abruptly impact financial stability.

• The United States and Iran have entered an apparent pause in their direct military strikes, though tensions remain high. • A new front has emerged in the Red Sea as Houthi rebels threaten a campaign against Saudi shipping unless a long-standing blockade is lifted. • This escalation risks expanding the scope of Middle East conflicts by introducing maritime instability and threatening critical trade routes.

• The GSA released a revised draft rule titled “Basic Safeguarding of Data within Large Language Model Artificial Intelligence Systems (LLMs)” following an initial March publication. • The updated guidelines establish specific flowdown requirements for four primary roles: Developers, System Operators, System Integrators, and Service Providers. • In a notable shift, the GSA replaced a specific prohibition of “diversity, equity and inclusion” ideology with a broader ban on “ideological dogmas” within AI models.

The deaths of Joan Sebastian Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo have prompted calls for independent investigationsFederal immigration officials have been instructed to stop pulling over vehicles until further notice, according to a homeland security source, following two recent deadly shootings in Texas and Maine during which officials shot and killed immigrants in vehicles.Other news outlets, including Fox News and CNN, confirmed that officials nationwide received the instructions, with the former reporting some vehicle stops would be allowed to target “the most egregious criminal aliens”. Continue reading...

Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order enacting a moratorium on the large, resource-intensive AI facilitiesNew York became the first US state to enact a moratorium on new datacenters on Tuesday.Governor Kathy Hochul issued an executive order mandating a one-year statewide pause on the large facilities used to power artificial intelligence products. Continue reading...

• The CDC paused diagnostic testing for rabies, mpox, and over 24 other diseases in March 2026 following significant staffing reductions. • As of July 1, the agency has not provided public clarity regarding the restoration status of these critical diagnostic services. • This pause creates a gap in public health surveillance and diagnostic capabilities for high-risk infectious diseases.

• European stock markets have paused their recent rally, reflecting investor hesitation across the region. • The stagnation is driven by lingering concerns regarding the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory and the stability of the Iran peace deal. • This shift matters as it signals a period of volatility and caution for investors who had previously been optimistic about market growth.