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• European shares edged higher on Wednesday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index rising 0.4% to reach 659.29. • Investors are closely monitoring a combination of new corporate earnings reports and ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the U.S.-Iran conflict. • The market movement reflects hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough that would end the war and reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.

• President Donald Trump has threatened that Iran will be "hit very hard" if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened "very soon." • Despite these threats, a Gulf official indicates there is a 50-50 chance of an Iran-Oman deal regarding the strait by Friday. • While Tehran denies current talks with the US, sources suggest technical negotiations are expected to resume Thursday morning, provided ground developments allow.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 reached new record highs, driven by strong corporate earnings linked to artificial intelligence. • Market gains were further supported by diplomatic progress in talks with Iran, which contributed to a decrease in crude oil prices by approximately 6%. • This surge reflects investor confidence in the long-term growth potential of AI technology and a reduction in geopolitical risk.

• The United States reports that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is nearing completion following "positive" diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman. • Negotiators are currently focused on expanding safe shipping lanes through the strait, although several key differences between the parties remain unresolved. • This diplomatic push is critical as it attempts to secure global maritime trade routes amidst escalating military tensions between Israel, the US, and Iran.

• Arsenal have reportedly reached an agreement to sign midfielder Bruno Guimaraes for a fee of £80 million. • Guimaraes is currently awaiting final approval before traveling to complete the move to the North London club. • In other transfer developments, talks regarding Mohamed Salah have been confirmed, while Liverpool are reportedly receiving a boost in their pursuit of Bradley Barcola.

• The Dispatch reports on several geopolitical and political developments, including the possibility of Iran returning to diplomatic negotiations. • A cargo ship was recently struck in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting ongoing maritime tensions and security risks in the region. • In U.S. political news, Todd Blanche has successfully won over two Republican holdouts, signaling a shift in GOP support.

Masoud Pezeshkian dismisses talk of internal rift as hardline Assembly of Experts call US negotiations ‘futile’Middle East crisis live – latest updatesMasoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, has been forced to deny claims that he has repeatedly threatened to resign as he battles hardline factions opposed to reaching a settlement with the US over the strait of Hormuz.The US and Europe hope a deal is imminent to reopen the strait and they are putting pressure on Oman to accept a temporary agreement that officials in Muscat fear will leave Iran retaining near permanent dominance of the vital oil shipping channel. Ships would enter the strait in a route close to Iran, but leave on a route that passes through Iranian and Omani waters. Continue reading...

• At least 88 people have died after an estimated 60,000 migrants attempted to enter Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, primarily by swimming. • The event marks the largest mass migrant crossing in the region's history, with the majority of those involved having since returned to Morocco. • This crisis underscores the volatility of uncontrolled border crossings and the humanitarian risks associated with irregular migration into Europe.

• President Trump has threatened "decapitation" strikes against Iran, stating the country is on its "very last chance" to reach a deal. • In response to a Houthi-declared blockade, six Saudi-operated tankers have been diverted around Africa to ensure safe passage. • Iran's Foreign Ministry is currently in negotiations with Oman to establish a temporary safe route for maritime vessels.

• Ukraine has appointed Umerov to lead a combined portfolio overseeing foreign intelligence, peace negotiations, and defense-technology priorities. • His key responsibilities include managing critical military initiatives, specifically drone procurement deals and the Freyja anti-ballistic program. • This consolidation of power aims to align Ukraine's intelligence capabilities with its diplomatic efforts and technological defense needs.

• The PML-N party secured a victory in the second phase of elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), marking a significant political shift in the region. • Security concerns escalated in northwest Pakistan with a rising death toll from attacks, while recovery efforts continue for climbers on Broad Peak. • Diplomatic activity intensified as Donald Trump announced new developments regarding talks with Iran and Aung San Suu Kyi held a rare meeting in Myanmar.

• Nvidia has announced a strategic partnership with Hugging Face, a leading developer of AI models and data sets. • The collaboration introduces a new training service on the Hugging Face website powered by Nvidia DGX Cloud. • This integration allows users to leverage Nvidia's high-performance servers to manage and accelerate their AI workloads.

• European stock markets closed mostly higher on Monday, with the Stoxx Europe gaining 0.4%, Germany's DAX climbing 1.6%, and France's CAC advancing 1.4%. • Market activity was highlighted by reports that pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is currently in merger talks with Bristol Myers Squibb. • The positive momentum reflects broader optimism in the sector, while the S&P 500 is simultaneously approaching 40% earnings growth, driven largely by Alphabet.

Iran discussing creation of temporary route through strait of Hormuz with its neighbour, says spokespersonMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesIran has been in discussion with Oman about the creation of a new temporary route through the strait of Hormuz that would allow commercial shipping to resume, but is not yet reviving talks with the US, Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.Esmail Baghaei was responding to claims by Donald Trump that talks between the two sides covering all the major disputes between them could restart as early as Monday. Trump claimed he held off from launching the biggest strike on any country “since world war two” over the weekend after Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, rang him to urge diplomacy. Trump said the cancellation was conditional on Iran reaching a deal quickly. Continue reading...

US president says he called off another US attack on Iran as part of a push for an agreement. Plus why Pokémon Go is still bring global joy ten years onGood morning. Donald Trump said talks with Iran would happen on Monday but declined to set a deadline for an agreement after earlier saying he had called ⁠off an imminent attack. For its part, Iran said it was nearing a deal with Oman over a new route through the strait of Hormuz, and that it had no plans to receive a delegation or send an Iranian one to any talks.On Saturday night, the US president claimed on social media that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal ⁠that would lead to “the immediate, complete and total” reopening of the strait and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat”. Trump added that Tehran must “rapidly make a deal”.What has Iran said about the strait? The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, told state television on Sunday that a deal was close with Oman over a new route through the waterway. “We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides – neither the northern route nor the southern route – but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,” he said in an interview.How many measles cases has the US seen? His remark came as the incidence of measles crossed a milestone – the US has officially recorded 2,371 confirmed infections so far this year, surpassing the total tally in 2025 of 2,289. Taken together, in the past two years there has been more measles infections in the US than the rest of the 21st century combined. The last time a greater number of measles cases were recorded in a single year was in 1991. Continue reading...

Iranian spokesperson says there are no plans to receive or send a delegation following US president’s assertion that talks would take place todayTrump says Iran talks set for MondayHello and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East.Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters at a weekly press briefing on Monday that Iran is not currently holding any talks with the US, Reuters reports – contradicting claims made by Donald Trump on Sunday night that talks with Iran would happen the next day. Continue reading...

Tie-up would be one of the biggest pharmaceutical deals ever and create the world’s fourth-largest drugmaker Business live – latest updatesBritain’s biggest drugmaker AstraZeneca is in discussions to take over its US rival Bristol Myers Squibb in a deal that would create a near-$400bn (£300bn) pharmaceutical group.AstraZeneca, run by longtime chief executive Pascal Soriot, is the second-biggest listed company in the UK, with a market value of nearly £196bn. BMS, headquartered in Princeton and known for its cancer treatments, is worth $133bn. Continue reading...

• Spain has triggered two days of emergency EU talks following the arrival of over 50,000 migrants in the northern African territory of Ceuta. • The surge in arrivals has intensified an already bitter debate within the European Union regarding migration management and border security. • This crisis highlights the vulnerability of EU external borders and the ongoing tension between member states over how to distribute and process asylum seekers.

• President Trump announced that talks regarding the US-Iran conflict will resume on Monday after he previously called off planned strikes. • Former Palestinian Authority leader Mohammed Dahlan claimed that Jared Kushner is working with Israel to halt attacks on Gaza, though the White House and State Department have not yet commented. • Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen contradicted reports of a ceasefire, stating there is no deal to stop attacks and arguing that Israel should take full control of the Gaza Strip, where it already controls 70%.

Review goes down to the wire after ministers speak with victims’ representatives and support servicesAndy Burnham is focused on preventing the release of child sexual abuse perpetrators as part of the government’s early release scheme, as urgent talks on which serious criminals could be exempted go down to the wire.Government ministers are understood to have 24 hours to assess which criminals can be released early to free up prison space, with every exemption weighed up against the threat of the criminal justice system’s collapse. Continue reading...

• Twenty-two EU leaders have issued a formal call for emergency talks to address the ongoing migrant crisis in Ceuta. • The request follows public criticism from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who condemned the response of several EU member states to the situation. • The move highlights growing tensions within the European Union regarding the shared responsibility and management of border security and migration.

• USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone announced Wednesday that contract extension talks with U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino are "going well." • Pochettino's tenure included leading the USMNT through the 2026 World Cup, where the team topped Group D and reached the round of 16. • The team's tournament run ended with a 4-1 loss to Belgium after previous victories over Australia, Paraguay, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• LiveWire shares surged this week after reporting strong second-quarter financial results, including a 55% year-over-year increase in revenue. • Key growth drivers included the acquisition of Dust Motorcycles, improved cost discipline, and the commencement of production for the S4 Honcho platform. • The company, which was spun off from Harley Davidson (NYSE:HOG) via a 2022 SPAC merger, is seeing a significant rise in adjusted EBITDA.

• President Trump held a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, where he discussed Iran and the Attorney General nomination of Matthew Blanche. • During the event, Trump announced a new deal requiring Hamas to disarm in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. • Meanwhile, Kamala Harris criticized the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling on presidential immunity, highlighting the court's current 6-3 conservative majority.

• Fulham has reached an agreement with Real Madrid for a transfer involving a 30 per cent sell-on clause and matching rights for any future fees. • The deal includes a fixed fee with an additional £1.7 million available through performance-based add-ons. • Manchester United youth player Tyler Fredricson has officially ended his 12-year tenure at Old Trafford to join Lausanne-Sport on a permanent move.

• Benzinga has released its "Stock Whisper" Index, identifying five specific stocks that are currently seeing a surge in secret investor interest. • The index focuses on assets that are being closely monitored by traders but have not yet become mainstream talking points in the market. • This tracking is significant as it highlights emerging catalysts and sentiment shifts that could precede larger price movements or public trends.

• MoneyWeek is highlighting the investment potential of Asian small-cap stocks, which are frequently overlooked despite their ability to generate strong returns. • The Asia focus fund is shifting its strategy, moving away from a heavy weighting in the domestic-oriented Indian market. • This strategic pivot is driven by the global AI boom, which has increased the attractiveness of export-oriented markets in Taiwan and South Korea.

• The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced Wednesday that the Centre promised to protect protesters involved in the NEET-UG agitation. • Representatives from the Centre shared draft notifications from the Bihar and Assam governments pledging to withdraw FIRs and release all detained individuals. • This move aims to ensure that no protester is left to face legal consequences or future prosecution for their participation in the protests.