War Live

• The US military confirmed a service member was killed in Iraq during a "controlled detonation" of a downed Iranian drone. • This marks the third confirmed troop death following a new round of airstrikes intended to "swiftly punish" Iran for its actions. • A separate attack targeted electricity generation units, forcing the ministry to trigger emergency plans to stabilize the power grid.

• The 72nd National Film Awards were announced in Delhi on July 18, 2026, honoring excellence in Indian cinema. • The political thriller *Article 370* dominated the event, winning three major categories: Best Feature Film, Best Actress, and Best Music Direction. • Other notable winners include Rajkumar Periasamy for Best Director, *Kalki 2898 AD* for Wholesome Entertainment, and *Srikanth* as the Best Hindi Film.

• The U.S. has expanded military strikes deep into Iran, while Tehran has responded with attacks on neighboring Gulf states. • In Khuzestan Province, official Valiollah Hayati reported that strikes caused structural damage to homes and shattered windows in the vicinity of Ahvaz. • Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz an "unbreakable red line," signaling a high risk of further escalation in a critical global shipping lane.

• Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is testifying before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday morning regarding the current state of the U.S. economy. • The hearing serves as a critical briefing for lawmakers to assess economic stability and the Federal Reserve's current monetary policy direction. • This appearance is particularly significant as it coincides with the economic agenda and appointments overseen by President Trump.

Chief executives of Australia’s 100 biggest companies earned a median $4.8m in the 2025 financial year. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastChief executives of Australia’s 100 biggest companies earned a median $4.8m in realised pay in 2025’s financial year, a 16% increase from 2024, a new report has found.The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors has calculated take-home pay, which includes reported pay plus bonuses, vested shares and other extras. Continue reading...

• The U.S. and Iran have reignited military conflict over the Strait of Hormuz following a series of exchanged attacks. • Approximately 180 members of Iran’s Parliament declared a preliminary cease-fire deal void, accusing the U.S. of violating a memorandum of understanding signed last month. • In response to the escalating tensions, the United States prepared to restart a blockade of Iranian ports on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

• The ASX opened higher despite geopolitical tensions and flaring hostilities between the US and Iran, which have caused oil prices to jump. • Market sentiment was bolstered by the Nasdaq debut of South Korea's SK Hynix, which saw shares rise 14% after raising approximately $US26.5 billion. • Investors are anticipating a strong second-quarter earnings season on Wall Street, with LSEG analysts forecasting a 24% surge in S&P 500 earnings driven largely by technology firms.

• Iran's state news agency, IRNA, reported that 10 to 11 enemy projectiles struck Qeshm Island on Sunday. • The attack targeted a strategic location within the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global artery for oil and shipping. • This escalation increases geopolitical tensions in a region vital to international energy security and trade.

Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictorian Animal Justice party MP Georgie Purcell says abolishing the state’s group voting ticket system without any other changes would see the balance of power handed to One Nation.The Age reported yesterday that the Allan government is planning to introduce legislation, when parliament returns from the winter break, to reform the state’s unusual voting system.Crossbench MPs like myself support electoral reform, and we’ve been asking for it to be implemented in a sensible way for years. We want change too.But we don’t want a model that disproportionately benefits certain minor parties. Continue reading...

• Iran has launched strikes against U.S. military infrastructure in the Middle East following a series of American attacks. • The U.S. military targeted Iranian assets to degrade their capacity to threaten freedom of navigation within the strategic Strait of Hormuz. • This escalation highlights a struggle for political leverage, as Iran seeks to maintain control over the strait to prevent traffic from shifting toward Oman.

• The United States carried out fresh military strikes on Iranian targets for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. • President Donald Trump officially declared the interim memorandum of understanding with Iran "over," signaling a definitive break in diplomatic efforts. • In response to the attacks, Iran has warned the U.S. of "severe punishment," raising the risk of a broader regional conflict involving Israel.

Carrier says some customers still can’t connect to triple zero on its network. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPublic transport commuters in New South Wales and Victoria have been urged to plan ahead and seek alternative travel plans this morning as networks continue to be affected by yesterday’s Telstra outage. The NSW transport department said last night that passengers on Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink regional rail services “should expect flow-on impacts” and “plan ahead and check the latest service information before commencing their journey due to ongoing disruptions affecting rail operations”. Victorians have been advised “not to travel on V/Line services” if possible, with regional train services reduced to “a very limited coach service”. Metro rail services in both Sydney and Melbourne remain unaffected.Late last night, Telstra confirmed a secondary issue flowing on from yesterday’s widespread national mobile outage that affected calls, including triple zero. Continue reading...

• The Television Academy will announce the full list of nominees for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Wednesday, July 8. • The reveal is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT and will be hosted by Jeff Hiller and Liza Colón-Zayas. • The event will be broadcast via a live stream on Emmys.com, providing the first official look at the year's top television contenders.

• The United States has launched military strikes against Iran following attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. • The escalation has led to missile strikes targeting Bahrain and Kuwait, significantly increasing tensions across West Asia. • This surge in hostilities raises immediate fears of a wider regional conflict involving multiple nations and global superpowers.

• Wall Street closed at record levels with all three major US indexes ending higher: the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.12%, the S&P 500 jumped 0.72%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.29%. • Oil prices stabilized, returning to levels seen before the conflict in Iran, while global stocks rose 0.41% according to MSCI's gauge. • The ongoing AI boom continues to drive market momentum, highlighted by South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix launching a 43 trillion won ($28.07 billion) US share sale.

Reform UK leader claims he is victim of ‘hit job’ as parliamentary standards commissioner investigates £5m donation Good morning. Two weeks today (unless there is some news development in the totally unexpected category) Keir Starmer will formally resign as PM, and the king will appoint Andy Burnham to replace him. Starmer has been forced out in part because of the rise of Nigel Farage; Labour MPs might have forgiven bad local election results, but not when they implied a new insurgency party was on course to win in 2029, with a far-right agenda that might tear up liberal democratic norms cherished by Labour MPs (and many others).By some cruel twist of fate, Starmer is now on his way out just as the electoral threat from Farage is, while not disappearing, certainly falling back a bit. Continue reading...

• The 2026 BET Awards, hosted by comedian and influencer Druski, achieved significant year-over-year audience growth across multiple platforms. • BET reported increased viewership and engagement across traditional television, streaming services, social media, and live event attendance. • This growth marks the biggest audience surge for the awards show in several years, highlighting the effectiveness of Druski's hosting and the show's multi-channel distribution strategy.

• The UK service sector has experienced a contraction, driven by a combination of extreme heatwaves and disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran. • Market trends show investors are rotating away from high-performing chip stocks and shifting capital toward "old economy" companies listed on the London stock market. • Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has more than quadrupled over the past week, signaling increased confidence in a 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran.

• The United States and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to pause hostilities and strikes in West Asia to prevent further escalation. • U.S. envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with mediators in Doha, Qatar, though Qatari officials clarified that no direct talks between the U.S. and Iran are currently taking place. • A critical component of the deal involves reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping lane that has been threatened by the ongoing conflict.

• The 2026 BET Awards took place on June 28, featuring top nominations for artists including Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, and Mariah the Scientist. • The event introduced two new honors: the Fashion Vanguard Award for long-standing cultural style impact and the Pulse Award for digital creators moving Black culture forward. • These additions reflect the network's effort to recognize the evolving influence of digital spaces and fashion on cultural identity.

• The BET Awards 2026 is scheduled to take place as a major celebration of Black music, entertainment, culture, and creativity. • The event will bring together a global assembly of influential artists, performers, actors, and public figures to recognize outstanding achievements. • This annual ceremony matters as it continues a long-standing tradition of honoring excellence and diversity within the Black entertainment industry.

• Comedian and internet personality Druski has been announced as the host for the 2026 BET Awards. • By taking on this role, Druski becomes the youngest host in the history of the BET Awards ceremony. • The event serves as a major celebration of Black excellence in music and entertainment, drawing global viewership via TV and live streaming.

• The 2026 BET Awards are scheduled to take place on June 28, 2026, celebrating global achievements in music, entertainment, and culture. • The event will feature a gathering of influential Black artists, performers, and public figures to recognize outstanding creative contributions. • This annual ceremony matters as it serves as a premier platform for honoring Black excellence and delivering high-profile performances.

• The 2026 BET Awards will celebrate 25 years of honoring Black excellence across the music, entertainment, and sports industries. • The event will feature high-profile stars and a hosting presence from comedian and content creator Druski. • Viewers are being provided with guidance on how to stream the ceremony live from any location, including options for free trials.

• The 2026 BET Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 28, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. • The event will celebrate achievements in music, acting, sports, and other creative fields, with options for viewers to watch the ceremony live online. • This annual celebration remains a significant cultural milestone in recognizing Black excellence and influence across the global entertainment industry.

• On June 28, 2026, Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, stating the U.S. would "complete the job" if the current ceasefire is breached. • Natural disasters struck two regions as a 6.1-magnitude earthquake rattled Japan's northeastern coast and a 5.6-magnitude quake hit Venezuela shortly after previous disasters. • In diplomatic developments, Marco Rubio commented on the possibility of a future visit by Trump to India, signaling ongoing geopolitical engagement.

• The United States launched a new round of military strikes against Iranian targets following an attack on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. • Regional tensions escalated rapidly, leading Kuwait to intercept missiles and Bahrain to sound emergency sirens. • These exchanges highlight the volatile security situation in the Persian Gulf and the risk of wider conflict between the two nations.

• Iran has launched retaliatory attacks against Bahrain and hit a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz following recent US airstrikes. • Tehran claims these actions were conducted under Article 51 of the UN Charter, citing the legal right to self-defence. • Senior adviser Mohsen Rezaei accused the US of violating a war-ending memorandum of understanding by supporting regional proxy forces and escalating tensions.