Trump concedes Iran war drove Republican defeat as Democrats win House and Senate
El-Sayed becomes first Muslim elected to Senate; Trump concedes Iran war raised fuel costs; Georgia elects its first Black woman...
Geostrategy
IRGC says 4 tankers catch fire in Hormuz as Pakistan signals cautious optimism on talks
Hormuz shipping attacks mount as traffic falls 70% below pre-war figures; Trump says talks ongoing, Tehran talking; Yemen tensions escalate;...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Pezeshkian says Iran won’t surrender, but remains open to negotiations
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Pezeshkian delivered a defiant response a day after US President...
- Oil prices edged lower after Iran signalled that it remained open to diplomacy.
- New US aviation sanctions have disrupted Iranian air travel, with airlines and neighbouring countries cutting services to Iranian carriers.
Geostrategy
Trump hails productive Iran talks as Tehran says conditions conveyed to US through Qatar
Iran seeks end to the war on all fronts, a halt to “acts of aggression”, an end to the naval...
- Hormuz traffic remains sharply below its 10-day average, while Saudi loading activity rises following disruption to its East-West pipeline.
- US prosecutors are investigating Binance over possible violations of US sanctions on Iran and trading activity on its platform.
Geostrategy
IRGC says US, Israel must withdraw as Iran war strains economy
Iran’s GDP shrank 10.1% year-on-year between March 21 and June 20, according to the Statistical Center of Iran, covering the...
- US envoy Mike Waltz says Trump remains open to talks if Iran returns to negotiations in good faith.
- Iraq says Hormuz restrictions have cost it $60 billion since war began, including 60 percent of export revenue.
Geostrategy
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum passes away, 10-day mourning declared
His brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, mourned his death on social media, writing: “You...
- He was closely associated with Al Wasl Sports Club for decades and was part of a group of young men who helped establish the organization in a small house in Zabeel in 1960.
- He also served as Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and Group Chairman of ARM Holding, a UAE-based private investment firm.
Geostrategy
Iran warns US, regional states of retaliation ‘without limitations’ if attacked
The warning came as US President Donald Trump said he was considering three options for dealing with Tehran — reaching...
- Hormuz shipping remains sharply below pre-war levels as oil prices ease on hopes that diplomacy could reduce tensions.
- Before the war, around 125 large commercial vessels passed through the waterway each day.
Geostrategy
Iran sets seven conditions for talks as Turkey pushes proposals
“Tehran's message is clear and unambiguous; if Washington wants to escape the quagmire it has created for itself and avoid...
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey and other countries had proposed new conditions to the United States and Iran aimed at ending the war.
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would not abandon its right to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
Geostrategy
Iran war cost Arab economies $150bn in the first month alone, UN official says
Meanwhile, Trump says: “Do I want to go in and annihilate them, or do I not? It’s a big decision....
- Shipping through Hormuz remains sharply reduced. Preliminary data showed only four cargo ships crossed the Strait on Thursday.
- In Yemen, Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi accused Saudi Arabia of using Mecca for political and military goals and said current battlefield actions were defensive.
Business
Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, WEF sign water partnership
The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and the World Economic Forum have signed a partnership to accelerate water innovation and...
- The two-year partnership aims to connect water innovations with financing, policy support, markets and partnerships needed for wider deployment.
- The organisations will convene government, business, finance and civil society leaders while sharing expertise to accelerate water innovation globally.
Geostrategy
Trump says US nearing end of Iran war
The United Nations, meanwhile, called for de-escalation and diplomacy; Oil prices fell as Saudi Arabia offered additional crude cargoes through...
- Trump says he has spoken directly with Iran as Tehran demands practical US steps to build confidence, while China-backed diplomacy gains momentum.
- South Korea, meanwhile, said it had not decided whether to deploy military forces to the Strait of Hormuz.
Geostrategy
GISEC 2026 opens with focus on AI threats, cyber resilience
Global cybersecurity experts converged in Dubai as GISEC 2026 opened, warning that AI is reshaping both cyberattacks and national defense...
- UAE Cybersecurity Council chief Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti said cybersecurity culture is everyone's responsibility amid growing AI threats.
- Emmy-nominated actor Michael Kelly warned that AI deepfakes threaten personal identity, demanding stronger verification, consent and likeness control.
Trump concedes Iran war drove Republican defeat as Democrats win House and Senate
El-Sayed becomes first Muslim elected to Senate; Trump concedes Iran war raised fuel costs; Georgia elects its first Black woman...
Geostrategy
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Iran says Israel pushing US towards renewed war as Gulf tensions mount
UAE and Saudi defense ministers meet; Oil prices fall after sanctions waiver; Tanker catches fire after Hormuz mine; Houthis report...
Geostrategy
Attack on Yemen presidential palace kills 5 as Saudi-Houthi hostilities escalate sharply
Saudi Arabia calls Houthi attacks on civilian, economic and airport facilities “full-fledged war crimes”; Trump says he would not use...
Geostrategy
MENA could unlock $1 trillion value by 2030
“The opportunity for MENA is significant, and the value will come from execution,” said Wissam Yassine, partner and Middle East...
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Trump says Iran war will ‘end very soon’ as Yemen hostilities escalate and Hormuz attacks rise
Iran's Ghalibaf warns Washington cannot be trusted, saying Tehran must prepare for renewed fighting even as negotiations continue between the...
- Attacks on shipping through Hormuz threaten oil flows, while Chinese refiners secure Saudi crude and Houthis escalate strikes on Saudi targets.
- Meanwhile, Israeli strikes killed four people in Gaza on Wednesday, Palestinian officials said, days after the anniversary of the declaration of a US-mediated ceasefire.
World Economic Forum
UAE has agent control tower for better oversight, audit of AI agents: Al Olama
Speaking at a session titled "Trust Test for Agentic AI" at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of Global Future...
- Mark-Alexandre Doumba, Gabon's Minister of Digital Economy, said the institutions are evolving more slowly than AI agents, but eventually people will trust them.
- The UAE government plans to move 50% of government services, sectors, and operations toward autonomous AI systems within the next two years.
Geostrategy
Houthis target Saudi Arabia as Aramco facility catches fire
Oman, Iran discuss regional tensions; Trump says Houthis acting at Iran's behest; Saudi forces intercept missiles, drones; Hormuz shipping attacks...
- Saudi Arabia says intercepted missiles and drones as debris injures four people in Riyadh and damages 15 homes.
- Houthi-led health ministry reports five deaths in various parts of Yemen.