- 3d ago
Military judge sets June 2028 trial date for accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Schrama ordered Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants to face a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay on June 5, 2028, rejecting an earlier start date to resolve disputes over evidence obtained through torture.
- Aug 24
Over 100 former UK and French diplomats urge arms embargo and trade sanctions on Israel
A group of 102 former ambassadors sent a joint letter to Emmanuel Macron and Andy Burnham demanding an immediate ban on arms sales and the suspension of trade treaties.
- Aug 23
Kuwait strips voting rights from naturalized citizens by royal decree
Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah signed a decree amending Kuwait's nationality law to bar naturalized citizens from voting, following years of citizenship revocations and the suspension of parliament.
- Aug 22
Former French and British diplomats urge joint action against Israeli settlement expansion
A group of 102 former French and British ambassadors has called on Emmanuel Macron and Andy Burnham to suspend bilateral military cooperation and trade agreements with Israel following new settlement tenders in the West Bank.
- Aug 21
US-Iran conflict hits six-month stalemate as sanctions squeeze Tehran
Six months after the start of Operation Epic Fury, direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled while U.S. sanctions shrink Iranian trade by 35%.
- Aug 21
Oil rises toward $94 as US-Iran war and refining deficits strain energy markets
Crude oil recorded a second week of gains above $93 a barrel as the US-Israel conflict with Iran halted peace negotiations and reduced Middle Eastern transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Aug 16
Iran-US 60-day ceasefire expires as Tehran offers $30,000 bounty for killing or capturing American soldiers
A 60-day ceasefire between Iran and the United States expired on August 17 as Tehran placed a $30,000 bounty on American soldiers and President Trump threatened to declare the Strait of Hormuz as US territory.
- Aug 8
South Korean football association apologises over sexual services provided to foreign referees
South Korea's football association apologised after a broadcaster reported it provided sexual services to foreign referees during 2011-2012 qualifiers, as police separately raided its offices over a coach appointment probe.
- Aug 2
OPEC+ to raise oil output by 188,000 bpd in September, extending gradual increase despite Strait of Hormuz blockade
The seventh consecutive monthly increase completes the unwinding of 2023 cuts, but actual supply remains constrained by the US-Israel war against Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Aug 1
US embassies urge Americans to leave Middle East after Trump threatens Iran
Security alerts issued on August 1 cover 10 countries, citing Iran's unpredictability and a drone attack on a US ship in Egypt.
- Aug 1
US embassies across Middle East tell Americans to prepare to leave as Iran conflict widens to Egypt
Diplomatic missions in Amman, Jerusalem, Muscat, Baghdad and Beirut issued coordinated alerts on Saturday after a drone strike hit a Greek gas carrier and a US floating gas depot at an Egyptian port.
- Jul 31
US strikes Iran again as conflict widens to Iraq and Egypt; Hamas disarmament talks reported
US Central Command launched a new wave of airstrikes on Iran on Thursday night after Iranian missile attacks on American forces in Jordan and Kuwait, while joint US-Saudi strikes killed 20 militia fighters in Iraq and a suspected drone hit an LNG terminal in Egypt.
- Jul 30
Saudi Arabia unveils 14-nation maritime coalition to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks
Riyadh hosted representatives from 43 countries and the EU on Thursday to launch a defensive alliance aimed at securing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after Houthi rebels imposed a naval blockade on the kingdom.
- Jul 30
Spain's GDP accelerates to 0.7% in Q2, inflation reaches 3.5% in July
Household consumption and investment drove a 0.7% quarterly expansion, while fuel and electricity costs pushed consumer prices to their highest since May 2024.
- Jul 29
FIFA denounces 'concerted effort' to undermine Infantino as confederations split over World Cup sale plan
FIFA has accused critics of a 'concerted and ongoing effort' to undermine President Gianni Infantino, as the body confronts its deepest crisis over a secret plan to sell World Cup rights that was revealed in media reports and abandoned after three confederations holding 136 of 211 votes opposed it.
- Jul 28
Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens to $360 million in North America, beating Avengers: Endgame's domestic record
Sony's fourth Tom Holland Spider-Man film took $360 million in the U.S. and Canada, surpassing the $357 million mark set by Avengers: Endgame in 2019, after a stronger-than-expected Sunday pushed final numbers above initial estimates.
- Jul 26
Zelensky says Russia supplied Iran with satellite images of US bases in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has been supplying Iran with satellite surveillance imagery of US military installations in the Gulf, correlating with Iranian attacks, and will share evidence with allies.
- Jul 25
BP nears sale of solar unit Lightsource to Kuwait-backed group in retreat from renewables
The oil major is retreating from clean energy to cut debt and refocus on oil and gas, with a consortium including Kuwait's infrastructure arm closing in on the Lightsource unit.
- Jul 25
US naval blockade diverts 12 ships, disables tanker as Iran hits Kuwait bases and warns allies
A tightening US naval blockade and Iranian drone strikes on Kuwait bases deepened the crisis, even as Trump spoke of peace talks and IRGC threatened any country aiding Washington.
- Jul 25
Iran threatens to kill one US soldier for each Iranian death, rejects ceasefire over Hormuz demands
Tehran's top military command declared it would kill one American soldier for every Iranian killed, while US airstrikes continued for a 13th night and Iran's foreign minister insisted any ceasefire must address demands over the Strait of Hormuz.
