Oman Proposes Gulf-Backed Hormuz Fee Plan to Iran

Oman has presented Iran with a Gulf-backed proposal to manage the Strait of Hormuz by collecting voluntary service fees from passing commercial vessels, according to a Gulf source and a Western diplomat who spoke to Reuters on Tuesday. The diplomatic push aims to resolve trade disruptions caused by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which … Read more

Trump Reports ‘Good Talks’ with Iran Amid Regional Drone Attacks

President Donald Trump stated on July 27, 2026, that the United States is having “good talks” with Iran and sees a chance for a deal, while warning that U.S. air strikes will resume if negotiations fail. According to Reuters, the diplomatic opening follows an abrupt U.S. suspension of a two-week bombing campaign, though regional drone … Read more

UNAIDS Warns of HIV Resurgence as Funding Drops 18%

Global funding for the HIV epidemic fell by nearly a fifth last year to $7.3 billion, reaching its lowest level in nearly two decades and threatening a resurgence of the disease, according to a report released by the U.N. body fighting AIDS. According to the UNAIDS report, Washington previously accounted for 75% of international HIV … Read more

Iran Halts Attacks if US Maintains Pause, Source Says

Iran will halt its own military attacks as long as the United States maintains its latest pause on air strikes, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday. According to the senior Iranian source, Tehran’s position remains attack for attack, meaning that if the U.S. air strikes stop, Iran will also halt its operations, and … Read more

Swiss Cheesemakers Fight US Tariffs to Boost Sales

Alpine farmers producing traditional Gruyere cheese in Switzerland are working to offset sales drops caused by new United States import tariffs, according to industry sources. The U.S. market, which traditionally accounted for about 13% of Gruyere sales, was hit by a 10% tariff last year that increased to 12.5% this year under the Trump administration, … Read more

Chris Brown Pleads Guilty to Affray, Assault Charges Dropped

U.S. singer Chris Brown pleaded guilty to a charge of affray at London’s Southwark Crown Court, according to prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe, resolving a legal case stemming from a 2023 incident at a London nightclub involving music producer Abraham Diaw. The plea allows the 37-year-old performer and his co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, to avoid a trial on … Read more

China’s Memory Chip Makers Surge on AI Boom Amid US Scrutiny

Chinese memory chip manufacturer ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has seized newfound pricing power amid a global supply scramble, hiking costs for major tech firms like Huawei and securing a multi-billion dollar deal with TikTok owner ByteDance, according to sources familiar with the matter. The shift highlights a dramatic turnaround for domestic semiconductor firms once reliant … Read more

US Treasury Praises Pakistan Reforms and Capital Market Return

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to discuss ongoing economic reforms and market access. According to a U.S. Treasury statement issued Wednesday, Bessent welcomed Islamabad’s push to implement fiscal consolidation and prepare for a return to international capital markets, though the … Read more

Iran Secretly Flew IRGC Commanders and Missile Gear to Houthis, Sources Reveal

Iran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, military advisers, and missile- and drone-related equipment into Yemen on a July 13 flight, according to four sources including two Iranian sources, Yemen’s information minister, and a regional security analyst. The deployment signals Tehran’s efforts to strengthen Houthi military capabilities to threaten Red Sea shipping lanes and global … Read more

Chinese Supertankers Carrying Saudi Oil Head to Red Sea via Bab el-Mandeb

Two Chinese very large crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait to exit the Red Sea, shipping data shows, testing whether Houthi forces will enforce a newly announced naval blockade against Saudi shipping despite ongoing regional military escalations. Chinese Very Large Crude Carriers … Read more