Middle East Tensions and Regional Strikesactive

Yemen's military said seven people were killed and 30 injured in a Houthi attack on the Red Sea port city of Mocha. Meanwhile, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the US met certain demands made by Tehran. Follow our live blog for the latest developments.

Brent crude prices rise as Tehran says critical waterway will not reopen without major US concessions.

For decades, Hong Kong has been a magnet for the rich. From wealthy Chinese setting up family trusts to millionaires migrating from across Southeast Asia, all of them have been sucked in by the city’s promise of free capital flows, a trustworthy legal system and extensive financial expertise. It is a winning combination that helped Hong Kong leapfrog Switzerland as the world’s biggest cross-border wealth hub last year, as the city rode a wave of blockbuster listings by Chinese technology...

Iran-backed Houthis have resumed attacks on Yemen’s al-Makha port in the Red Sea.

Something unexpected happened at the town hall meeting held a week ago to gather public opinion on Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the coming policy address. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu spoke about the need to upgrade the city’s urban management systems. Our results-oriented, reform-focused chief executive seems to be ready for another colossal task. Lee began his term with plans to reform policy bureau operations, introducing key performance indicators and additional...

Youth membership in Hong Kong’s uniformed groups has declined by 8 per cent over the past five years despite steady government funding, the South China Morning Post has found, a trend attributed to persistently low birth rates and a wider array of extracurricular activities for students. While several lawmakers have called for introducing key performance indicators (KPIs) for uniformed groups to ensure prudent public spending, some organisations are concerned that linking funding to membership...

The latest Houthi attacks come less than 24 hours after an earlier barrage struck al-Makha (Mocha) and its commercial port.

ADEN, Yemen.– Yemen's Houthi rebels intensified their attacks against strategic targets in Saudi Arabia and areas under Yemeni government control, in an escalation that has left at least 11 dead and dozens injured, according to medical and military sources. The offensive included an impact on a refinery operated by the Saudi state oil company Aramco in the Jazan region, as well as bombings on the port of Mokha, in the Red Sea. According to a medical source in Mokha, a port city controlled by the internationally recognized government, three civilians and eight soldiers died as a result of the attacks, while another 32 people were injured, including six civilians. The civilian victims mainly resulted from bombings against port facilities. Military sources from the Aden-based government confirmed that the Houthis launched several waves of missiles and drones against Mokha and nearby positions, including facilities on strategic islands near the Bab el Mandeb Strait, a key passage for global maritime trade. The attacks also affected civilian infrastructure, causing significant damage to the dock and warehouses of goods and food. JUST IN: Yemen's Ansarullah struck Al-Mokha port in Yemen with missiles and drones. The targets were reportedly Saudi military supplies that were hit shortly after arriving at the port and were intended for Saudi-backed forces i…

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have ⁠attacked Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery, they said on Sunday, two days after the kingdom signed a defence pact with Turkey and Pakistan in response to growing regional instability from the US-Israeli war on Iran. The alliance with Sunni Muslim US allies, Turkey and Pakistan, is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all. It was not...

According to the Al Arabiya television channel, the Houthis carried out more than 20 attacks on the port and adjacent areas

The parliamentary committee for national security approved a bill on strategic measures to ensure the security and sustainable development of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf

At least seven civilians were killed and another 35 injured this Sunday after an attack by Houthi rebels against the port of Moca, on Yemen's western coast, amid a new escalation that threatens to reignite the war in the country. According to sources told to Yemeni public television, the attacks targeted both the strategic port and residential areas of the city of Moca, located in Taiz province and near the Bab al Mandeb Strait, one of the main maritime routes connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Military sources cited by EFE indicated that the Houthis also launched missiles and drones against targets in the city of Jawja, while government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, responded to the offensive. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea confirmed the operation and stated that it was directed against concentrations of Saudi forces and ammunition depots in the Moca area. "The attack was precise and caused widespread destruction of equipment and weapons, as well as the death and injury of dozens of people, including Saudis, through the use of numerous ballistic missiles and drones," said the Houthi spokesperson. Growing Tension The offensive occurs amid increasing tension between the Houthis, Yemen's government forces, and Saudi Arabia, which since 2015 has led a military coalition in support of the internationally recognized government.

Drone strike comes after Riyadh signs defence pact and Iran issues tough demands to reopen of strait of Hormuz Middle East crisis live – latest updates Yemen’s Tehran-aligned Houthis have claimed responsibility for an attack on a refinery in Saudi Arabia, two days after the kingdom signed ⁠a defence pact with Turkey ⁠and Pakistan in response to ​growing regional instability caused by the US-Israel war on Iran. The attack early on Sunday came after Iran issued tough new demands to reopen the strait of Hormuz, and the United Arab Emirates said one of its ships was targeted by an Iranian missile, as a deal to open the strategic waterway remained out of reach. Continue reading...

The Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, claimed this Sunday to have attacked "Saudi enemy troops" and their equipment in the coastal city of Mokha, on the Red Sea, after local residents reported hearing explosions. The attack came just hours after the group claimed another operation against an Aramco refinery in Saudi territory, constituting a double blow to the kingdom on the same day. The group's military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said that the Houthis "carried out a large-scale and precise military operation targeting concentrations of Saudi enemy troops and weapons depots in the Mokha area," using "a large number of ballistic missiles and drones." A Yemeni government official, Fayed al-Noman, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Information, confirmed the attack on Mokha, one of the main ports under the internationally recognized Yemeni government, recently renovated to handle maritime traffic that bypasses ports controlled by the Houthis in Hodeidah. An attack following the strike on Aramco Hours before the attack on Mokha, the Houthis had attacked an Aramco refinery in the city of Jazan, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, with a drone, in retaliation—according to Saree—for Saudi drone incursions over the Yemeni provinces of Hajjah and Saada. The Saudi Ministry of Energy reported...

The attack involved "a large number of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles

Nagasaki marked on Sunday the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the southwestern city, as the mayor called nuclear weapons “absolute evil,” denounced growing support for nuclear deterrence, and called on the Japanese government to adhere to its three postwar non-nuclear principles.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claim a drone attack on a Red Sea Coast refinery in Saudi Arabia. Attacks from the armed group have increased since the 2022 truce seems to have been broken last month.

No casualties were reported after the flames broke out early on Sunday, the Saudi Energy Ministry says.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen, supported by Iran, announced on Sunday that they carried out an attack on an oil facility on the Saudi coast of the Red Sea. The group's military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated that the insurgents "managed to attack the Aramco refinery in Jazan with a drone, and the attack was precise." Saree added that the action was carried out in response to Saudi incursions in northwestern Yemen. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Petroleum reported that fire crews extinguished a fire that broke out during the early hours at a refinery facility located in the southwest of the country. Authorities clarified that no injuries were reported as a result of the incident. The ministry stated in a message posted on its X account that "the competent authorities are completing the necessary procedures to address the incident." It did not provide details about possible material damages or the origin of the fire. The Jazan refinery processes about 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily and produces derivatives such as gasoline and diesel. The fire occurred in a context of tension between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, a group supported by Iran, which in recent weeks launched direct attacks against Saudi territory, as well as against the kingdom's navigation and energy infrastructure. On Saturday, the Yemen Army reported the execution of an operation…

Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement said they had struck Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery

Iran on Saturday issued a list of demands for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which have been characterized as "new" preconditions. Reporting from Washington, FRANCE 24’s Fraser Jackson notes that many of the demands were "already agreed to by the US in the [Islamabad] Memorandum of Understanding that was signed back in June" between Iran and the US. "The difficulty was that the language then was quite broad."

An explosion and fire were reported at an industrial facility in the Saudi Arabia's eastern region on Sunday

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan anticipated that Egypt could join the new regional alliance once "some technical issues" are resolved, highlighting that Cairo already maintains close ties with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. The official considered that its eventual accession "would strengthen the regional dimension of the initiative." "Egypt is already a natural partner of ours in all matters, and I believe that in the next stage it will also be part of the alliance. We already act as if we are members of the alliance; that is how our relations are with all countries. There are some technical problems. Once resolved, there is no reason for Egypt not to join," the foreign minister stated. In this regard, he emphasized that, without Cairo's accession, the regional quartet still retains its importance. "Egypt is an important country, and neither Pakistan nor Saudi Arabia disagree on this," Fidan said in statements collected by Anadolu Agency. The minister clarified that the three current signatories will function as a founding core and that other countries may join with their approval. "In the vision of our president (Recep Tayyip Erdogan), we should not limit ourselves to three countries, but expand even further," Fidan explained. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended opening the pact to other states and emphasized that the agreement "is not directed against any pa…

Official: Here are the conditions. Pezeshkian: It's the best time for an agreement.

Official, here are the conditions. Pezeshkian, it's the best time for an agreement.

Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, vice-chancellor and president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), is a world-renowned molecular geneticist widely regarded as the Hongkonger closest to winning a Nobel Prize, but he maintains “a calm attitude” about it. In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Lo appeared dispassionate about whether he would receive the prestigious award. Instead, he credited his success to his team and spoke enthusiastically about his...

IRGC sets conditions to reopen Strait of Hormuz as US seeks commitments to end attacks on ships in the waterway.

For the head of the armed forces, Caine cannot win only with bombs: negotiations are necessary. But there is a stalemate at Hormuz.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan clarified Saturday that the NATO-like agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is not targeted at any particular country amid speculation that the pact was formed in response to the ongoing war in Iran. Fidan, in an interview with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency conducted a day after the three countries…

Some experts say the deal precipitates a larger strategic shift in Middle East while others say it reinforces US goals.

Saudi Arabia turns to Turkiye and Pakistan for defence ties, raising questions overreliance on the US.

Cain to Trump: 'Escalation counterproductive'. Tehran: 'Hormuz reopens on our terms'

Fears of a wider conflict grow as Yemen’s army counterattacks and expert warns ‘all the warning signs are there’.

The agreement names no adversary, but analysts say Iran and its regional network are central to the thinking behind it.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Friday launched drone and missile attacks toward Saudi military targets in the eastern city of Marib, Yemen, raising concerns of a widening war in the region. Two people were killed and more than a dozen others wounded during the fresh strikes, according to the country’s state-run news agency. The drones struck…

The pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye is yet another step towards a new regional security architecture.

The otherworldly beasts and enigmatic masks of Sanxingdui still enthrall China, decades after the unearthing of ceremonial pits.

The war in Yemen faces its greatest risk of reactivation since 2022, warned Hans Grundberg, the United Nations (UN) special envoy for the Arab country, in a statement released after increased clashes between the internationally recognized government and the Houthi rebels. "Yemen today faces a greater risk of resuming large-scale conflict than at any other time since the UN-brokered truce in April 2022," the diplomat warned. The pact managed to reduce violence, although recent clashes in several provinces have heightened tensions, the international organization reported. The attacks launched by the Houthis in recent days against the provinces of Marib and Hadramout caused the deaths of dozens of Yemeni soldiers, as well as civilians and displaced persons, according to Grundberg's statement. The diplomat noted that this offensive adds to the regional escalation of tension recorded in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The rebels, supported by the Iranian regime, have maintained a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait since July 20, a country that leads the international military coalition backing the Yemeni government since 2015. The insurgents blame the Saudi government for the bombing of Sana'a International Airport that occurred in mid-July. Grundberg emphasized: "Overall, these events threaten to bring about..."

The Yemeni Army announced the execution of a military operation against positions, personnel, and equipment of the Houthi rebels at various points along the contact lines, in response to recent attacks attributed to the insurgents against government forces and civilians in the provinces of Marib and Hadramaut, which left at least three soldiers dead. The official spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Colonel Majed al Nuzayli, reported on the operation through a statement released via official channels and in a televised intervention. According to his statement, the action targeted "Houthi elements and equipment on different fronts." The Army justified the offensive as a response to the "repeated, treacherous, and terrorist" attacks carried out by the Houthi militia, which, according to Yemeni authorities, caused deaths and injuries among both military personnel and civilians. Al Nuzayli highlighted the coordination among the different units of the Armed Forces in carrying out the operation and warned that any attack against one of their fronts will be considered an aggression against the entire army. "If someone attacks you, respond in kind, and fear God; and know that God is with those who fear Him," the spokesperson quoted, citing a verse from the Quran in his message. In his message, the military authorities of Yemen made a call to the people…

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at displacement camps and residential neighbourhoods in the city of Marib on Friday, killing two people and wounding 14, state news agency SABA reported, citing local authorities. Yemen’s army said early on Saturday it had responded against Houthi forces on several fronts. The army did not give details of the operations or say when they took place but said it would respond to any further targeting of its units with what it...

The president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has said “the path is open” for the revival of the institution’s main student union, so long as it registers with authorities in accordance with the law. Dennis Lo Yuk-ming also pushed back on claims that the university was overreliant on intake from mainland China, arguing that it was making strides in diversification. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, he said the pathway to re-establishing a central union remained...

India’s first test of its Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile system is seen as a milestone that could pave the way for New Delhi to bolster its home-grown air defence network and meet the challenges of future conflicts. Developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation, the system is expected to become a key part of the two-phase Mission Sudarshan Chakra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan for a multilayered national defence umbrella against ballistic missiles,...

A New York Times analysis details the July 20 crackdown on unarmed protesters in New Delhi that has provoked public outrage and accusations of excessive force.

The United Nations Security Council expressed its concern on Friday over the increase in tensions in Yemen and called for avoiding any actions that could jeopardize diplomatic efforts to achieve peace or compromise regional and international security. Members of this body condemned in a statement the unauthorized landings of aircraft registered on July 3 at Sana'a International Airport and on July 13 in Hudaydah, considering that they occurred without the consent of the Yemeni government and violated international civil aviation standards. The Council also condemned missile attacks attributed to the Houthis against Saudi Arabia since July 13, as well as actions directed against commercial ships from July 22, amid growing tension in the region. Furthermore, the United Nations body reiterated its support for Yemen's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity, emphasizing that these principles must also be respected in Yemen's airspace. In this regard, it noted that all flights destined for airports in the country must be coordinated with recognized Yemeni authorities and must have their prior authorization. Similarly, Security Council members emphasized the need to maintain a “safe, protected, and sustainable” air access...

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had cancelled an earlier Saudi trip after deadly July 29 US-Saudi strikes on Iraq.

The otherworldly beasts and enigmatic masks of Sanxingdui still enthrall China, decades after the unearthing of ceremonial pits.

China’s high-stakes race to build next-generation artificial intelligence models is entering a critical new phase, where a less visible yet far more existential threat is coming into view: a severe shortage of high-quality training data. While the US chokehold on advanced computing chips has dominated headlines, Chinese AI experts increasingly warn that running out of quality data could prove to be the next major bottleneck to the nation’s tech ambitions – and one that hardware workarounds...

Analysts say regional partners are seeking alternatives to supplement their security without discarding US support.

Republican senators are using the summer recess to avoid politically difficult votes.

The leader of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has called for greater financial support to develop a proposed 300-hectare (741 acres) university town near the border with mainland China, including funding for local institutions to build campuses, arguing that expansion will help navigate future challenges. In a wide-ranging interview with the South China Morning Post, CUHK president Dennis Lo Yuk-ming said Hong Kong universities needed to expand their presence in the Northern...

At least eight members of Yemeni government forces and two civilians were killed Friday in new attacks by Houthi rebels in an oil-rich province.

Recent escalating tensions between the Iran-backed group and the Yemeni government have prompted fears that a truce in place since 2022 is nearing collapse.

The targeted strike was dealt with the use of numerous missiles and drones

At least three Yemeni Army soldiers were killed this Friday in the strategic oil province of Marib, located in northern Yemen and under the control of the internationally recognized government, during a new drone offensive by Houthi rebels against government forces. Four other soldiers were injured when the insurgents, who control much of the northwest of the Arab country, launched a series of unmanned aircraft against Army positions in the Harib district, in the same province, according to Yemen TV. The channel reported that the Army also shot down "several drones" launched by the Houthis against the city of Marib, the provincial capital and last stronghold of the Government in the north of the country, which has hosted hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons since the war began in 2014. Additionally, it indicated that the rebels, backed by Iran's regime, attacked the city with missiles and drones, although it did not specify whether there were civilian casualties or material damages. The Houthis have not commented on the attack. The offensive occurs in a context of escalating violence in Marib, the main oil and gas-producing province of Yemen, after the insurgents launched one of the deadliest attacks against regular troops since the UN-mediated truce in 2022. The Yemeni government stated on Thursday that 17 soldiers died in attacks with ballistic missiles and ...

Oil extended gains after a report that Iran attacked "hostile targets" in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media also reported that Tehran will seek to bar US and Israeli ships from the waterway. Bloomberg's Yongchang Chin reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

Erdogan will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, his office says.

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China hits back at US with barrage of sanctions, drone industry curbs China has hit back against a round of US sanctions with a barrage of counter-sanctions targeting a group of American entities and a tightening of export...

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet in Jeddah to formalise a joint agreement. The landmark pact aims to strengthen regional security ties following escalations from the US-Iran conflict.

At least 11 civilians, including a four-year-old child, were injured on Thursday in an "indiscriminate" attack attributed to Houthi rebels against the Saudi region of Najran, bordering Yemen, amid a new escalation of violence between the Iran-backed terrorist group and Saudi Arabia. Hours earlier, the Houthis claimed an offensive with ballistic missiles and drones against Yemeni government military camps in Marib and Hadramut, which left at least 58 soldiers and officers dead, according to the Yemeni Ministry of Defense. The spokesperson for the Coalition Forces Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen, Major General Turki al Maliki, reported that among the injured in Najran are seven Saudi citizens, one Yemeni, two Egyptians, and one Pakistani citizen. Additionally, Saudi authorities indicated that among the victims is a four-year-old child. "The Houthi terrorist militia carried out these attacks through the indiscriminate launching of projectiles against civilian property and facilities," Al Maliki stated in a statement. The spokesperson said that the action constitutes "a blatant violation" of international humanitarian law by deliberately attacking civilians and vital facilities. He also assured that the coalition led by Saudi Arabia "will continue to take necessary deterrent measures against these terrorist attacks to ensure the protection...

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki said that the Houthis struck civilian targets in the Najran region

Hong Kong should require a double-check mechanism for all embryo biopsy procedures and overhaul its reproductive technology law, the city’s largest political party has proposed following a rare mix-up of specimens at a fertility clinic. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) issued the call on Thursday, nearly a month after the Council on Human Reproductive Technology suspended most operations at Heal Fertility in Central upon discovering that embryo biopsy...

Indian-origin trafficker convicted in UK child exploitation case among 5 members of a gang.

A shift to technology stocks by China’s most seasoned fund managers has backfired, with the unwinding of AI plays taking a toll on the performances of their products. Funds run by some star managers with a value-investing approach all recorded declines in net asset values last month after they switched to chipmakers and the manufacturers of optical transceivers and out of long-held consumer bets in the second quarter. Technology stocks listed in mainland China suffered their biggest monthly...

The US President said that he does not want to kill people

Iran warned Gulf states that any new US attack could trigger retaliation against critical regional energy infrastructure, Reuters reported, citing five sources.

Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed on Wednesday a new attack against two Saudi oil tankers, in a new escalation of their campaign to block the kingdom's maritime traffic. According to the terrorist movement, the ships Wafa and Daisy were hit in separate operations with ballistic missiles in the northern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, respectively, as part of a strategy to prevent Saudi oil from leaving via that route. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea stated in a televised message that the oil tanker Wafa was hit off the coast of Yanbu, in the northern Red Sea. Hours later, he released a second statement claiming that the group also attacked the Daisy oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden. "We will continue and intensify attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the northern Red Sea," Sarea declared, asserting that the organization aims to prevent these vessels from passing "regardless of the results or consequences." Supported by Iran, the Houthis argue that these actions are part of a maritime blockade imposed on Saudi Arabia in response to what they consider restrictions imposed by Riyadh on areas under its control in Yemen. The group also contends that their campaign responds to attacks on infrastructure in Sana'a and to the Saudi military intervention in the Yemeni conflict. According to the data provided by the insurgents, since…

Tehran, 'The US should not hinder the process'. Trump: 'Reopen or a very harsh reaction'

According to the statement, in the current negotiations with Oman, the issue is being addressed in such a way that this temporary route may remain in effect for a longer period

Mike Bell, head of market strategy at RBC BlueBay, discusses the outlook for energy prices as oil slid to the lowest in over three weeks on Tuesday amid optimism over prospects of an agreement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He speaks on Bloomberg Television. (Source: Bloomberg)

According to Houthi Military Spokesman Yahya Saria, the rebels struck oil tanker Wafa using several ballistic missiles

In a statement, Yemen's ministry of foreign affairs condemned the “Houthi terrorist attack” on the Indian merchant vessel.

The coastguard rescued the crew of an Indian-flagged commercial ship that sank in the Red Sea on Tuesday after an attack, a local official in the Yemeni city of Mokha said, with New Delhi condemning the “unprovoked” aggression. Yemen’s internationally recognised government blamed the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the attack, according to the official Saba news agency. Last month, the Houthis declared a Red Sea maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest exporter of crude, and have...

A Indian merchant ship sank in the Red Sea after being targeted in an attack off the western coast of Yemen, in a new episode highlighting the deterioration of security on one of the world's most strategic maritime routes. The 14 crew members on board, 13 Indian citizens and one Yemeni, were rescued without any casualties. The incident occurred about 24 kilometers south of the port city of Hodeida, according to local authorities and sources linked to Yemeni forces. The vessel, identified as MSV Faize Noore Oliya, was hit by a projectile or an explosive-laden boat, causing it to capsize and subsequently sink. The rescue operation was carried out by units of the Yemeni Navy and Coast Guard, who transported the crew to the port of Moca, where they received medical assistance. Indian MSV Faize Noore Oliya was hit by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing the vessel to capsize and sink. India strongly condemns this unprovoked attack on the defenseless mechanized sailing vessel. The safety of our people is our highest priority & I am relieved to… — Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) August 4, 2026 India's Minister of Maritime Transport, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the attack in a social media post and stated that New Delhi is coordinating with Yemeni authorities to clarify what happened. The Minister…

Saudi Arabia wants to contain a renewed conflict with Houthi militants through behind-the-scenes diplomacy, according to people familiar with the matter, in a bid to prevent clashes with the Iran-backed group hurting its oil industry and economy.

According to the US Treasury Secretary, the agreement would guarantee freedom of navigation through the waterway

The Houthis said the strike came in response to Saudi drones entering the airspace over Yemen’s Saada and Hajjah provinces

According to the report, vessels heading into the Persian Gulf would transit a channel controlled by Iran, and close to its coast, while ships leaving the Gulf would travel on a channel near Oman

Government revises plans to tackle prison overcrowding amid pressure from MPs and victims but domestic abusers and killers could still be released early The prime minister, Andy Burnham, said on Tuesday that he would delay the planned early release of thousands of prisoners across England and Wales by a month until October. It follows the suspension of Keir Starmer’s plans to release up to 6,000 offenders from prison early in September amid official predictions that prisons will be full in November. I asked for an urgent review of the prisoner release scheme. I fully understand the anger, anxiety and distress that’s been caused. I’ve heard that loud and clear. That’s why we’re making significant changes: offenders who have been sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences will be excluded from the changes. Continue reading...

The United States and Iran offered opposing versions on Tuesday regarding negotiations to end the war both have been engaged in for five months, while a new attack on a ship near the Strait of Hormuz once again exposed the fragility of one of the world's main energy routes. The contradiction between Washington and Tehran coincided with reduced maritime traffic in the area and persistent tensions over control of the strategic passage. U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that negotiations with Iran have already begun and assured that several Middle Eastern countries are pushing for these contacts. During an event in the Oval Office, the president said: "They are underway right now," in response to a question about the status of the negotiations. Trump also noted that the exchanges are taking place at the request of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, among other regional actors. Additionally, he issued a warning to the Iranian government, stating: "This is the last chance for (Iran) to sign a good deal." The statements from the U.S. leader came after he announced over the weekend the cancellation of some "massive attacks" that, he explained, were already authorized against Iran and which he ultimately suspended due to the possibility of opening a diplomatic channel. However, the version from Tehran…

According to analysts, only three tankers and three bulk carriers passed through the strait over the past 24 hours

Asian shares were mixed on Tuesday morning, while European pre-market data pointed to a slightly higher open following a Wall Street rally supported by easing oil prices.

Donald Trump claimed on Monday that talks were underway with Iran to reach a deal to end the war. However, Tehran denied any such discussions.

A 65-year-old repeat sex offender in Hong Kong has been jailed after he was seen groping a secondary school student on a bus two months ago in a widely circulated online video. West Kowloon Court on Tuesday sentenced former household hardware salesman William Wu Yiu-shing to four months in prison for the offence, which garnered widespread attention after a pedestrian outside the bus filmed the attack and uploaded the video to social media. Wu, who had three prior convictions for indecent...

Tehran warns it will target US vessels attempting to alter approved shipping corridors or maintain a naval blockade.

The US president insisted negotiations were underway despite Tehran's denials, saying Iran had a final opportunity to reach an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear programme before facing what he called 'decapitation.'

The US president insisted negotiations were underway despite Tehran's denials, saying Iran had a final opportunity to reach an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear programme before facing what he called 'decapitation.'

Hong Kong police have arrested a mother and her husband’s aunt after the mother allegedly mistakenly fed her two children cannabis-infused sweets, sending them to hospital. The force received a report at about 4pm on Monday that a six-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl had fallen ill at their home in Wang Tak House, Wang Tau Hom Estate. The girl vomited, while the boy briefly lost consciousness, according to police. Emergency services rushed the children to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for...

An employee of a Hong Kong fertility clinic is suspected of lying to cover up a mistake involving mixed-up embryo biopsy specimens, the South China Morning Post has learned, with the police listing the case as fraud and placing the worker, who has returned to Malaysia, on the wanted list. A source told the SCMP that the employee worked at Heal Fertility in Central and was responsible for extracting specimens from embryos before they were sent to the Chinese University of Hong Kong for...

A surgical procedure for Alzheimer's disease being tested in Hong Kong has the potential to improve patients' ability to take care of their basic needs such as getting dressed and remaining socially engaged. The ongoing clinical trial, launched by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), involves an operation that drains an abnormal build-up of two protein types in the brain. The clinical application was pioneered by a mainland Chinese doctor in Hangzhou as early as 2018 and...

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud stressed that Riyadh is committed to continuing to play its regional role in ensuring security and stability

Negotiations on agreement seen as critical to preventing the US-Iran war from escalating said to be in ‘final stages’