live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
France’s minority government is on the verge of collapse. It's after Prime Minister Michel Barnier pushed through the 2025 budget without a parliamentary vote and a no confidence vote looks likely on Wednesday.
A no-confidence motion has been triggered in France, supported by both the far-right National Rally and the left-wing New Popular Front, following Prime Minister Michel Barnier's decision to bypass parliament in passing the 2025 budget. The controversial budget, which aims to reduce France’s deficit, proposes cutting €40 billion in spending and increasing taxes by €20 billion. However, Barnier attempted to push the budget through without securing the backing of other political parties, a move that has sparked strong opposition.
Lawmakers from the National Rally and the left-wing coalition now have enough votes to potentially topple Barnier's government. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, has confirmed that her party will support the left-wing coalition's no-confidence motion in addition to their own, signaling a rare alignment between the far-right and the left.
If the no-confidence vote passes on Wednesday, Barnier would be forced to resign. In such a case, President Emmanuel Macron may ask Barnier and his government to remain in a caretaker role while he seeks a new prime minister. This development would be historic, marking only the second time in modern French history that a government has been ousted since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958, and the first such occurrence since 1962.
As the political crisis deepens, France’s political future remains uncertain. The country faces several possible outcomes, including the formation of a new government or the establishment of a technocratic interim leadership.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of August, covering the latest developments.
Taiwan staged military defence drills on Wednesday as China concluded joint naval exercises with Indonesia in waters east of the island.
Washington’s counter-narcotics push is expanding as Colombia’s new conservative government backs deeper security cooperation.
Meta said it had removed more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16, as the country’s internet regulator weighs enforcement action over its teen social media ban.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has used Pacific Fleet drills to criticise Japan, NATO and possible Western moves against Russian commercial ships. He made the comments during his first visit to Iturup, a Japan-claimed island at the end of the Kuril chain near the island of Hokkaido.
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