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...
South Korea and Malaysia agreed to expand bilateral cooperation, including efforts to finalize a free trade agreement, during a phone call between their leaders, local media reported.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held their first phone talks since Lee took office earlier this month. Both expressed commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership across trade, investment, infrastructure, digital transformation, green growth, and defence.
A key focus is the expected conclusion of the South Korea-Malaysia free trade agreement this year, which aims to boost mutually beneficial cooperation. This year also marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Later in 2025, South Korea will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, while Malaysia will hold ASEAN-related meetings, further highlighting their regional roles.
Prime Minister Anwar congratulated Lee on his inauguration, amid Lee’s rising approval rating, which recently approached 60%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investigation into the cause.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday for talks focused on Gaza, Palestinian statehood and regional security.
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.
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