Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan — a West Asian state anchoring stability in the Levant
A roundup of how AI openness debates, OpenAI leadership views, and the legal battles over social media's impact on youth are shaping tech policy and the public conversation.
Since late July, US and Iranian forces have resumed strikes across the Middle East after a brief pause. The US and Saudi Arabia have carried out airstrikes on pro‑Iran militias in Iraq; Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones at US forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; regional actors including the Houthis are expanding pressure on Red Sea routes. Diplomatic talks remain fragmented.
Updated reporting shows Iran and Oman are negotiating management of the Strait of Hormuz while the US considers further strikes. Oil markets react as Gulf states pursue alternative export routes amid ongoing conflict with Iran.
Drones and missiles target Saudi energy infrastructure amid a broader surge in US-Iran hostilities. Riyadh says the attacks were launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-backed militias; Iraqi authorities condemn the strikes while Yemen’s Houthis claim to have attacked Saudi shipping. The lull in fighting is punctuated by new strikes across the region as mediators push for talks.
Netanyahu has met with Trump at the White House for discussions on Iran’s nuclear ambitions amid ongoing US-Israeli hostilities. Talks aim to coordinate strategy on Iran, with emphasis on preventing nuclear development and managing wider regional tensions. The week features high-stakes diplomacy and looming electoral tests in both countries.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have intensified as US and Iranian strikes resume, targeting military and shipping assets across Iran, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. Iran claims attacks on US bases and allied facilities; CENTCOM reports strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. Oil markets react to the disruption.
The Iran conflict has escalated with threats of strikes and shifting diplomacy as both sides test red lines. U.S. officials warn of hard actions while Iran asserts control over Hormuz. A ceasefire cycle and domestic political pressures frame new steps as global oil markets react.
The National Defense Authorization Act has cleared the House with a 216-212 vote, boosting military spending and strengthening US-Israel defense cooperation. The measure now faces Senate scrutiny, with Democrats criticizing the price tag and war-related provisions while Republicans defend funding for readiness and security. The package also includes provisions tied to the SAVE America Act and election-related funding.
LIV Golf is confronting a funding shortfall after the Saudi Public Investment Fund withdraws backing at year-end. The league is seeking about $260 million, with Indianapolis likely to host upcoming events and Michigan deemed unlikely. Investors’ decisions will shape LIV’s 2027 viability.
Saudi Arabia launches a defensive, coalition-led effort to secure Red Sea shipping routes as Houthi attacks and US-Iran tensions threaten freedom of navigation. The alliance aims to coordinate intelligence, exercises, and joint operations across signatories, with a focus on protecting vital energy corridors and maritime trade.
The Defense Casualty Analysis System has reclassified casualties from the Iran conflict, adding an overseas operations category and moving four soldiers and hundreds of injuries into a new tally. The change follows ongoing data disruptions and a shift in how casualties are counted as fighting continues, drawing political and public scrutiny.
The latest from multiple outlets shows ongoing US strikes on Iran continue, with Tehran signaling readiness to expand its regional actions. Israel remains on the sidelines for now, while diplomacy and economic pressure shape the broader confrontation.
The US faces intensified Iranian missile activity, with reports of diminishing Patriot and THAAD interceptors and Iran’s evolving missile program. Analysts say Chinese and Russian involvement is uncertain, while high-precision strikes raise questions about defence readiness amid ongoing regional tensions.
Ukraine has carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea that hit vessels Kyiv says were carrying Iranian-linked military cargo to Russia. Iran has summoned Ukraine’s diplomat, said one sailor was killed and another wounded, and warned retaliation; Ukraine’s foreign ministry has denied intent to target civilians and called Iran’s threats unjustified.
The United States has paused nightly airstrikes on Iran and Tehran has halted retaliatory attacks for at least two days while mediators from Qatar, Pakistan and Oman exchange messages. Advisers warned President Donald Trump that continued strikes risked depleting munitions and running out of targets; oil prices have fallen as markets price the lull.
Netanyahu has met with Trump in Washington to review three approaches to Iran: a diplomatic deal, sustained economic pressure with a blockade, or a renewed military campaign. The discussions, conducted without public detail, aim to determine the path that best prevents a nuclear Iran while considering global energy impacts.
Iran has ruled out Oman’s 50-50 regional management for the Strait of Hormuz, insisting on control of its side and opposition to a wide sharing arrangement. Oman proposed a Malacca-style model with voluntary fees to stabilize shipping after disruptions from the US-Israeli war. Officials say talks are progressing step by step, but hardliners remain skeptical about concessions.
Ukraine has pressed for licences to produce Patriot interceptor missiles to bolster air defences, amid high-intensity Russian missile attacks. Zelensky has met US leaders in Washington, with discussions centring on co-production and domestic licensing of Patriots as Kyiv seeks rapid expansion of its defence capabilities.
Airstrikes by US and Saudi forces hit PMF sites in Iraq after attacks on Saudi facilities, while Iran-backed groups and regional rivalries threaten Iraq’s new prime minister’s plan to disarm militias and anchor the state. The broader Strait of Hormuz dynamics and Yemen’s Houthis add layers to the conflict, risking wider regional instability.
A drone has struck two gas vessels at Egypt's Damietta port, igniting fires that spread between the US‑owned floating storage and regasification unit Energos Winter and the Greek‑owned LNG tanker GasLog Salem. Crews have extinguished the blazes, no casualties have been reported, and Egyptian authorities have opened a forensic investigation amid rising regional attacks on energy infrastructure.
Military strikes targeting Iran-aligned militias in Iraq have intensified after recent drone and missile attacks on oil facilities and US-Saudi interests. Iraqi, Saudi, and US officials describe the actions as responses to ongoing threats, with Iraqi investigations underway and growing regional anger.
The United States has launched strikes in the region in response to Iran's missile attacks on US bases in Jordan and other targets. CENTCOM has described the action as a powerful response, while Tehran says it is retaliating against American aggression. Diplomatic talks are in flux as both sides resume and pause hostilities.
The US has completed a two-hour "heavy wave" of strikes across Iran, hitting Revolutionary Guard command centres, missile and drone facilities and coastal surveillance sites after Tehran fired ballistic missiles at US forces. Iran has launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes on US assets and allied facilities in the region; Jordan reported intercepting missiles with no casualties.
The Federal Reserve has held its policy rate, with investors pushing yields higher amid concerns about inflation. Markets are signaling a harder path ahead, with oil prices rising and equities correcting after recent swings.
Palestinian and Israeli actors have sustained a cycle of violence as settlement expansion continues. Recent attacks by settlers and Israeli forces have targeted villages like Umm al-Khair and Kafr Malik, threatening homes, livelihoods and access to water. The expansion agenda, supported by new outposts and broader land confiscation, is reshaping life in the occupied West Bank.
The latest U.S. inflation readings show persistence above the Fed’s 2% target while growth softens in Q2. Consumer spending remains resilient, but higher borrowing costs and energy prices complicate the outlook as policymakers weigh future moves.
The latest published pieces show a widening strike pattern across the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and nearby states. Tehran’s campaign targets civilian and strategic assets, while Gulf and U.S.-backed defenses intercept most threats. Diplomatic channels persist even as attacks resume, hinging on a broader security architecture rather than a single guarantee.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated as Saudi Arabia and the US have mounted strikes against militant groups in Iraq, while Egypt faces its first drone attack at a Mediterranean port. Interceptions of Iranian missiles have continued in Jordan, Kuwait reports Iranian strikes on a Chinese company building, and Pakistan is mediating new talks to de-escalate. The conflict has intensified despite renewed negotiations.
The coalition to protect Red Sea shipping is expanding as Saudi Arabia leads talks with dozens of countries. Britain has not yet joined the coalition but is weighing its response while warning of threats to maritime navigation.
Federal agencies and state officials have reported coordinated cyberattacks that have targeted internet-connected controllers at water and wastewater utilities in at least a dozen states since late July. Operators have had passwords changed and been locked out, forcing many plants to revert to manual control; officials say drinking water remains broadly safe while investigations continue.
The movements of personnel and equipment between Harir Air Base, Erbil, and the US consulate are described as preparation for the withdrawal of remaining US troops under the 2024 agreement. Washington and Baghdad have framed the shift as a routine repositioning and a step toward ending the mission by September.
Chelsea have completed the seven-year signing of Valentin Barco from Strasbourg, adding a versatile left-back/midfielder to the squad. Barco, 21, has progressed from Brighton to Strasbourg, and is joining Chelsea ahead of the 2026-27 season as part of a busy summer of recruitment under manager Xabi Alonso.
A magnitude 5.x earthquake struck near Suez early today, prompting emergency plans in Egypt and felt as far as Cairo, Beersheba and Amman. Authorities report no immediate casualties, while officials urge caution and structural checks.
A round of legal actions crosses borders: a Jordanian activist faces renewed legal pressure after an extradition attempt; Egyptian and UK cases involve drugs, fraud and abuse of position. The DOE and international agencies are coordinating to pursue accountability in several high-profile cases.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has ground toward a halt this weekend as a 60‑day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has reached its expiry and negotiations remain stalled. Kpler data shows single‑digit daily transits; Iran has repeated demands that the U.S. lift its naval blockade, remove sanctions and pay reparations, while the U.S. says it can maintain the blockade indefinitely and is planning further economic pressure.
FIFA has apologised for errors around its aborted plan to sell World Cup rights to private investors as allies and critics clash over leadership. Jordan’s FA says prize money for the Arab Cup final remains unpaid eight months on, while FIFA insists it has not influenced member associations’ positions.
A Jordan-hosted emergency meeting convenes to address escalating tensions around Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa and Christian holy sites. Arab ministers warn of potential regional instability as Israeli actions provoke protests and international scrutiny ahead of October elections.
Kurdistan authorities have reported Iranian-launched drones struck the private office of KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region's security agency chief on 17 August, with no casualties. The attacks come as Baghdad presses for a September 30 deadline to bring armed factions under state control and as cross-border strikes and US-Saudi operations have raised tensions across Iraq.
The US has ongoing shortages of long‑range missiles and interceptors amid the Iran war. Authorities are replenishing stockpiles, ramping up production, and monitoring ally readiness as munitions levels remain stressed. Multiple outlets report depleted Patriot and THAAD interceptors and widespread use of ATACMS, PrSM, Tomahawks, and other missiles.
Houthis have launched repeated drone, missile and naval strikes that have damaged Yemen’s Mocha port, killed dozens and forced the port’s suspension. The group has claimed a drone hit on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery and renewed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb, while Yemeni government forces have mounted counter‑attacks across multiple fronts.
Ivan Toney has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm in relation to an alleged incident on Wardour Street in London on 6 December last year. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 24 September. He plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia and recently featured for England at the World Cup. This is developing with updates expected.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, establishing a mutual defence framework. The pact treats an armed attack on any member as an attack on all, while stopping short of detailing automatic troop deployment. It builds on prior defense ties and signals a move toward a more regionally driven security order amid heightened Gulf tensions and Iran-Israel dynamics.
The Hamas-disarmament framework backed by the US is facing renewed testing as Israel rejects the plan’s terms, insisting Hamas must be disarmed before any withdrawal. Hamas has expressed readiness to implement the second phase if Israel approves and begins implementing, while mediators push for a coordinated process amid ongoing clashes in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the U.S.-backed 15-point Gaza roadmap and said Israeli troops will not withdraw until Hamas is "genuinely disarmed." Hamas has affirmed its commitment to the plan, Washington says discussions with Israel are continuing, and the Israeli military has largely paused targeted strikes while ceasefire and reconstruction arrangements remain stalled.
The Washington Post reports a covert move during July’s NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump reportedly boarded the older Air Force One, then was secretly moved to a smaller jet via a catering truck. Reportedly, journalists believed they were traveling with him on Air Force One, while he flew to RAF Mildenhall in the UK on a different plane.
Traders have participated in Tuesday’s tenders with Bunge, CHS and Olam. A new wheat tender is expected to close on August 18, with shipments planned for September-October. Russia’s export tax changes and congestion at Black Sea ports have shaped a cautious market, while forecasts point to a potential fall in August grain exports.
A US-backed plan to disarm Hamas and set a path to Israeli withdrawal has stalled after Israeli prime minister Netanyahu rejects the 15-point framework, arguing for genuine Hamas disarmament before any withdrawal. Hamas conditions the surrender of heavy weapons on an Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of a Palestinian state. The dispute leaves Gaza’s future uncertain as regional players weigh leverage and timing ahead of elections.
Kushner and Board of Peace envoys are engaging Hamas in Egypt to press for the 15-point Gaza plan. Netanyahu maintains disarmament conditions, while international mediators call for progress on the roadmap amid unfolding battlefield events.
Kushner and a U.S. envoy delegation have met Hamas leaders to advance the Gaza roadmap. Netanyahu maintains disarmament is a precondition for any Israeli withdrawal. Regional powers back mediators as talks accelerate toward a schedule for implementation.
Inquests have concluded that Claire Lomas's death from injuries sustained in a 2024 microlight crash in Jordan is accidental. The coroner notes no link to risk assessments and says investigations have yielded lessons. Lomas, a fundraising campaigner and Paralympian, was flying for an Apple-commissioned Adventure series when the aircraft crashed after aborting a landing.