Morning Headlines

Oman-brokered talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping are advancing, with draft texts circulating between Tehran and Washington, even as Iran publicly denies direct negotiations. A deal would lift a stranglehold on global oil flows that has driven energy prices sharply higher since the war began in late February 2026.

A student opened fire at the 3,000-pupil Debsirin Nonthaburi School north of Bangkok, killing three teachers and three students and wounding 15 others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The attack is one of Thailand's deadliest school shootings and has prompted calls for urgent action on gun control in the country.

The FDA cleared Moderna's mRNA-1010 influenza vaccine for adults 50 and older, extending the mRNA platform — proven during COVID-19 — to annual flu shots for the first time; it was 27% more effective than standard flu vaccines in trials. The technology also allows far faster production, a critical advantage for matching emerging strains or responding to a new pandemic.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis struck government-held positions with ballistic missiles and drones on Thursday, killing at least 30–58 Saudi-aligned troops in one of the single deadliest Houthi attacks in four years. Eleven civilians were separately wounded in strikes on Saudi territory, drawing a sharp warning from Riyadh of further escalation.

US equity futures slipped and oil jumped on renewed geopolitical jitters tied to the Iran war, reviving inflation concerns ahead of Friday's closely watched July jobs report. A Federal Reserve official added to the caution, saying inflation remains well above target and that monetary policy must continue to impose meaningful restraint.