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Iran war helps narrow Australia’s budget deficit

May 12, 2026, 01:01 GMT+1

Australia is expected to post a smaller-than-anticipated budget deficit on Tuesday, with higher commodity prices linked to the Iran conflict boosting government revenues.

Rising prices for energy and raw materials have strengthened Australia’s export earnings and tax intake, providing a financial windfall for the government ahead of the budget release.

The government is also attempting to advance politically sensitive reforms while balancing concerns over cost-of-living pressures and the broader economic impact of prolonged instability in the Middle East.

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Netanyahu says Iran regime change ‘possible, not guaranteed’
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INSIGHT

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Spotlight

  • Iranians told to post pro-government content to regain internet access
    VOICES FROM IRAN

    Iranians told to post pro-government content to regain internet access

  • Fog of war meets fog of law in the Strait of Hormuz
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    Fog of war meets fog of law in the Strait of Hormuz

  • Tehran rejects US terms as hardliners push escalation
    INSIGHT

    Tehran rejects US terms as hardliners push escalation

  • As Iran’s economy sinks, hardliners turn to conspiracy
    INSIGHT

    As Iran’s economy sinks, hardliners turn to conspiracy

  • Iranians describe toll of 70 days of internet restrictions
    VOICES FROM IRAN

    Iranians describe toll of 70 days of internet restrictions

  • The strange stability between Tehran and the Taliban
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Iran slams proposed UNSC move on Strait of Hormuz

May 12, 2026, 00:34 GMT+1

Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi has accused the United States and its regional allies of attempting to shift attention away from what Tehran describes as unlawful military action and blockade measures against Iran by pushing for a new UN Security Council draft on the Strait of Hormuz.

“Freedom of navigation is a respected legal principle,” Gharibabadi wrote on X, “but it cannot be interpreted selectively, politically, and separately from the UN Charter.”

He warned that any Security Council text addressing the Strait of Hormuz without referring to “aggression, blockade, threat of force and Iran’s legitimate rights to defend its security and vital interests” would be “incomplete, biased, political and doomed to fail.”

Iraq denies reports of secret Israeli base in the country

May 12, 2026, 00:08 GMT+1

The Iraqi armed forces on Monday denied reports of unauthorized foreign military installations in the deserts of Karbala and Najaf, rejecting claims of a covert military presence linked to the Israel-Iran conflict.

In a statement posted on X, the military said rumors surrounding a secret base stemmed from a clash on March 5 involving Iraqi security forces and what it described as “unidentified, unlicensed detachments.”

The military said inspections carried out by Iraq’s Joint Operations Command since then had confirmed that “no unauthorised bases or forces have been present” in the area.

Baghdad also warned it would pursue legal action against individuals or outlets spreading what it called “misleading information” and “malicious rumors” that undermine Iraq’s sovereignty and damage the reputation of its security institutions.

The statement came days after the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had established a secret military base in the Iraqi desert to support air strikes against Iran.

As Iran’s economy sinks, hardliners turn to conspiracy

May 11, 2026, 23:47 GMT+1

As prices continue to soar across Iran, hardline clerics and pro-government figures are increasingly attempting to shift blame away from the state even as economic pressure deepens for ordinary citizens.

In Mashhad, firebrand Friday prayer leader Ahmad Alamolhoda claimed that “US Army infantry is responsible for rising prices.” He later said the remark was metaphorical.

Earlier in the week, Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hardline daily Kayhan, wrote that “rising prices and hoarding are the products of the enemy’s infiltration in the government.”

While Iran’s armed forces were “working miracles,” he argued, the economy had been left undefended, allowing enemies to undermine battlefield gains.

Read the full article here.

Man charged after allegedly driving into Iran protest crowd in Canada

May 11, 2026, 23:41 GMT+1

A man has been charged after allegedly driving dangerously near a demonstration related to the conflict in Iran in Richmond Hill, north of Toronto, according to York Regional Police.

Police said officers responded Sunday afternoon to reports of a dangerous driver near Major Mackenzie Drive West and Yonge Street, where a protest was taking place.

According to police, the suspect struck a food delivery driver who was not involved in the demonstration and hit another vehicle while fleeing the scene. He then stopped his car and yelled threats at demonstrators before being arrested.

The delivery driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Police identified the suspect as 39-year-old Mehran Mohagheghi of Richmond Hill. He faces charges including assault with a weapon, dangerous operation, uttering threats and failure to stop after an accident.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and appealed for witnesses and video footage to come forward.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions at Iranian diaspora demonstrations across North America and Europe since the January protests and crackdown inside Iran.

Rallies linked to the conflict have increasingly drawn sharp confrontations not only between supporters and opponents of the Islamic Republic, but also among rival opposition factions divided over strategy, leadership and foreign involvement.

Earlier this year, a vehicle drove into a crowd during a large anti-government rally in Los Angeles, injuring several protesters and prompting a police investigation.

Smaller scuffles and confrontations have also been reported at demonstrations in cities including London, Berlin and Paris in recent months.

US stocks hit record highs while oil rises on Iran ceasefire fears

May 11, 2026, 23:19 GMT+1

US equity indexes edged higher to fresh record closing highs on Monday as investors awaited a meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, while oil prices climbed on renewed concerns over the Iran conflict.

Markets were rattled after Trump said the US-Iran ceasefire was “on life support” and dismissed Tehran’s response to a US peace proposal as “stupid,” fueling fears that the 10-week conflict could drag on and continue disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The S&P 500 rose 0.19% to close at 7,412.84, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.10% to 26,274.13, both record closing highs.