Edge

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran 'will never seek to build a nuclear bomb', speaking ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The pledge comes as Iran's nuclear programme remains under intense international scrutiny, with world leaders gathering in New York. The statement is being widely discussed as a diplomatic signal ahead of his address to the assembly.

Oil prices have climbed above $108 a barrel as markets react to fears that conflict between the United States and Iran could resume. Traders are pricing in the risk of supply disruptions from the region, and analysts warn further escalation could push prices higher still. Markets remain on edge awaiting any signal of renewed hostilities.

Bond investors are positioning in ways that increasingly point to concern about the economic outlook, according to Bloomberg. Signals from Treasury markets, such as moves in yields and curve shape, are being read as edging closer to levels historically associated with recession warnings. Traders and analysts are watching whether the warning becomes fully fledged.

Germany has, for the first time, formally committed to phasing out fossil fuels, setting a target date of 2045. The pledge, reported by the Guardian, marks a significant shift in the country's climate policy, aligning its energy transition goals with a full exit from coal, oil and gas rather than renewables expansion alone. Reaction online has been notable among climate and policy watchers, with debate over feasibility and economic impact likely to follow.

Pope Leo has pledged action on clergy abuse following a meeting with French survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy. The pledge comes after direct talks between the pontiff and victims' representatives, who have long pressed the Church for accountability and concrete measures. The commitment is being closely watched to see whether it translates into concrete institutional reform.

A former Pentagon official says the United States needs to control China's access to advanced semiconductors, arguing that restricting the flow of cutting-edge chips is necessary for national security. The comments add to an ongoing debate in Washington over how far export controls on advanced technology should go as competition with China intensifies.

China's State Council, the country's cabinet, has pledged to strengthen policy support aimed at ensuring the government meets its economic growth target for the year. The commitment signals Beijing's readiness to roll out additional fiscal and monetary measures if growth falters, and comes as observers watch closely for concrete stimulus steps to bolster the world's second-largest economy.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is pressing member states to deliver naval vessels they pledged for the Strait of Hormuz mission, aiming to strengthen the EU's maritime presence against Houthi attacks on shipping. The push highlights frustration in Brussels that promised assets have not yet arrived, as attacks continue to threaten one of the world's most important oil transit routes.

US Treasury yields moved higher as government bonds came under renewed pressure across global markets. Rising yields indicate falling bond prices, a move investors typically track for signals on inflation expectations, central bank policy and government borrowing costs. Traders are watching whether the selling spreads further or stabilises in upcoming sessions.

Stripe has introduced a Knowledge AI Platform, announced via its developer blog. The platform appears aimed at helping teams organize and query internal knowledge using artificial intelligence. Discussion is centered on what the offering means for developers and knowledge work, though details beyond the company's announcement remain limited.

The Pope met with French survivors of clergy child abuse in an emotional two-hour meeting and pledged concrete action to address the scandal. The encounter comes amid continuing pressure on the Catholic Church over its handling of abuse cases in France, where official inquiries have documented widespread abuse by clergy over decades.

President Donald Trump says he has approved new fuel economy standards that roll back rules put in place during the Biden administration. The move relaxes emissions and efficiency requirements for automakers, a reversal of the previous administration's stricter climate-focused vehicle regulations. The announcement is being covered by major business outlets as a significant shift in US auto and environmental policy.

U.S. stock markets closed higher on Friday, capping a week of sharp swings between gains and losses. The Wall Street Journal reports the rebound ended days of volatility that kept investors on edge. Traders are weighing the choppy session against broader questions about the economy and interest rates, with the week's whiplash drawing attention from market watchers worldwide.

Microsoft is ending support for Internet Explorer mode in its Edge browser, removing the final built-in tool that let businesses run legacy websites built for the old browser. The move marks the last step in Microsoft's long phase-out of Internet Explorer, and organisations still relying on outdated internal sites will need to migrate them to modern standards.

The FTSE 100 rose modestly as investors grew more hopeful that diplomatic efforts over Iran could ease tensions. Reports carried by financial outlets in Australia, Singapore and beyond noted stocks inching higher, with markets cautiously pricing in the prospect of talks rather than escalation. Traders are watching for further signs of de-escalation in the region.

Saudi Arabia has called on the United Nations to take action over continued Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region, according to reports. The appeal comes amid ongoing tensions over shipping security in one of the world's busiest maritime corridors. Commentators are watching whether the UN will respond and how the attacks could affect regional stability and global trade routes.

Foreign secretary Ed Miliband will use his speech to Labour's conference to acknowledge that the party's former position on Palestine fell short, telling delegates 'we are not here to accept the status quo but to change it'. The admission signals a notable shift in Labour's language on the issue and comes amid ongoing debate within the party over its approach to the conflict.

Qualcomm announced two new smartphone chips, strengthening its push into on-device artificial intelligence as competition among chipmakers intensifies. The announcement came alongside the company's earnings update, but investors were unmoved: Qualcomm shares slipped modestly in after-hours trading despite the new product launches. Attention is on how the company's AI-capable silicon will fare against rivals in the premium smartphone market.

The BBC reports that the UK Prime Minister may finally abandon the triple lock, the pledge that the state pension rises each year by the highest of inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%. Dropping the promise would break a long-standing manifesto commitment and is being debated as the government weighs pension costs against pressure on public finances.

Donald Trump has floated giving a $5,000 dividend payment tied to his Republican agenda, according to the headline claim. The idea recalls past proposals like DOGE stimulus checks and is drawing debate over cost, legality, and whether such a payment could realistically be delivered.

VSMC has opened a semiconductor fabrication facility in Singapore dedicated to specialty chips, expanding the city-state's role in global chip manufacturing. The move reflects continued investment in diversified chip capacity as demand for non-leading-edge and specialty semiconductors grows across automotive, industrial and communications markets. Industry observers are watching how the new fab affects supply chains and Singapore's semiconductor cluster.

Foreign secretary Ed Miliband will use his speech to the Labour Party conference to acknowledge that the party's former stance on Palestine fell short, telling delegates 'we are not here to accept the status quo but to change it'. The remarks signal a shift in the government's framing of UK Middle East policy and are likely to spark debate within Labour over its historical position.

Ed Miliband is set to publicly acknowledge that Labour's former position on Palestine fell short, in remarks expected at the party's 2026 conference. The admission touches on the party's long-debated history over Israel and the Palestinians, an issue that has repeatedly divided Labour members and voters. Reactions so far come largely from political watchers debating what the shift signals for Labour's foreign policy direction.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, says he will make social care reform a central pledge at the next election, according to Reuters. Burnham has long campaigned for overhaul of England's funding and provision of adult social care, an issue successive governments have promised but failed to resolve. The announcement puts pressure on national political parties ahead of the next UK general election.

Tropical Storm Nolo is approaching Hawaii, marking the islands' third major storm in two months. In the San Francisco Bay Area, residents are reaching out to check on family members in Hawaii as the storm nears. The repeated storms have put island communities and their mainland relatives on edge, with local news in California following the situation closely.

Goldman Sachs is reported to be enjoying a sharp rise in fees from its hedge fund business, according to a Financial Times report on what it calls the bank's hedge fund fee bonanza. The item suggests the Wall Street bank is extracting strong revenues from hedge fund clients, though the full details behind the gains remain sparse in the available reporting.

Chinese researchers say they have developed an electron gun beam described as world-leading, a key step toward building an advanced 'super microscope' for studying materials at extremely small scales. The announcement, reported by the South China Morning Post, is being read as another signal of China's push to compete with the United States and others in cutting-edge scientific instruments.

Ahead of the US midterm elections, Donald Trump's political team has aired a 2024 campaign advertisement financed with taxpayer funds, according to NDTV. The move raises questions over the blending of official government resources with campaign activity, a recurring controversy around Trump's political operation as Republicans seek an edge in the midterms.

Walmart has pledged that it will not use shoppers' personal data to set individualized prices. The commitment, reported by retail industry outlets, addresses growing consumer and regulator concern that retailers could use purchase histories and personal information to charge different customers different prices for the same products. It positions the retailer as taking a public stance on data-driven pricing practices.

Reports say the US Department of Justice is internally divided as its antitrust case against Apple moves toward 2026, with the company holding an edge in the dispute over its roughly 27% App Store commission structure. A split within the DOJ could weaken the government's position and shape how Apple's App Store fees are regulated going forward.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass in Lourdes, France, urging the Catholic Church to acknowledge its own faults. His remarks, delivered at one of the world's best-known pilgrimage sites, call for humility and self-examination within the institution and are drawing attention as an early signal of his papacy's tone on reform and accountability.