Oil prices climbed back above US$100 a barrel for the first time in two months, driven by US President Donald Trump's threat of "a massive attack" on Iran and a Houthi blockade on Saudi shipments through the Bab al-Mandab strait. The surge could push petrol prices higher, adding to cost of living pressures facing Australian households.
Trump threatens Iran as oil markets react
Trump said he is close to deciding whether to launch a massive attack on Iran, on a scale larger than strikes already seen in the months-long conflict. The oil price rise also follows a Houthi blockade affecting Saudi shipments.
Meanwhile, Dubai is offering to pay for family and friends of residents to visit in an effort to revive tourism numbers.
Commonwealth Games open in Glasgow
The Commonwealth Games have opened in Glasgow in a scaled-down event forced by the late withdrawal of Victoria. King Charles stepped out of a Doctor Who Tardis for the ceremony. Australian cyclist Matt Richardson, who controversially switched to England, said the move has had "zero effect" on him.
Labor dissent warning
Outspoken Labor backbencher Ed Husic said the party has become "allergic" to dissent and dispute, warning that the unity on show at its tightly controlled national conference could backfire.
Origin Energy hack
Origin Energy confirmed that customers' addresses, phone numbers and partial bank account data were accessed in a hack.
Elon Musk on politics and money
Elon Musk admitted he became too consumed by politics during his alliance with Trump. He said robots would usher in an era of "amazing abundance" that would make money meaningless, and speculated the universe may be a computer simulation created by aliens.
Other news
Israel's far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined thousands of Jewish extremists who stormed Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa holy site. More than 20,000 people were evacuated as a wildfire advanced on France's Atlantic coast. A study found long-term exposure to road traffic noise is associated with a higher risk of Parkinson's disease.
