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TEHRAN/MUSCAT — A potential breakthrough over the Strait of Hormuz is taking shape as Iran and Oman move closer to an agreement on a new route for commercial ships, raising hopes that one of the world’s most important energy corridors could gradually return to operation.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that negotiations with Oman had entered their final stage and that the two countries had agreed on the geographical coordinates of a proposed shipping route. The discussions have focused on establishing a safer passage for commercial vessels through the strategically important waterway.

Route Coordinates Agreed

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the two sides had been negotiating for roughly two months to determine a safe transit route for commercial shipping.

According to Tehran, the coordinates of the proposed route have now been settled. The joint statement outlining the main terms is also reportedly undergoing final review and drafting.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said an understanding had been reached on most of the outstanding issues, including where vessels would enter and leave the designated route.

Under the proposed arrangement, much of the shipping corridor would pass through Iranian territorial waters, while some sections would run through Omani waters.

Temporary Route Could Operate for Months

The proposed system would replace existing temporary routes. Iranian officials said the new corridor could remain in operation for two to four months, with the possibility of extending it beyond that period.

That makes the proposal more than a short-term navigation arrangement. If implemented, it could provide shipping companies with a defined corridor while broader political and security negotiations continue.

However, agreeing on a route is only one part of the challenge. The wider security situation around Hormuz remains unsettled.

Hormuz Still Not Fully Open

Despite the progress announced by Tehran and Muscat, officials have not declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open to normal commercial traffic.

The waterway has remained under severe restrictions following the resumption of fighting between Iran and the United States. The disruption has affected a major share of global energy shipments and contributed to higher oil and gas prices.

Iran has also warned that an agreement with Oman alone cannot guarantee safe passage while it says U.S. military pressure and a naval blockade remain in place.

That means shipping companies are likely to remain cautious until there is greater clarity over security conditions and the rules governing commercial vessels.

U.S. Objects to Iranian Control

The biggest obstacle may not be the route itself but who ultimately controls and manages traffic through it.

U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have said Washington would not accept an arrangement that leaves Iran in control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, meanwhile, appears determined to preserve what officials describe as strategic gains achieved during the conflict.

This difference in position could make the final stage of negotiations particularly sensitive. A technical agreement between Iran and Oman may therefore need to fit into a much larger political and security settlement involving Washington.

Why the Strait Matters to the World

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial gateway for international energy markets. Disruptions there can affect tanker movements, oil supplies, LNG shipments, insurance costs and ultimately energy prices around the world.

The latest developments have therefore attracted close attention from governments, energy companies and shipping operators.

A reliable reopening could ease some of the pressure currently weighing on energy markets. But any delay, renewed confrontation or uncertainty over navigation rules could quickly reverse that optimism.

A Route Agreed, But the Bigger Deal Remains

The agreement on the route represents an important diplomatic step, but it should not yet be mistaken for a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and Oman still need to finalize the joint statement, while the wider dispute involving the United States remains unresolved. Security concerns also have to be addressed before commercial shipping can return to normal levels.

For now, the latest development offers a cautiously positive signal: the two countries have moved from discussing how ships might pass through Hormuz to agreeing on where that passage could take place.

Whether that technical breakthrough becomes a functioning international shipping arrangement will depend on what happens next in the broader Iran-U.S. negotiations.

CALIFORNIA — What began as a solo hiking trip through California’s scenic Big Pine Lakes area has ended in tragedy for Vikram Mubayi, an Indian-origin doctoral student at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

Mubayi, who was pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering, was reported missing after he stopped responding to his family during the hike. His body was recovered on the evening of August 3 in California’s Inyo National Forest, according to reports.

Last Contact Came During the Hike

Mubayi’s final known contact with his family came at around 8:30 p.m. on August 1. During that conversation, he shared his GPS location while on the trail.

When he failed to return as expected and stopped responding to calls and messages, his family alerted authorities. The disappearance prompted a search involving Inyo County Search and Rescue and the California Highway Patrol.

After an extensive search, rescuers located his body in the Inyo National Forest two days later.

Cause of Death Remains Unknown

Authorities have not yet released an official explanation for how Mubayi died. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding his death.

At this stage, officials have reported no indication of foul play. Until the investigation is complete, the exact circumstances remain unclear.

The absence of a known cause of death has left unanswered questions about what happened during the final hours of the hike.

A Student Who Loved the Outdoors

Mubayi was born and raised in Hong Kong and later moved to the United States for his education. His family described him as a relatively experienced hiker, while a biography he wrote for the student-led nonprofit Illini 4000 reflected his longstanding interest in outdoor activities.

He credited his mother with introducing him to hiking and tennis when he was very young. He was also an experienced cyclist and had a strong interest in sports and outdoor activities.

His connection with the outdoors makes the circumstances of his death particularly poignant for those who knew him.

From Chemical Engineering to Sustainable Research

Mubayi graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2022 with a degree in chemical engineering. During his undergraduate years, he worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant.

At UCSB, his doctoral research focused on biological approaches to breaking down plant waste and plastics. The work was aimed at finding more sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based materials.

For colleagues and members of the university community, his death represents the loss of a young researcher whose academic work was focused on addressing environmental challenges.

Search Ends, Questions Remain

The recovery of Mubayi’s body brought an end to the search that began after his family lost contact with him, but it has also left investigators with important questions to answer.

For now, authorities have not established publicly how he died, and there is no reported evidence of criminal involvement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Mubayi’s death has also drawn attention to the unpredictable risks that can accompany solo hiking, even for people with considerable outdoor experience. His family’s decision to report him missing after he failed to return and stopped communicating ultimately helped trigger the search that located him.

As investigators work to determine what happened on the trail, friends, classmates and members of the UCSB community are mourning the loss of a young scientist remembered for his curiosity, academic ambition and love of the outdoors.

NEW DELHI/PERTH — Oil markets are once again being pushed higher by uncertainty surrounding the future of the Strait of Hormuz, after proposed conditions for reopening the vital shipping route raised fresh concerns among traders.

Brent crude rose about 1% to $83.34 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained around 0.7% to $77.81 on Friday. The move came after oil prices had already jumped by more than $3 a barrel in the previous session.

Reopening Hopes Give Way to New Uncertainty

The latest market reaction highlights a key problem facing energy traders: reopening the Strait is not necessarily the same as restoring normal oil shipments.

Iran, working with Oman on a possible framework for commercial shipping, has proposed restrictions on vessels from countries it considers hostile. Ships violating the proposed rules could face significant penalties, including fines linked to the value of their cargo.

Iran is also seeking fees from vessels using the waterway, while Oman has proposed a separate fee structure. The United States has opposed such charges, adding another complication to negotiations over how commercial traffic would resume.

Why Traders Are Watching Hormuz So Closely

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. A prolonged disruption to shipping through the passage can quickly affect crude oil supplies, tanker movements, insurance costs and expectations for fuel prices.

That is why even the possibility of restrictions on shipping is enough to move oil markets.

Earlier this week, hopes for progress in negotiations had pushed crude prices lower. Brent even dropped below $80 a barrel, its first move below that level since July 13. But those expectations have weakened as disagreements over the conditions for reopening the waterway have emerged.

Shipping Rules Could Become the Next Flashpoint

The emerging dispute is no longer simply about whether ships can pass through Hormuz. The bigger question is under what conditions they will be allowed to pass.

Iran’s proposed restrictions, possible transit fees and the involvement of Oman could create additional hurdles for ship operators. At the same time, sanctions and insurance restrictions could make companies reluctant to send vessels through the waterway even if a political agreement is announced.

That uncertainty is particularly important for oil traders because a formal reopening does not automatically guarantee that shipping companies will immediately return to normal operations.

Geopolitical Tensions Keep the Market on Edge

The latest developments also suggest that expectations of a quick end to the wider conflict may have been premature.

Analysts cited by Reuters said developments during the week indicated that tensions between Iran and the United States had not been fully resolved. Additional instability in the region, including attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on Saudi positions, has added another layer of risk for energy markets.

For traders, the result is a market caught between two opposing forces: hopes that diplomacy will eventually restore normal shipping and fears that disagreements could keep the world’s critical energy route under pressure.

What Could Happen to Oil Next?

The direction of crude prices may now depend heavily on the details of any Hormuz agreement rather than simply on announcements that the waterway is reopening.

If Iran, Oman and the United States can reach an arrangement that provides clear rules for commercial vessels, shipping activity could gradually recover and ease the risk premium in oil prices.

But if negotiations stall or shipping restrictions remain unclear, traders could continue pricing a higher risk of supply disruption.

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has opened a new front in his long-running immigration campaign, signing two executive orders aimed at restricting access to birthright citizenship and targeting what his administration calls “birth tourism.”

The moves, signed on Thursday, come only weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the administration’s earlier, broader attempt to reinterpret birthright citizenship. Rather than attempting another sweeping change, the latest orders take a narrower approach by focusing on specific circumstances and on people who travel to the United States specifically to give birth.

Two Orders, Two Different Targets

The first executive order seeks to define circumstances in which children born in the United States would not automatically receive citizenship. The administration argues that the 14th Amendment contains limited exceptions and says those exceptions should apply to certain categories involving foreign nationals and people whose presence in the country does not place them fully under U.S. jurisdiction.

The second order focuses specifically on “birth tourism” — a practice in which foreign nationals travel to the United States with the intention of giving birth there so that their children can obtain U.S. citizenship.

Trump’s administration has directed federal agencies to develop measures aimed at disrupting businesses and arrangements that facilitate such travel.

Why Birthright Citizenship Is Back in the Spotlight

Birthright citizenship has traditionally been linked to the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, which provides citizenship to people born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the existing interpretation allows the U.S. immigration system to be exploited. His administration has made ending or narrowing birthright citizenship a central part of its broader immigration agenda.

The latest orders represent a strategic shift after the administration’s earlier effort faced a major legal setback. Instead of trying to eliminate birthright citizenship across the board, the new measures concentrate on specific situations that the White House argues fall outside the core constitutional guarantee.

Supreme Court Ruling Sets the Legal Backdrop

The timing of Trump’s latest action is significant. The Supreme Court recently ruled against the administration’s earlier attempt to broadly reinterpret birthright citizenship.

That decision has made the legal foundation of the new orders an immediate point of controversy. Civil-rights organizations and immigration advocates are expected to challenge the latest measures, arguing that an executive order cannot simply rewrite a constitutional guarantee.

The administration, meanwhile, maintains that it is enforcing what it considers to be longstanding and narrowly defined exceptions rather than abolishing birthright citizenship altogether.

‘Birth Tourism’ Faces New Scrutiny

The second order could have a more immediate effect on the travel and immigration system because it specifically targets the commercial side of birth tourism.

The administration wants federal agencies to identify and act against people and businesses that arrange travel or other services for foreign nationals seeking to give birth in the United States for citizenship purposes.

However, determining someone’s intention when they enter the country could create difficult enforcement questions. Critics have also questioned the scale of the practice and warned against treating legitimate travel by pregnant women as evidence of immigration fraud.

What Happens Next?

The biggest question now is whether Trump’s new orders can survive another round of legal challenges.

Because birthright citizenship is connected to the Constitution, the administration’s attempt to narrow eligibility through executive action is likely to face scrutiny from federal courts. The dispute could eventually return to the Supreme Court, potentially creating another major test of presidential authority over U.S. immigration and citizenship policy.

BANG KRUAI, Thailand — A school day in Thailand’s Nonthaburi province turned into a scene of panic on Friday after a teenage student allegedly killed his grandparents before opening fire at a school outside Bangkok, leaving teachers and students among the victims.

The shooting took place at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok. Police said the suspected shooter was a student at the school. Emergency teams rushed to the campus as frightened students were evacuated and parents hurried to collect their children.

Grandparents Killed Before School Attack

According to police and local officials, the teenager first went to his grandparents’ home, where both were found dead. He then travelled to the school carrying his grandfather’s handgun.

At the school, the teenager allegedly opened fire, killing three teachers and three students. The suspected shooter also died after the attack. Police said the firearm was believed to have belonged to his grandfather.

The sequence of events has raised fresh questions about how a teenager was able to obtain access to a firearm and bring it onto a school campus.

Students Fled as Gunfire Erupted

The attack triggered chaos inside the school. Students and staff attempted to hide, evacuate classrooms and move away from the gunfire while police and emergency responders arrived at the scene.

One student told Reuters that he initially thought the sounds were firecrackers or something being struck. Only after hearing repeated gunshots did he realise that something much more serious was happening.

Emergency workers treated people suffering gunshot wounds and other injuries. Police initially reported 15 people wounded, while Thailand’s health minister later gave a higher figure of 22 injured, including people hurt while attempting to escape.

Police Recover Ammunition at Scene

Police said the teenager fired numerous rounds during the incident and that additional ammunition was recovered. Reuters reported that investigators said 26 rounds had been fired, with another 34 rounds found with the suspect.

Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the teenager’s access to the weapon and the motive behind the attack.

Thailand Faces Renewed Gun Violence Concerns

The incident has renewed concerns over gun violence and school safety in Thailand. It is also the second school shooting reported in the country in 2026, according to Reuters.

Thailand has experienced several major shooting incidents in recent years. The country was shocked in 2022 when a former police officer carried out a deadly attack at a childcare centre in Nong Bua Lamphu province, killing dozens of people, including children.

The latest attack is likely to intensify discussions over firearm access, youth safety and security measures at schools.

Investigation Continues

Police and emergency authorities remained at the school as investigators worked to establish the full sequence of events. Officials have not yet provided a definitive explanation for what prompted the teenager to attack his grandparents and then target the school.

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