Latest news with #AUSTRALIAN
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Australia: Banks, miners lift stocks; Trump's Iran-Israel truce announcement boosts sentiment
AUSTRALIAN shares rose on Tuesday, led by gains in banks and miners, as US President Donald Trump's announcement of the Iran-Israel ceasefire lifted investor sentiment globally. The S&P/ASX 200 index advanced 1.1 per cent to 8,569.50 points by 0055 GMT. The benchmark was set to snap five consecutive sessions of losses. In a post on his Truth Social site, Trump said a 'complete and total' ceasefire between Israel and Iran will go into force with a view to ending the 12-day conflict between the two nations. 'Markets are likely to look past the issue for as long hostilities remain localised... and Iran avoids blockading the Strait of Hormuz,' said Kyle Rodda, a senior financial market analyst with Financials hit a record high, climbing 1.8 per cent. The 'Big Four' banks added between 1.4 per cent and 2.1 per cent. Miners advanced 1.5 per cent in their strongest trading session in more than two months on the back of stronger iron ore prices due to improving short-term demand prospects in top consumer China. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up BHP and Rio Tinto gained 1.9 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively. Bucking the trend, energy stocks fell as much as 5.1 per cent to a one-week low and were set to snap two sessions of gains as oil weakened after the ceasefire announcement relieved worries of supply disruption in the area. Woodside and smaller peer Santos lost 6.5 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively. Woodside was also among the benchmark's top losers. Markets now await local consumer price index data later this week for further cues into the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate trajectory. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.3 per cent to 12,571.02 points. REUTERS
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Explosions heard in Doha as tensions rise between Iran and the US
AN AUSTRALIAN protester with a US dollar note taped over her mouth participating ina demonstration in support of Iran and Palestinians in Gaza, and against the actions of Israel and the US. Image: AFP Explosions could be heard over Doha yesterday, shortly after Qatar, which hosts the biggest US base in the Middle East, suspended air traffic as Iran threatened retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear sites. AFP journalists heard several rounds of blasts in central Doha and across the Qatari capital, with projectiles stopped by interceptors illuminating the night sky. Gas-rich Qatar, which lies 190 kilometres (120 miles) south of Iran across the Gulf, is home to the United States' largest military base in the region, Al Udeid, which hosts the regional headquarters of the Pentagon's Central Command. "The competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, as part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region," the foreign ministry said. It added authorities were monitoring the situation "in coordination with regional and international partners". Earlier, the US embassy in Qatar advised Americans there not to go out, with other Western embassies echoing the warning. "Out of an abundance of caution we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice," the US embassy said on its website. Britain and Canada later cited the US security alert in their own recommendations to nationals. Iran's armed forces threatened to inflict "serious, unpredictable consequences" on the US after it joined its ally Israel's campaign against the Islamic republic, carrying out heavy strikes on three nuclear sites. Last week, dozens of US military aircraft were no longer on the tarmac at al-Udeid, according to satellite images published by Planet Labs PBC and analysed by AFP. Nearly 40 military aircraft - including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft - were parked on the tarmac at the base, the regional headquarters of the Pentagon's Central Command, on June 5, but in an image taken on June 19, only three aircraft were visible. In Bahrain, a close neighbour of Qatar that hosts the US Fifth Fleet, the American embassy "temporarily shifted a portion of its employees to local telework", it said on X. Bahraini authorities had already told most government employees to work from home until further notice, citing "regional circumstances". Following the US warning in Doha, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said such statements by foreign embassies "do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats". "We would like to reassure the public that the security situation in the state remains stable," he wrote on X. "Qatar continues to exert intensive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region." On Sunday, the US State Department advised Americans worldwide to "exercise increased caution" because of the war between Israel and Iran. After Israel's first strikes on Iran on June 13, the US embassy in Qatar had told its staff and other Americans to exercise caution and "limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Air Base". Meanwhile, global airlines had suspended or reduced flights in the Middle East as the conflict intensified. Among the group of major airlines that have adjusted their flight schedule was Emirates. They have temporarily suspended flights to Iran and Iraq, which will affect passengers with connections to those countries via Dubai. In a statement released yesterday, the airline said: "Due to the regional situation, Emirates has temporarily suspended all flights to Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad and Basra), until and including Monday 30 June 2025. "We are operating as scheduled to all other destinations. "Customers connecting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq and Iran will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice." British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha on Sunday following the US strikes on Iran. But the airline said yesterday that it was "scheduled to operate as normal" on those routes. Air France halted flights to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates until at least today in a statement they released.. It also extended the suspension of the Paris-Tel Aviv route until July 14. Flights of Air France's low-cost carrier Transavia from Paris to Beirut have been suspended until June 30, while the Tel Aviv route is closed until September 7. Germany's Lufthansa Group, whose other airlines include Swiss, Austrian, and ITA, has suspended flights to the Middle East until June 30. The Amman and Erbil, Iraq, routes were also suspended until July 11. The group will not fly to Tel Aviv and Tehran until July 31, and is also avoiding the airspace of countries involved in the conflict. Turkish airline Pegasus has scrapped flights to Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon until June 30, and Iran until July 30. No Turkish Airlines flights to Baghdad, Damascus and Tehran are available before July 1. United Airlines has warned passengers that flights to and from Dubai scheduled between June 18 and July 3 may be affected and was offering no-fee ticket changes under certain conditions due to the Middle East unrest.
The 42
5 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Minjee Lee wins Women's PGA Championship as Leona Maguire finishes inside top 20
AUSTRALIAN MINJEE LEE fired a gritty two-over-par 74 to win the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, capturing her third major title by three strokes on another demanding day in Frisco, Texas. The 29-year-old from Perth added the title to her 2021 Evian Championship and the US Women's Open title she won in 2022, finishing on four-under-par . American Auston Kim and Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen tied for second on on one-under. Advertisement Lee started the day with a four-shot lead after a brilliant, bogey-free round on Saturday but had three bogeys in her first six holes. She made her first birdie of the day at the par-five ninth, where she missed the green but chipped to two feet. She gave a stroke back at the 10th, but after rolling in a tense nine-foot putt for par at 13 she drilled a nine-footer for birdie at the 14th to boost her lead back to three strokes. She added a birdie at 15, holing a five-and-a-half-foot putt, remaining in control from there despite a last bogey at 16. The grueling conditions all week took a toll on some of the game's top names. World number three Lydia Ko, who started her week with a four-over 75, carded a one-under 71 on Sunday to finish in a group sharing 12th on five-over par. World number one Nelly Korda fired a final-round 76 for a share of 19th on six-over, alongside Leona Maguire, who also ground to a final round of six-over for a top-20 finish. – © AFP 2025
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Minjee Lee Wins Women's PGA for Third Major Title
AUSTRALIAN Minjee Lee fired a gritty two-over-par 74 to win the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, capturing her third major title by three strokes on another demanding day in Frisco, Texas. The 29-year-old from Perth added the title to her 2021 Evian Championship and the US Women's Open title she won in 2022, finishing with a four-under-par total of 284. American Auston Kim and Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen tied for second on on one-under 287. 'A lot of patience out there today,' said Lee, who started the day with a four-shot lead after a brilliant, bogey-free round on Saturday but had three bogeys in her first six holes. 'I just felt like some shots were going my way and some shots weren't,' Lee said. 'I just said stick to my game plan. It was a battle against myself pretty much, especially with how tough the conditions were this whole week -- not just today, just amplified today because it's a major Sunday.' Lee made her first birdie of the day at the par-five ninth, where she missed the green but chipped to two feet. She gave a stroke back at the 10th, but after rolling in a tense nine-foot putt for par at 13 she drilled a nine-footer for birdie at the 14th to boost her lead back to three strokes. She added a birdie at 15, holing a five-and-a-half-foot putt, remaining in control from there despite a last bogey at 16. Through it all, Lee said, she was keeping an eye on her nearest rivals while trying to maintain her focus on another hot, wind-whipped day at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, north of Dallas. 'Pretty much I saw every single leaderboard and I knew exactly where I was pretty much all of today,' she said. 'I just tried to check the scores and then I just come back to each shot and try and execute it the best that I could. 'I really played within myself today.' Kim, a 24-year-old American ranked 98th in the world and seeking a first LPGA victory, applied as much pressure as she could. After a birdie at the par-five first she strung together three birdies in a row at the seventh, eighth and ninth -- landing her tee shot at the par-three eighth a foot from the pin. Hard course 'I just wanted to charge and get as close as I could to the top,' said Kim, who posted her best finish in a major. Prior to this tournament, she'd missed more major cuts (five) than she had made (four). 'I knew that the course is hard. I just played my percentages and tried to capitalize on good shots today.' Chanattee seized her share of second with a 68 highlighted by an eagle at 15, where she found the green with her tee shot and rolled in a 14-foot putt. World number two Jeeno Thitikul, who led after each of the first two rounds and started the day in solo second four behind Lee, was never able to get much going. She closed with a three-over-par 75 that left her tied for fourth on one-over 289 with Japan's Chisato Iwai, who carded a one-under 71. The grueling conditions all week took a toll on some of the game's top names. World number three Lydia Ko, who started her week with a four-over 75, carded a one-under 71 on Sunday to finish in a group sharing 12th on 293. World number one Nelly Korda fired a final-round 76 for a share of 19th on 294 and world number four Yin Ruoning was in a group on 295 after a closing 76.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Minjee Lee wins Women's PGA Championship for third major title
AUSTRALIAN Minjee Lee fired a gritty two-over-par 74 to win the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, capturing her third major title by three strokes on another demanding day in Frisco, Texas. The 29-year-old from Perth added the title to her 2021 Evian Championship and the US Women's Open title she won in 2022, finishing with a four-under-par total of 284. American Auston Kim and Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen tied for second on on one-under 287. 'A lot of patience out there today,' said Lee, who started the day with a four-shot lead after a brilliant, bogey-free round on Saturday but had three bogeys in her first six holes. 'I just felt like some shots were going my way and some shots weren't,' Lee said. 'I just said stick to my game plan. It was a battle against myself pretty much, especially with how tough the conditions were this whole week -- not just today, just amplified today because it's a major Sunday.' Lee made her first birdie of the day at the par-five ninth, where she missed the green but chipped to two feet. She gave a stroke back at the 10th, but after rolling in a tense nine-foot putt for par at 13 she drilled a nine-footer for birdie at the 14th to boost her lead back to three strokes. She added a birdie at 15, holing a five-and-a-half-foot putt, remaining in control from there despite a last bogey at 16. Through it all, Lee said, she was keeping an eye on her nearest rivals while trying to maintain her focus on another hot, wind-whipped day at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, north of Dallas. 'Pretty much I saw every single leaderboard and I knew exactly where I was pretty much all of today,' she said. 'I just tried to check the scores and then I just come back to each shot and try and execute it the best that I could. 'I really played within myself today.' Kim, a 24-year-old American ranked 98th in the world and seeking a first LPGA victory, applied as much pressure as she could. After a birdie at the par-five first she strung together three birdies in a row at the seventh, eighth and ninth -- landing her tee shot at the par-three eighth a foot from the pin. Hard course 'I just wanted to charge and get as close as I could to the top,' said Kim, who posted her best finish in a major. Prior to this tournament, she'd missed more major cuts (five) than she had made (four). 'I knew that the course is hard. I just played my percentages and tried to capitalize on good shots today.' Chanattee seized her share of second with a 68 highlighted by an eagle at 15, where she found the green with her tee shot and rolled in a 14-foot putt. World number two Jeeno Thitikul, who led after each of the first two rounds and started the day in solo second four behind Lee, was never able to get much going. She closed with a three-over-par 75 that left her tied for fourth on one-over 289 with Japan's Chisato Iwai, who carded a one-under 71. The grueling conditions all week took a toll on some of the game's top names. World number three Lydia Ko, who started her week with a four-over 75, carded a one-under 71 on Sunday to finish in a group sharing 12th on 293. World number one Nelly Korda fired a final-round 76 for a share of 19th on 294 and world number four Yin Ruoning was in a group on 295 after a closing 76.
