Throughout its negotiations with the US, Iran has insisted it has the right to control movement through the strait and introduce fees for ships to pass.

The US and its Gulf allies, as well as governments in Europe and Asia, oppose this and say passage through the strait must return to being free and open as it was before the conflict began.

After the deal to end the war, the Iranian government set out a system of lanes through the north of the waterway close to the Iranian coast, which it said all traffic must use.

“The only safe route for the passage of commercial ships and oil tankers in the strait is the route determined by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iran’s top military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated after this week’s ship strikes.

After the deal was signed, the JMIC recommended instead that ships take a different route through Omani waters in the south of the strait.

The number of ships using this Omani route grew to a peak of 28 vessels on 25 June, Kpler’s data shows, overtaking the number of transits via the Iranian route.

Then on 25 and 27 June two ships in Omani waters were struck with Iran warning all vessels to only use its approved routes.

President Donald Trump accused Iran of a “foolish violation” of its truce and the US military conducted strikes on Iranian targets.

Iran in turn accused the US of violating their interim deal and said it had struck targets linked to American forces in the region.

The number of ships transiting via the Omani route initially slumped following the strikes, before continuing at a lower level than before.

The global comparison, based on World Health Organization data, compared the UK to other nations in western Europe, the Nordics, North America and Oceania. It is now ranked 20th out of 21 with only the US seeing its population live for fewer years in good health.

Inflation in Australia fell more than expected in November, offering a potential reprieve for households and financial markets, yet economists warn that price pressures remain elevated, leaving interest rate decisions uncertain.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday showed consumer prices rose 3.4% in the year to November, below the 3.6% increase economists had forecast. This marked a decline from October’s 3.8% annual rise, which had fueled predictions that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) might raise interest rates as early as February.

The softer-than-expected inflation print immediately affected financial markets. The Australian dollar slipped from 67.38 US cents to 67.24, while the ASX200 index jumped from 8,700 to 8,734 points, reflecting investor confidence that rates could remain lower for longer.

Following the data, markets priced in a roughly two-thirds chance that the RBA would keep rates on hold at its February board meeting. However, expectations for future rate hikes remain in place, with many economists anticipating at least one increase by June and a possible second before the end of 2026. NAB economists continued to forecast hikes in both February and May.

Stephen Smith, partner at Deloitte Access Economics, said a February rate hike could be premature, cautioning that the reasons for recent inflation spikes were still unclear. “Any policy response should be careful and cautious, rather than impulsive,” he said, emphasizing the importance of measured monetary decisions.

ANZ economists echoed this sentiment, predicting the RBA would face a “close decision” but likely leave rates unchanged in the near term. They noted that some inflation categories had begun reversing prior price increases.

Retail discounts associated with Black Friday sales contributed to the moderation in prices, with clothing and footwear falling 3.1% between October and November, and furniture down 4.6%. Domestic holiday prices fell 4.1% in the month, while international holiday costs unexpectedly slipped 0.6%, suggesting broader easing in parts of the inflation basket, according to Diana Mousina, AMP economist.

“It’s good to see we are getting this moderation, and the surprising price increase we have seen in the past few months could just be one-offs,” Mousina said.

Health costs also declined 0.5% in November, following expanded bulk-billing incentives on 1 November 2025, which reduced out-of-pocket expenses for households.

However, inflationary pressures remain strong in several key sectors, keeping the door open for rate hikes later this year. Housing costs rose 1.1% in November and climbed 5.2% over the year, driven by higher rents, new home construction, and electricity costs, which surged 19.7% after rebates lapsed.

Food prices increased 3.3% annually, with meals out and takeaway up 3.5% due to higher wages and ingredient costs. Meat and seafood prices rose 3.9%, reflecting strong overseas demand for Australian produce.

Paula Gadsby, senior economist at EY, warned that inflation is likely to remain elevated in December quarter data, to be released the week before the RBA meets again. “For the Reserve Bank to reverse this recent trend and get inflation moving back to [2.5% or] the mid-point of the target band, interest rates will need to be lifted in the first half of 2026,” she said.

While November’s data provides some relief for consumers, the uneven nature of inflation and persistent price rises in essential sectors indicate that monetary policy will continue to balance caution with the need to contain inflationary pressures. Markets and households alike will be closely watching the RBA’s next moves as Australia navigates the delicate path between economic growth and price stability.

Hezbollah can still rely on staunch support in the neighbourhoods where it is the dominant force in political and social life, and among the Shia communities of mixed areas. Several Shia residents of the Mar Elias neighbourhood said they stood completely behind the group.

“We are all Hezbollah here, whatever Hezbollah does we will support them,” said Fadi Ali Kiryani, a 52-year-old corner shop owner. Like other people in Mar Elias, Kiryani said he was not concerned by Netanyahu’s threat that Lebanon would suffer the same destruction and suffering as Gaza.

“Even if it becomes worse here than Gaza, we will still fly the flag,” he said.

“My house in Dahieh has already been destroyed. I would rather my house was gone than the shoe on the foot of one Hezbollah fighter was damaged.”

Sitting behind the desk of her 40-year-old towel and bedlinens shop, 75-year-old Fany Sharara said that Hezbollah was the only force defending the people of Lebanon.

“Nothing Netanyahu could say could change my mind,” she said. “He is a criminal, an assassin, he cannot leave one child alive.”

Israel had “all of Europe and all of America” on its side, Sharara added. “We are with Hezbollah because they are the only ones defending us. Not the Lebanese government.”

A few doors down, and a few years younger, 24-year-old jewellery shop owner Ali Shoura was simply weary of everyone involved, he said. “Nobody really cares – the politicians, the people in power, the Lebanese government, Iran, Israel, America, Hezbollah too.”

He shook his head. “It’s all just theatre,” he said. “And we are all the victims.”

Joanna Mazjoub contributed to this report.