Trump's mixed messages on Iran: 'Still unclear what US wants to achieve'
Oil prices sank and equities rallied Tuesday following a wild day of swings that came after Donald Trump said the US-Israel war on Iran would be ending earlier than thought. However, Trump also threatened Iran with an escalation in fighting if global oil supplies are disrupted by the Islamic Republic and has earlier stated that only Iran’s “unconditional surrender" could end the war. France 24’s Philip Turle takes a look at the mixed messages coming from the White House and asks what is the real US endgame in Iran? [Continue Reading]
EastEnders legend stages return as Sam Mitchell opens up on cancer treatment
A familiar face returns. [Continue Reading]
‘Short-term excursion’: What Trump said about the war on Iran
Donald Trump called the war on Iran a “short-term excursion”, saying the US already achieved “tremendous success”. [Continue Reading]
China-North Korea trains to resume after six-year halt following Covid outbreak
Travel operators say Chinese and North Koreans can now buy tickets for services leaving this weekPassenger train services between China and North Korea are to resume this week, six years after their suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel operators have said.Train journeys between the two countries were halted in 2020 as they imposed strict border closures to prevent the virus spreading. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
11 domestic helpers among 20 arrested in Hong Kong crackdown on illegal labour
Hong Kong authorities have arrested 20 people, including domestic helpers suspected of unlawfully providing services such as massages and manicures, in a crackdown on illegal labour. The Immigration Department said that it conducted a three-day operation across the city between Sunday and Tuesday, searching 19 target locations, including restaurants, care homes, hotels, commercial and industrial buildings and public places. Officers arrested 20 people, including 14 suspected illegal workers or... [Continue Reading]
Oil prices fall, stocks rise as Trump says military goals ‘pretty well complete’
Global benchmark prices for oil fell, and stocks rose, on the back of US President’s comments signalling the war in Iran could be nearing some form of conclusion. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz is still effectively closed to tanker traffic, and Washington is weighing its options both to clear the bottleneck and ease pressure on consumers back home. Also in this edition, Venezuela prepares to open up its mining sector to US companies. [Continue Reading]
Nadiya Hussain claims BBC show was cancelled after ‘difficult conversations’ with bosses
The TV chef exited the BBC in June. [Continue Reading]
ESB apologises over incorrect smart meter readings
ESB Networks is advising households and businesses that they are working to resolve an issue which caused some smart meter readings to be processed incorrectly last week. [Continue Reading]
Oil prices drop to approximately $91.70 per barrel after Trump comments on Israel-Iran conflict resolution
In a significant turn of events, oil prices have dropped dramatically after former US President Donald Trump stated in a recent CBS News interview that the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Iran could conclude "very soon." This announcement has dissipated fears surrounding a potential deepening energy supply crisis, which had previously driven Brent crude oil prices up to a staggering $119.50 per barrel. Following Trump's statement, prices rebounded to approximately $91.70 a barrel within a span of hours. The shift in oil prices reflects a broader response from global financial markets. The FTSE 100 and other European indexes have seen... [Continue Reading]
Trump says Iran war could end 'soon', but threatens Iran over oil disruption
US President Donald Trump said Monday that the war against Iran could be over "soon", but he left open the possibility of an escalation in fighting if global oil supplies are disrupted by the Islamic Republic. However, in an apparent response to Trump’s remarks, a spokesperson for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said “Iran will determine when the war ends.” [Continue Reading]
Middle East tensions add uncertainty to Hong Kong retail rents, Wharf REIC says
Hong Kong’s fragile retail recovery is clouding the outlook for shopping mall rents, with Wharf Real Estate Investment Company (REIC) warning that rising geopolitical tensions could add further uncertainty even as visitor traffic improves. The landlord of Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui and Times Square in Causeway Bay said the retail market showed gradual improvement in 2025 as tourism picked up. “Volume increase, however, was not often accompanied by commensurate yield increase,” the company... [Continue Reading]
Indonesia’s role in US-led ‘Board of Peace’ under scrutiny amid Iran crisis
Indonesia’s involvement in US leader Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” is drawing growing criticism at home as the war in the Middle East intensifies scrutiny of President Prabowo Subianto’s closer engagement with Washington. Critics have urged Jakarta to withdraw from the board and reconsider related policies, including plans to send troops to Gaza and a recent trade arrangement with the United States, while Prabowo has defended his stance as being consistent with the country’s non-aligned... [Continue Reading]
Stability comes first: Chinese defence chief signals Beijing’s strategic caution
Beijing’s defence minister called for shaping a stable environment for China to serve its broader political and diplomatic agenda, conveying the government’s strategic caution amid global uncertainties, analysts said. Dong Jun gave his comments on Friday during a group discussion involving military and armed police lawmakers at the country’s annual legislative gathering in Beijing. According to meeting minutes made available to the media, Dong on four occasions in his fewer than 400-word remarks... [Continue Reading]
Fears for women’s rights in Chile as anti-abortion president set to take office
José Antonio Kast, who voted against legalising divorce in 2004, has pushed for return to total abortion banWomen’s rights activists in Chile are bracing as the most conservative president since the Pinochet dictatorship prepares to take office on Wednesday.José Antonio Kast, a 60-year-old ultra Catholic whose father was a member of the Nazi party, has consistently blocked progressive bids for women’s rights and equality across his three-decade career in politics. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Georgia votes in high-stakes primary for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s House seat
Election will be a test of Trump’s sway and may provide a rare opportunity for Democrats in the southern stateSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA special election for the successor to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s congressional district in Georgia on Tuesday will be a test of Donald Trump’s sway, and may provide a rare opportunity for Democrats in a deep-red pocket of the southern state.Republican former prosecutor Clay Fuller is likely to come out of Tuesday’s jungle primary, in which the top two candidates go to a runoff regardless of party, alongside... [Continue Reading]
Air strike kills four Iran-linked fighters in Iraq
Separately, Iran's Revolutionary Guards target US base in Iraq, as PM Sudani rejects attempts to drag Iraq into the war. [Continue Reading]
Trump Zigzags on When War Will End, and Investigators Search Epstein’s Ranch in New Mexico
Plus, space mirrors? [Continue Reading]
Swedish man owns vehicle testing centre in China’s Inner Mongolia; likely the only foreigner there
Over two decades in a little-known, freezing city in northern China, a Swedish man has built a career and witnessed the booming development of the country’s carmaking industry. Gustav Holmgren, 44, whose Chinese name is Ge Siwen, is the legal representative and site manager of ATM (Hulun Buir) Proving Ground Service, which provides cold-weather vehicle testing for carmakers. He is, perhaps, the only foreigner in the city. His company is located in Yakeshi, a small city with a population of... [Continue Reading]
Democrats argue Trump’s China policy risks ‘strategic failure’
A new report, issued ahead of the president’s summit with Xi Jinping, takes aim at the administration’s record on trade, diplomacy and other aspects of American power. [Continue Reading]
Iran war: Asia sees violence, fuel rationing, queues as energy crunch hits
The oil price spike caused by the war in the Middle East has sparked unrest in Bangladesh and exasperation at petrol pumps around Asia, where many economies are heavily dependent on fossil fuel imports. Even as governments move to limit the impact on fuel prices, queues have formed at petrol stations in countries including Vietnam, Pakistan and the Philippines, although the situation remains stable elsewhere. In Bangladesh – which imports 95 per cent of its oil and gas needs – the military has... [Continue Reading]
‘If there is peace, I will return’: People flee US-Israeli bombing of Iran
Iranians and foreign workers flee US-Israeli bombardment of Iran, crossing snowy Turkiye border to seek safety. [Continue Reading]
Lebanon stadium turned into shelter for forcibly displaced
A stadium in Lebanon has been turned into a shelter for people displaced by Israeli attacks. [Continue Reading]
Who's making money off Trump's war in Iran?
PRESS REVIEW: Tuesday, March 10 - the world's front pages are torn between heralding a global oil crash and relaying Donald Trump's promise of peace on the horizon. Also, between crypto-bets and arms investments, , who’s making money from this war? In other news, France prepares for a first round of voting in municipal elections, seen as a litmus test for next year’s presidential race. And finally, Kim Jong Un’s International Women’s Day address paid North Korean women some… backhanded compliments. [Continue Reading]
Alexander Butterfield, who revealed Nixon Watergate tapes, dies aged 99
He disclosed then-President Richard Nixon had a recording system in the Oval Office. [Continue Reading]
Vicar defends church's devil-horned bench tribute to Prodigy's Keith Flint
Some are questioning if the Satanic detail is appropriate in a Christian place of worship. [Continue Reading]
Iran war could knock UK homebuyer confidence, says builder Persimmon
Growing fears that elevated interest rates will continue, as Barclays finds worries that war will push up inflationBusiness live – latest updatesA leading British housebuilder has warned the Iran conflict could knock homebuyer sentiment, amid growing fears of a jump in inflation and a prolonged period of elevated interest rates.Persimmon said it was “monitoring the impact the conflict with Iran could have on our markets in 2026”, but noted that consumer sentiment could be sensitive amid more financial uncertainty. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Is Cain Dingle leaving Emmerdale? Latest amid character’s cancer diagnosis
Here's everything you need to know. [Continue Reading]
Rihanna ‘freaking out’ over home shooting and is taking new security precautions
A bullet went through her wall. [Continue Reading]
Muhyiddin’s corruption trial opens with a fight over TikTok in Malaysia
Former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s corruption trial opened in Kuala Lumpur on Monday with a courtroom fight over the admissibility of TikTok videos, which prosecutors hope will link millions of ringgit in illicit funds to his Bersatu party. Among the most keenly observed cases involving Malaysia’s political elite in years, the proceedings come three years after Muhyiddin was first charged in connection with projects under his administration’s Covid-19 recovery efforts. Malaysian... [Continue Reading]
Reeves to face MPs’ grilling over cost-of-living pressures – UK politics live
Chancellor to take Treasury questions amid market turbulence linked to Middle East conflictThis policy paper on the changing fuel duty rates says the following:Alongside other measures announced at Budget 2025 to address the cost of living, this measure continues to support motorists by freezing the current fuel duty rates until the end of August 2026.Rates will gradually return to March 2022 levels by March 2027, avoiding a 5 ppl increase in March 2026 when the cut was due to expire.If Reform were in government, it would never have happened. We will spend the next few months trying to shame Rachel... [Continue Reading]
Reindeer racing draws crowds in Finland’s frozen north near the Russian border
Traditional reindeer racing that's been delighting fans for decades in Finland, has drawn crowds of spectators despite freezing sub zero temperatures. The competition is held at a remote location near the Russian border 264 kilometres northeast of the city of Oulu. [Continue Reading]
‘So painful’: Jude Riordan heartbroken after upsetting family loss
A devastating loss. [Continue Reading]
Glasgow Central Station remains closed in aftermath of fire
Scotland's busiest station remains closed following a huge fire that destroyed a neighbouring building. [Continue Reading]
Scrapping North Sea windfall tax would not reduce UK energy bills, say experts
Rachel Reeves said to be considering levy cuts for oil and gas firms, but economists say this would just fatten profitsEasing the windfall tax on the North Sea would do nothing for hard-pressed consumers, and merely fatten the profits of oil and gas companies, economists and experts have told the Guardian.Rachel Reeves, the UK chancellor, is understood to be considering reductions to the energy profits levy, or potentially scrapping it and replacing it with a lower duty. Oil prices rose to $100 a barrel on Monday, as the US-Israel offensive on Iran showed little sign of halting. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Is Donald Trump considering bringing back the military draft for the Iran war?
'President Trump does not remove options off of the table,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. [Continue Reading]
Why the ‘China threat’ was barely mentioned in Germany’s latest state election
Baden-Wurttemberg stands on the front line of Germany’s “China shock 2.0”. A hub for carmakers including Mercedes-Benz, the region has faced a wave of job cuts over the past year as Chinese firms rapidly gain global market share. In the German media, some have warned the area risks becoming “Germany’s Detroit”. Yet despite the economic strain – and polls showing the economy was the top issue for local voters – China barely featured in campaigns during the run-up to Baden-Wurttemberg’s state... [Continue Reading]
Scarlett Moffat confirms I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s WhatsApp group is already in turmoil
‘In Australia the last few years everybody's really gotten on - not anymore.’ [Continue Reading]
Olivia Dean to headline final day of Radio 1's Big Weekend 2026
The annual music festival will take place in Sunderland's Herrington Country Park from 22 to 24 May. [Continue Reading]
'Moral obligation' to pass Occupied Territories Bill
ActionAid Palestine has said the Government has "a moral obligation" to pass the Occupied Territories Bill to put pressure on Israel to halt the building of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. [Continue Reading]
EU moves to allow two years’ jail for families facing deportation
The vote on the return regulation on Monday in the European Parliament civil liberties committee now sets the legal stage for likely deportation facilities abroad, as the European Union cracks down on asylum and roll backs its commitment to refugees. [Continue Reading]
Could the US-Israel war with Iran fuel global inflation?
Oil prices are swinging as markets react to every twist in the conflict. [Continue Reading]
US investigators begin search of Epstein’s former ranch in New Mexico
Search comes after the release of investigative files renewed attention to sex offender's activities at the Zorro Ranch. [Continue Reading]
Surprise ally for Graham ‘confirmed’ in plot to destroy Emmerdale’s Kim forever
It could be quite the partnership. [Continue Reading]
Racism allegations in ACT Public Service referred to commissioner
Allegations of systemic discrimination against First Nations staff in the ACT Public Service have been referred to the independent watchdog. [Continue Reading]
How China plans for greater power projection in Xinjiang and Tibet over the next 5 years
China plans to further strengthen its strategic transport network in sensitive border regions over the next five years to fortify and better project power along its remote frontiers amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. One project involves building a 394km (245-mile) highway linking the northern and southern sides of the rugged Tianshan Mountains in far-western Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to the draft 15th five-year plan released last week. The route will run parallel to a... [Continue Reading]
US-Israel Conflict with Iran Escalates, Leading to Rising Crude Oil Prices and Global Economic Concerns
The conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran continues to escalate, significantly impacting global oil markets. As the war restricts oil exports from the Gulf region, producers are beginning to cut output, resulting in a substantial supply shock. Recent reports indicate that crude oil prices are approaching $85 per barrel, a significant increase that has caused turmoil in financial markets, heightened gasoline prices at the pump, and intensified economic concerns worldwide. This development stresses the global economy's precarious reliance on energy supplies from the Middle East. Currently, approximately 20% of the world's crude oil supply transits through the... [Continue Reading]
Woodland 'can't waste energy' hiding PTSD struggles
Former US Open champion Gary Woodland says he "can't waste energy any more" hiding his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. [Continue Reading]
