Violence in the Middle East is intensifying as Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran exchange strikes, extending instability across the region. Attacks targeting maritime routes, notably in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, have disrupted global energy shipments, driving crude prices close to $100 per barrel. This threatens economic stability beyond the region, affecting global markets and energy security. The civilian toll is mounting, with widespread displacement and increased humanitarian needs. In response, United Nations agencies are expanding relief operations to support affected populations. The UN Security Council recently condemned Iranian attacks on regional states in a resolution led by... [Continue Reading]
Analysts had been expecting 0.2% growth for the UK economy at the beginning of the year. [Continue Reading]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday to discuss ways to increase pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine. The meeting comes as US-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have stalled and the US said on Monday it will waive some sanctions on Russian oil due to the spiralling war in the Middle East. [Continue Reading]
The UK government revealed a major reform plan to transform its nuclear infrastructure delivery system, following a review by an independent Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce that branded the current framework as overly complicated and process-heavy. These reforms intend to speed up project delivery while cutting costs and strengthening national and energy security. The overhaul addresses longstanding criticisms that red tape and bureaucracy have slowed down the construction of vital nuclear facilities. The taskforce, led by John Fingleton, advocated for a smarter regulatory approach prioritizing safe outcomes over procedural hurdles. The government aims to implement all recommended changes by the end of... [Continue Reading]
Two former leaders of a now-disbanded alliance behind Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square vigil have a case to answer in a high-profile trial after judges ruled the evidence supported prosecutors’ allegations that the activists incited others to overthrow the Communist Party leadership. Three High Court judges on Friday found that the evidence appeared to suggest Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung committed a subversion offence as leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic... [Continue Reading]
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Israel has launched heavy airstrikes on Tehran and other locations as the conflict with Iran continues to intensify. These strikes are part of a broader confrontation that has seen increased military actions from both sides, with Iranian allies also initiating retaliatory assaults across the Gulf region. The situation has led to severe disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supply, raising global energy prices. The United Nations Security Council has expressed concern over the escalating violence, urging both parties to seek diplomatic solutions. New reports confirm that... [Continue Reading]
Former staff blow the whistle on horror conditions at a NSW hospital, including mouldy vents, inadequate separation of sewage and drinking water, and the use of sanitary pads to soak up rainwater leaking into wards. [Continue Reading]
Jack Draper is penalised with a controversial hindrance call as Daniil Medvedev ends the Briton's Indian Wells title defence in the quarter-finals. [Continue Reading]
Amazon’s Spring Deals Days makes last‑minute Mother’s Day gifting easy. [Continue Reading]
Follow developments in the Middle East as Israel launches new strikes on Tehran and the US says it will temporarily lift Russian oil sanctions. [Continue Reading]
Apple announced a reduction in the App Store commissions it charges developers in China ahead of the annual World Consumer Rights Day, drawing approval from the country’s biggest gaming companies Tencent Holdings and NetEase. The US tech company said it would reduce the commission for standard in-app purchases and paid app transactions on iPhone and iPad to 25 per cent, from the current 30 per cent, according to a statement on its website on Thursday. Meanwhile, the commission rate for... [Continue Reading]
Declining fertility rates have long been viewed as a drag on economic growth, but the outlook may not be entirely bleak for Asian economies such as China, South Korea and Japan, analysts said. Demographic pressure was accelerating investment in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in these rapidly ageing yet technologically advanced countries, helping offset labour shortages and sustain productivity even as populations shrank, they argued. Analysts at Bank of America (BofA) Global Research... [Continue Reading]
A Perth man will face court charged with the alleged murder of an Adelaide man who died after he crashed into a power pole earlier this week. [Continue Reading]
The war in Iran shows no signs of letting up after US President Donald Trump suggested that operations could last for another three to four weeks, despite global energy instabilities. Trump says neutralising the threat posed by Iran is more important than oil prices. Follow our live coverage. [Continue Reading]
Several Gulf nations have declared force majeure on oil and gas shipment since the US-Israel’s war on Iran was launched. [Continue Reading]
BBC Sport examines what has gone wrong with England's Six Nations campaign with their final game against France approaching. [Continue Reading]
Residents are rescued from homes and vehicles after flash flooding in the Northern Rivers region in New South Wales. [Continue Reading]
The “Late Night” host Seth Meyers said President Trump is letting Americans “choose your own adventure” in the war with Iran. [Continue Reading]
In today’s newsletter: The story of the Scottish town is not just one of Britain’s deadliest shooting, but the strength and determination that came nextGood morning. On 13 March 1996, a man walked into the gymnasium at Dunblane primary school and opened fire on a class of five- and six-year-olds. In the space of just a few minutes, 16 children – Abigail McLennan, Brett McKinnon, Charlotte Dunn, David Kerr, Emily Morton, Emma Crozier, Hannah Scott, Joanna Ross, John Petrie, Kevin Hasell, Megan Turner, Melissa Currie, Mhairi MacBeath, Ross Irvine, Sophie North and Victoria Clydesdale – alongside their teacher, Gwen Mayor,... [Continue Reading]
Images of the aftermath of a strike that injured at least 30 people by hitting homes in the village of Zarzir, north of Nazareth, in Israel. [Continue Reading]
The only petrol station in a small New South Wales town has run out of fuel amid ongoing oil supply disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East. [Continue Reading]
The first foreign fishermen caught illegally in Far North Queensland waters under a new Commonwealth border operation have been sentenced and will be deported to Indonesia. [Continue Reading]
In an essay for Crikey, the former Australian of the Year says the PM is a ‘turncoat’ who is ‘capitulating to foreign powers’ amid the US-Israel war on IranGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGrace Tame has said “we’re living in an Orwellian nightmare” in a scathing critique of the prime minister and his government’s position on the war in the Middle East.In an essay published in Crikey on Friday, the advocate for sexual abuse survivors and human rights activist accused Anthony Albanese of being a “coward” and a “turncoat” for refusing to condemn the US-Israel... [Continue Reading]
An email on Wednesday afternoon saying autism support service AEIOU would close immediately left Canberra father Ben Paine scrambling to find childcare and support services for his four-year-old daughter Maddie. [Continue Reading]
The Raiders travel across to Auckland to face the Warriors before Alex Johnston tries to equal or even break Ken Irvine's try-scoring record against the Roosters. Follow live. [Continue Reading]
Israel strikes Tehran as Iran retaliates across the Gulf; Hormuz disruption pushes oil prices higher and tensions rise. [Continue Reading]
Michael Owen says he "can't believe people are questioning" whether Michael Carrick should become the permanent manager of Manchester United. [Continue Reading]
Nepal's recent general election has witnessed a major political shift as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, secured a sweeping victory. The final results indicate that the RSP has won 182 out of 275 parliamentary seats, marking a significant achievement in a country where a single party's majority has not been seen in decades. This result has thrown the political landscape into a state of flux, potentially reshaping the future of governance in Nepal. The results were announced following the elections held on 5 March, which came just six months after large-scale youth protests led to... [Continue Reading]
The US-Israel war on Iran has caused gas shortages, while nine million Indian expats in the Gulf face uncertainty. [Continue Reading]
In a significant development, the United States has announced that the US Navy will escort oil tankers through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipment, in response to escalating threats from Iran. This decision comes as Iranian attacks on maritime traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf have recently intensified, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel and causing stocks to decline worldwide. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, discussions regarding the escort operations emerged during an interview with Sky News. Bessent emphasized that military escorts for tankers will commence when deemed militarily... [Continue Reading]
Businessman Albert Tei has released a photo purportedly showing a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer brandishing a firearm to back his claims that he had a gun pointed at him during a raid on his home last November. Speaking to reporters at the court complex in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, Tei said the photo was sent to him on Monday via an unknown number. “I admit, the photo is not very clear but I believe it was taken from an MACC officer’s body camera,” he said. “What is the... [Continue Reading]
Donald Liao Poon-huai, one of Hong Kong’s most influential government architects and public housing visionaries who became the first Chinese official under British rule to serve as secretary for district administration, has died at the age of 96. His family confirmed his death to the South China Morning Post on Friday, with one member saying he died peacefully on Thursday morning at home, surrounded by family and friends. Known as a pioneer of Hong Kong’s subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, Liao... [Continue Reading]
A weekend of activities is getting under way on Acaill, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Keel Pipe Band. [Continue Reading]
Robert Habeck says world has moved on from weaponising energy to using tariffs, technology and more to inflict harmThe weaponisation of energy when Russia invaded Ukraine has given way to “weaponising everything” since Donald Trump returned to the White House, Germany’s former economy minister has said.Robert Habeck, the Green politician responsible for keeping the lights on during the last energy crisis, said the belief gas “would never be a political weapon” led successive German governments blindly into Putin’s trap by building the Nord Stream pipelines and selling strategic reserves to Gazprom, which Russia emptied before the invasion. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Health service’s 2025 staff survey found that one in seven had experienced violence from patients or the publicHundreds of thousands of NHS staff have been attacked, harassed, bullied, or subject to racism, latest NHS figures show.The health service’s 2025 staff survey found that one in seven had experienced violence from patients or the public, while more than a quarter reported harassment, bullying and abuse, the highest levels in three years. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this March 13th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. [Continue Reading]
It's like a foodie wonderland inside. [Continue Reading]
'Within minutes, it created a 1.5km high curtain of rock and water.' [Continue Reading]
The youngster has been through so much already. [Continue Reading]
The serial killer thriller had so much potential. [Continue Reading]
Metro found return fares for £28 if you travel in April. [Continue Reading]
'We are determined to make sure that consumers are not ripped off during this situation.' [Continue Reading]
As conflict in the Middle East pushes oil beyond US$100 per barrel, Angola and other African producers are in line to be among the main beneficiaries. On Thursday, following renewed tanker attacks, Brent crude oil prices surged back past US$100 a barrel, having reached a peak of US$119.50 on Monday, the highest level since 2022. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint through which about 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products flow daily, has crippled energy... [Continue Reading]
A young girl from central China earned widespread praise online after fearlessly confronting riding instructors over why they assigned her friends vicious horses. Nine-year-old Langlang from Huangshi in Hubei province has been travelling the world with her parents since she was a baby. While travelling in Egypt with her parents on March 4, she was taking a riding lesson with two friends at a local equestrian club. Although the pair were beginners, the coaches assigned them two ill-tempered... [Continue Reading]
James O'Brien from Honeywell, which is subcontracted to manage facilities at Newcastle's Calvary Mater Hospital, failed to turn up to an inquiry. [Continue Reading]
Former Netflix star Matt Wright has been ordered to pay the Northern Territory Police Commissioner's court costs after claiming a warrant to bug his home "might have been a forgery". [Continue Reading]
Hospitals across the nation are on alert after an Iranian cyber militia linked to the Islamic regime hacked a US multinational that supplies critical equipment to Australia. [Continue Reading]