US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the US may soon remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded on tankers, an action he believes will increase oil supply and lower prices, though long-term effects remain uncertain.
The Pentagon plans to request an additional $200 billion from Congress for the ongoing Iran war. This budget increase is reportedly facing opposition from some fiscally conservative Republicans.
Qatar's Prime Minister Al-Thani, joined by Turkey's Foreign Minister, condemned Iran's attack on the Ras Laffan facility as a 'dangerous escalation' and urged immediate de-escalation, with Bahrain's king also calling Qatar's Amir to express condemnation of the Iranian aggression against Ras Laffan Industrial City.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippine government is exploring additional subsidies and assistance programs to help Filipinos cope with the impact of volatile global oil prices.
The US government has approved the sale of an additional $7 billion worth of weapons and ammunition to the United Arab Emirates, according to the Wall Street Journal.
An opinion piece analyzes Iran's multilevel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting it is destined to fail, with its political aspect being the strongest and economic the weakest. This adds to previous reports on the Strait becoming a site of asymmetric naval war with uncertain outcomes, despite US military might.
Greek airline Aegean Airlines has announced increases in ticket prices, citing the surge in fuel costs driven by the conflict in the Middle East and the war in Iran, a development confirmed by recent reports.
Friday's Finnish newspapers cover the potential economic impact of the Iran war on Finnish wallets, alongside articles exploring happiness and the knowledge of mothers.
Iran's Shahed-136 drone, used by Russia in Ukraine and by Iran in the Middle East, is highlighted as a modest yet significant weapon that is reshaping the economics of modern warfare due to its affordability.
The ongoing Iran War poses a supply shock risk that extends beyond energy, potentially leading to production cuts, export disruptions, and slower global growth in various sectors.
Monitors are warning that US-Israeli strikes on Iranian oil refineries, military bases, and nuclear facilities are leading to a devastating environmental disaster, including black rain and marine pollution.
India and China are reportedly closely observing Iran's 'chokepoint' strategy around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments.
Ukraine's hard-won expertise in countering drone swarms is gaining international interest as the Iran war continues, offering valuable insights into drone defense strategies.
President Donald Trump drew a parallel between US strikes on Iran and Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor while defending the war during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a remark that caused initial awkwardness and continues to draw scrutiny, with Trump invoking it to defend a "surprise attack" on Iran.
Amidst ongoing war and bombings, the Iranian regime reportedly executed 19-year-old wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi and two other men who had demonstrated against the regime.
A fire erupted at a public oil company refinery in Kuwait following a drone attack, as reported by the official Kuwaiti news agency KUNA. Firefighters are working to contain the blaze at the Mina Al-Ahmad refinery, with Bahrain also reporting a fire in a warehouse.
Sardar Azmoun, one of Iran's top soccer players, has been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty, making his participation in the World Cup unlikely amidst internal problems in Iranian football and regional tensions.
Surging prices stemming from the conflict in Iran have put China on the cusp of exiting a record streak of deflation well ahead of schedule. This 'dangerous cure' for deflation is driven by the war oil shock.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) remains on high alert for the second day of the nationwide transport strike, which continues as the transport group Piston calls for fuel tax deferral amidst rising oil prices.
An old clip of American national Matthew Aaron VanDyke, who was recently arrested in India, has resurfaced where he states his desire to 'change the course of history' by helping local populations fight their own wars.
Sri Lanka has refused ground access to U.S. warplanes, maintaining its close ties with both the United States, its largest export market, and Iran, a key buyer of its tea.
World-renowned life scientist Shu Xiaokun, who received significant US government funding and awards, has abruptly shifted his research focus from the United States to China, where he was appointed a prestigious endowed chair professor.
A historic March heatwave is affecting the US Southwest, with record high temperatures and heat alerts. Scientists say this record-breaking heatwave would have been 'virtually impossible' without the climate crisis.
Alibaba Group Holding has introduced a preview of its most powerful artificial intelligence model, Qwen3.5-Max-Preview, which reportedly outperforms Chinese rivals but still trails leading US models.
FIFA's Disciplinary Committee has fined the Israel Football Association and mandated anti-discrimination measures following a complaint from Palestine.
EU leaders failed to unlock Ukraine aid as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced he will block all EU measures for Ukraine until oil transit is restored, with Slovak PM Fico also reporting tough disputes over the Ukraine loan and Druzhba oil.
Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has publicly stated she feels manipulated and deceived by Jeffrey Epstein, taking responsibility for not investigating his background earlier. In a recent interview, she expressed, "Wish I Had Never Met Him," further detailing her feelings of being manipulated by the convicted US sex offender.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has advised individuals and countries, including Australia, to work from home, reduce air travel, and cut speed limits as strategies to manage the impact of rising energy prices and guard against potential oil shocks.
The USS Tripoli, carrying 2,000 Marines, is set to enter the Arabian Sea, providing the US with an opportunity to deploy troops to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, at least three US vessels, including the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, have departed San Diego en route to the Middle East for routine operations.
EU leaders have pledged support for Cyprus in discussions regarding the future of British bases on the island, which have reportedly become targets for Iran following the outbreak of the Middle East crisis. Cypriot President Christodoulides specifically raised the issue at the European Council, calling for discussions with Britain on the status of the bases due to risks for Cyprus after the end of the war in the region.
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced the replacement of all senior military commanders, expanding sweeping reforms after the US ousted Nicolas Maduro and following the dismissal of a long-serving defense minister.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Iran is being "decimated" and it is unclear who is in charge, as Tehran sent jitters through global markets by turning its sights on Gulf…
India is actively seeking to procure LPG from various sources, including Russia and the US, to ensure its energy security as Middle East conflicts and Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue to affect global energy markets.
Follow live developments in the Middle East as Israel launched further attacks on Tehran today, a day after US President Donald Trump told it not to repeat its strikes on Iranian natural gas…
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has described the EU's stance on phasing out Russian oil as 'crazy,' asserting that the European Union will not survive without Russian energy resources, further highlighting his divergence from mainstream EU policy.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly criticized media coverage of the Iran conflict as 'dishonest,' while reports indicate President Donald Trump has rebuked Israeli allies regarding a gas field bombing.
The ongoing conflict in Iran is contributing to "cost-push" inflation in Japan, a type of inflation that the Bank of Japan did not desire as it seeks "demand-pull" inflation.
In today’s newsletter: Bereaved families say the latest findings confirm long-standing concerns about capacity, care and political choices
Good morning.
The ongoing Iran war is causing significant market volatility and geopolitical tensions, which have choked liquidity in India's IPO market and forced high-profile companies to postpone their offerings.