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Oil prices have surged sharply after Qatar's energy minister warned that all oil and gas exports from the Gulf region could cease within days due to the escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.

Brent crude increased by 4.4% to $89.17 a barrel on Friday, following Qatar's warning that the crisis could "bring down the economies of the world." If shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, prices could escalate to $150 a barrel within weeks, according to the minister.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, typically handles about one-fifth of global oil supplies daily. ...

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for a negotiated settlement with Iran as the best long- term solution to the escalating Middle East conflict, reaffirming his decision to prevent the UK from participating in initial US- Israeli strikes.

Speaking at a Downing Street news conference on 5 March, Starmer said the UK's longstanding position is that "the best way forward for the regime and the world is a negotiated settlement with Iran where they give up their nuclear ambition." He emphasised that Britain is doing "everything we can" to de-escalate the situation, a stance that contrasts with US President Donald Trump's ...

Israel has launched new and intense airstrikes on the capitals of Iran and Lebanon, targeting Tehran and Beirut, as the US-Israel conflict with Iran enters its seventh day with no sign of easing. The Israeli military described the operation as a "broad-scale wave" of strikes against what it called "regime infrastructure" in Tehran and Hezbollah command centres in Beirut's southern Dahieh suburb, a stronghold of the Iran-backed group.

The bombardment, which included 14 waves of strikes on Iran since Saturday, has prompted retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran targeting Israel and multiple Gulf states hosting US forces. Overnight, Iran launched ...

China has unveiled a new five-year economic plan and policy agenda during the annual National People’s Congress (NPC), outlining Beijing’s priorities for growth, technology development, and economic stability in the coming years.

The Chinese government announced an economic blueprint that includes a GDP growth target of around 5%, along with measures aimed at boosting domestic demand and supporting key industries. Officials emphasised the importance of stabilising growth while addressing structural challenges such as the slowdown in the property sector, demographic pressures, and weaker global demand.

A major focus of the new Chinese economic strategy is technological self-reliance. Beijing signalled plans to increase ...

In an interview with Owen Jones (@OwenJonesTalks) published on his YouTube channel, foreign policy analyst Trita Parsi offered a critical assessment of the Trump administration's handling of the war with Iran, arguing that the United States has already lost strategic control of the conflict.

Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, stated that the administration's initial plan "came crashing down within 48 to 72 hours of that war" and is now "scrambling to come up with a plan B." He pointed to shifting justifications, goals, and timelines as evidence that "Trump has already lost control of the war," while ...

The first UK government-chartered rescue flight aimed at bringing stranded British nationals home from the Middle East was delayed on March 5, remaining grounded in Muscat, Oman, due to what ministers described as "operational reasons" related to boarding passengers.

Home Office minister Alex Norris confirmed the flight would now depart on Thursday, though he could not specify a time. The delay affects one of several planned evacuation efforts as an estimated 138,000 British nationals in the region have registered for government assistance, with 112,000 of those in the UAE alone.

The government has confirmed two additional chartered flights will depart by the ...

Three men suspected of spying for China, including the husband of Labour MP Joani Reid, have been released on bail until May as the investigation continues, according to the Metropolitan Police.

David Taylor, 39, who is married to Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid, was detained on 4 March alongside two other men aged 43 and 68 during coordinated arrests across London and Wales. The investigation is led by counter-terrorism police under the National Security Act 2023, with all three accused of aiding a foreign intelligence service.

Following the arrests, searches were conducted at multiple addresses, including properties in London, Cardiff, and East ...

The escalating conflict between the US-Israel and Iran has caused sharp rises in global energy prices, reigniting fears of a major crisis in Europe and prompting urgent White House efforts to manage economic fallout.

European gas prices at the Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark soared to €54.3 per megawatt-hour on 3 March, a significant 70% increase from pre-conflict levels. The rise follows Iran's retaliatory strikes that led Qatar—one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers—to halt production. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil passes, has further unsettled markets.

EU leaders remain ...

The House Oversight Committee voted on March 4 to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi as part of the ongoing congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The 24-19 vote saw five Republicans join Democrats to force Bondi's testimony, reflecting bipartisan frustration with the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files.

Republican Representative Nancy Mace, who introduced the motion, stated: "The American people want answers on the Epstein files, and so do we." Mace and fellow Republicans Tim Burchett, Lauren Boebert, Michael Cloud, and Scott Perry crossed party lines to support the subpoena.

The move follows increasing criticism of the Justice Department's ...

Global financial markets have been shaken by escalating conflict in the Middle East, with Asian stocks suffering significant losses and oil prices rising on fears that the US-Israel war with Iran may become prolonged.

South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index closed 12% lower on Wednesday, marking one of its worst days in decades. Trading was temporarily halted after the index plunged more than 8%, triggering circuit breakers designed to prevent panic selling. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 3.6%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 2.5%.

The market chaos reflects increasing investor concern about an energy shock that could fuel inflation. Brent crude increased 2.5% ...