Starmer to visit Middle East after US and Iran reach ceasefire deal
Reuters Keir Starmer welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US as he travelled to meet with leaders of countries in the Gulf on Wednesday. The prime minister is expected to “discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire”, according to No 10. He will return to the UK on Friday. The ceasefire comes after Donald Trump threatened “a whole civilisation will die” if Iran did not agree to end the war and unblock the Strait of Hormuz – comments that led Downing Street to call again forRead more
Trump and Iran agreed to a ceasefire. What happens now?
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media Tuesday that he will hold off for two weeks on his threat to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges, in exchange for Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic. (Mark Schiefelbein/The Associated Press) Now that U.S. President Donald Trump has backed off his escalating threats to bomb Iran’s power plants, bridges and even destroy its civilization, attention turns to whether the warring sides can reach a full-fledged peace deal that lasts. Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire cameRead more
Trump agrees to 2-week ceasefire as Iran says it will allow passage through Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said early Tuesday evening that he has agreed “to suspend the bombing and attack on Iran for a period of two weeks” subject to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!,” he wrote on social media, adding that he agreed to it “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be allowed for the nextRead more
House prices dropping in Canada’s most expensive cities, but still out of reach for many
Carpenters build a home in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que. in October. Average housing prices are softening in Canada, but experts say it’s not enough for most prospective first-time buyers. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Housing prices are dipping in Canada’s priciest markets, but real estate experts say it’s not necessarily the break for which potential first-time homebuyers have been waiting — and that break may never come. TD Economics said in a report last week that it expects home prices to slide 0.3 per cent across Canada this year, after a weak performanceRead more
How some ships are still getting through the Strait of Hormuz as Iran war drags on
A coast guard boat approaches the Shivalik, an Indian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier, as it arrives at Mundra Port in Gujarat, India, via the Strait of Hormuz on March 16. (Amit Dave/Reuters) While the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to most of the world’s marine traffic, experts say Iran appears to be letting a select number of ships pass from countries not aligned with its aggressors. Marine traffic data shows how the stream of ships passing through the key waterway has slowed to a trickle since the warRead more
Nuclear energy sites targeted in latest strikes, Iranian state media reports
Iran state media says its nuclear facilities were attacked Friday, just hours after Israel threatened to “escalate and expand” its campaign against Tehran. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said the Shahid Khondab Heavy Water Complex in Arak and the Ardakan yellowcake production plant in Yazd Province were targeted, the agency said. The strikes did not cause any casualties and there was no risk of contamination, it said. Israel attacked the Arak plant last June. Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran toRead more
The energy crisis has only just begun
A Thai bulk carrier travelling in the crucial Strait of Hormuz that was attacked March 11. The disruption to shipping through the strait is expected to create a major gap in global oil supply in the weeks ahead. (Royal Thai Navy/AFP/Getty Images) For every day the war in the Middle East drags on, the crisis in energy markets deepens. The price of everything from gas and oil to jet fuel and plastics is rising sharply. That crisis is set to get dramatically worse over the next week or two. EnergyRead more
No Kings protests in the U.S. on Saturday could be the biggest yet. Here’s why
Demonstrators are shown in Minneapolis on Jan. 30, on the heels of the deadly shootings of two American citizens in Minnesota by federal agents. Minnesota will be the central site on Saturday for the third event in the No Kings rallies to have taken place since President Donald Trump returned to office. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press) Some things remain the same as nationwide demonstrations against U.S. President Donald Trump are planned again for Saturday, but much has changed in just five months since the last No Kings rallies. More thanRead more
US considers lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil
EPA The US is weighing lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil, as it scrambles to contain the impact of its war in Iran on energy markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent put forward the idea in a Fox interview, saying it could make more oil available to global buyers. Around the world, energy prices are shooting up as the war takes a toll on shipping and production. If put into action, the move would mark a stunning reversal of longstanding American policy – and one with highly uncertain pay-off. Experts saidRead more
Canada, allies say they’re ready to help secure Strait of Hormuz, but don’t say how
Tankers sail in the Persian Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, on March 11. Canada has joined six of its allies expressing a readiness to help reopen the strait to oil and gas tanker traffic. (Stringer/Reuters) Canada has signed on to a joint statement by the leaders of seven countries calling on Iran to immediately cease all attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and expressing a readiness to contribute to efforts to reopen the Strait. The statement does not say how the countries might help, althoughRead more