Captain of Iran’s women’s team withdraws Australia asylum bid: State media

The captain of the Iranian women’s football team has withdrawn her bid for asylum in Australia, Iran’s state media says, making her the fifth member of the delegation to change her mind after her team’s participation in the Asian Cup.

Oil prices keep rising as Trump seeks coalition to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices are continuing to rise as markets see no end in sight to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu posts video in response to Iran rumours that he is dead

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video of himself getting a cup of coffee and chatting with his aide ​on Sunday, after rumours that he was dead or injured ‌were aired by Iranian state media and spread online in Iran.

Trump demands other countries help secure vital Strait of Hormuz as Iran vows defiance

President Donald Trump said on Sunday his administration is talking to seven countries about helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz ​amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, calling on them to help protect ships in the vital waterway that Tehran has mostly blocked to oil tanker traffic.

Inflation dims festive rush in Eid markets

During the last days of Ramazan, in the run-up to Eidul Fitr, markets across the country buzz with shoppers — especially women, children and young people — bargaining for festive wear and navigating packed lanes of discounts, bulging bags and brightly lit mehndi and bangle stalls.

Flights suspended at Dubai airport after fire

Flights have been temporarily suspended at Dubai’s international airport for safety reasons, the city’s aviation authority said on Monday (Mar 16), shortly after a drone incident sparked a fire nearby.

Trump says US may hit Iran’s Kharg Island again ‘just for fun’

US President Donald Trump threatened further strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island and urged allies to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway critical for global energy supplies, as Tehran promised to ⁠intensify its response.

Israel says it is planning at least three more weeks of military campaign in Iran

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin says the Israeli military has plans for at least three more weeks of operations in Iran, during which thousands of targets would be struck.

UK looking at all options to secure Strait of Hormuz, says Miliband

The UK is looking at ’’any options’’ - including working with the US and allies - to secure key oil shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, Ed Miliband has said.

China’s ban on fuel exports is deeply worrying for Australian air travellers

Australia’s vulnerability to liquid fuel shortages and price hikes has intensified amid reports China has told oil refiners to halt all fuel exports. This adds to continued global uncertainty about the duration of the Iran conflict and its impact upon oil supplies.

US, China economic chiefs to meet in Paris to clear path to Trump-Xi summit

Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials are set to launch a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday to iron out kinks in their trade truce and clear a ​smooth path for U.S. President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.

Trump urges UK and other nations to send warships to Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump has urged the UK and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure the key shipping route out of the Middle East.

Faith under siege: How forced conversions and marriages threaten minorities in Sindh

Forced conversion through marriage has emerged as one of Pakistan’s most entrenched yet least addressed human rights crises, unfolding largely beyond public scrutiny and disproportionately targeting girls from religious minority communities.

Iran confirms safe passage to Indian ships thorugh Strait of Hormuz

Amid the escalating war in West Asia, with crude prices on tenterhooks, Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, on Friday (Mar 13) confirmed that Tehran will provide safe passage to vessels bound for India through the Strait of Hormuz, citing the long-standing friendship and shared interests between the two countries.

Trump threatens to hit Kharg Island oil network, Iran signals defiance

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike the oil infrastructure of Iran’s Kharg Island hub ​unless Tehran stopped attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a warning that could further roil markets coping with a historic supply disruption.

Iran warns UAE over US ‘hideouts’ after Kharg Island strike

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned the United Arab Emirates that locations used by the United States could become “legitimate targets” following US strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island.

North Korea fires ballistic missiles as US-South Korea hold military drills

North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles from its west coast as the United States and South Korean forces stage their annual military exercises, according to Japanese and South Korean defence forces.

US embassy in Iraq’s Baghdad hit in missiles attack, security sources say

The U.S. ​Embassy in ‌the Iraqi capital Baghdad ​was ​hit in a ⁠missiles ​attack, Iraqi ​security sources told Reuters on ​Saturday.

US offers up to $10m reward for information on Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

US State Dept website also lists four other officials, including the IRGC commander and secretary of defence council

US wiped out ‘every military target’ on Iran’s critical oil export hub Kharg Island, Trump says

President Donald Trump said Friday the US military had heavily bombed targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, which handles almost all of Iran’s crude exports, and he threatened to hit the island’s oil infrastructure.

Australian businessman found guilty of working for suspected Chinese spies

An Australian businessman has been found guilty of reckless foreign interference over his compilation of reports for two people who prosecutors said he should have suspected were Chinese spies.

Four killed after US refuelling plane crashes in Iraq, military says

Four of six crew aboard a US military refuelling aircraft have died after it crashed in Iraq, US Central Command (Centcom) says.

India plans fresh incentives for phone production in boost for Apple, Samsung

India is planning fresh incentives for local production of mobile phones after its flagship program for the burgeoning ​sector expires this month, two sources said, in a ‌boost for global firms like Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab and Samsung (005930.KS), opens new tab.

Chinese national arrested over attempt to smuggle 2,000 queen ants from Kenya

A Chinese national has been arrested in Kenya’s main airport accused of attempting to smuggle more than 2,000 queen garden ants out of the country.

Several French soldiers wounded, one officer dead in Iraq after drone attack

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday condemned an attack in northern ​Iraq that killed one French officer and wounded several soldiers in the ‌Erbil region.

Ships must coordinate with Iran’s navy to pass through Strait of Hormuz, Iran foreign ministry says

Ships must coordinate with Iran’s navy to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the country’s ​foreign ministry spokesperson said in comments carried by ‌Mehr news agency on Thursday.

Nepal election results - Balendra Shah’s party wins in a landslide

The party of rapper and ex-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah has won a a clear majority, according to the final results from Nepal’s general election held on 5 March.

Iran-backed Iraqi group claims responsibility for downing US military aircraft

The Islamic Resistance ​in Iraq, ‌an umbrella group of ​Iran-backed ​armed factions, claimed ⁠responsibility for ​downing a U.S. ​military refueling aircraft in western ​Iraq ​on Thursday.

Trump says he thinks Iran’s new supreme leader is alive but ’damaged’

President Donald Trump said that he thinks new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father, the former supreme leader, was killed ​on the first day of the U.S. and Israel’s war ​on Iran, is alive but ’’damaged.’’

Iran has begun laying mines in Strait of Hormuz: US official

US officials said Thursday that Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, in a move that could disrupt global shipping, the New York Times reported.