Dollar near 10‑month high on Middle East escalation concerns

The dollar was near a 10‑month high on Monday and heading for its biggest monthly gain since last July ​as mixed signals from Iran and the United States dimmed hopes of a possible quick end to the ‌Middle East conflict.

Trump says he got ’gift’ from Iran’s Ghalibaf, hints at Kharg seizure for taking oil

US President Donald Trump has indicated that America could ’’take the oil in Iran’’ and seize the Kharg Island-- Tehran’s main oil export hub-- as war in the Middle East continued into its fifth week.

Nestle says 12 tonnes of KitKat stolen, may cause shortage

A huge shipment of Nestle’s crunchy KitKat chocolate bars was stolen in Europe, the brand says, warning that the heist risked causing shortages in stores right before Easter.

Shops and restaurants in Egypt told to close early as energy crisis deepens

Shops, restaurants and cafes in Egypt have been told to close early as part of a raft of temporary measures to combat soaring energy prices caused by the Iran war.

Thousands of U.S. marines arrive in Middle East as Yemen’s Houthis join war against Israel

A U.S. Navy ship carrying some 2,500 marines has now arrived in the Middle East, U.S. Central Command announced Saturday, while Houthi rebels in Yemen launched strikes on Israel.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatens US universities in the Middle East

After US-Israeli strikes destroyed two Iranian universities, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a statement warning employees, professors, and students of US universities in the region to stay away from campuses.

Philippines, France sign military pact amid South China Sea tensions

The Philippines and France have signed a visiting forces agreement that would allow them to conduct joint ​military training in each other’s territory, as Manila expands ‌defence ties amid rising tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.

War to end in ‘weeks, not months’: Rubio says no need to send ground troops to Iran

The United States expects its military operations against Iran to conclude within “weeks, not months,” and can achieve its objectives without deploying ground troops, secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Friday.

Yemen’s Houthis launch missile attack on Israel as war on Iran intensifies

Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked Israel with a barrage of ballistic missiles – their first such strikes since the US-Israel war on Iran began.

Capital finds new ground in the East and South

Emerging markets equities and bonds have delivered the strongest start of a year in over two decades.

China’s trade machine shifts up a gear

China’s foreign trade has begun the year with unusual vigour. In the first two months alone, the country’s trade in goods returns to the “double digit era”, recording a 18.3% surge year-on-year. Imports reached 3.11 trillion yuan, up 17.1%.

Kuwait says main port damaged in drone attack

Kuwait’s main commercial port was damaged in a drone attack on Friday, authorities said, as Iran pressed its campaign in the Gulf in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.

Iran tells people in Gulf to evacuate areas near US military, while striking civilian targets across region

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards urged civilians across the region on Friday to stay away from areas near US forces, nearly a month into the war with the United States and Israel.

US lawmakers to introduce bill to ban government use of Chinese robots

Two U.S. ⁠senators ⁠on Thursday planned to introduce ⁠a bill that would ban the government from buying or operating ​humanoid robots made by Chinese firms.

India cuts special excise duties on petrol, diesel

India slashed its special excise duties on petrol and diesel, as fuel ​prices stay volatile with supplies choked by the Iran ‌war.

Trump’s signature to appear on US dollars in first for sitting president

Donald Trump is set to become the first sitting US president to have his signature on US banknotes, the Treasury Department has announced.

Oil prices dip after Trump signals delay on Iran strikes

Oil prices retreated on Thursday following remarks by former US President Donald Trump indicating a delay in potential military action against Iran’s energy infrastructure.

Trump postpones US strikes on Iranian power grid to April 6 amid talks

United States President Donald Trump has pushed back a self-imposed deadline for attacks on Iran’s power grid to April 6, citing progress in negotiations to end the ongoing war in the country.

Gulf tensions aggravate Pakistan’s power crisis rooted in structural weaknesses and poor governance

Pakistan has gone into panic mode, thanks to the imminent power crisis the country faces after Qatar halted LNG production amid the escalating conflict in the Gulf.

Oil prices rise higher as Iran denies US talks, dimming deescalation hopes

Oil prices have climbed higher amid fading hopes of deescalation in the Iran war following Tehran’s denial that talks with the United States are under way.

Hormuz route opened for India: Iranian FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said that they have permitted the passage of vessels for friendly countries, including India, through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran readies law to charge tolls in strait of Hormuz: ’ships must pay for security’

Iran is preparing legislation to impose toll charges on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Al Jazeera report citing Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim.

Tehran issues warning to regional neighbour if Iranian island occupied

A senior official in Tehran has warned that intelligence reports suggest that “Iran’s enemies” ⁠are planning to occupy an Iranian island with support ‌from an unnamed country in the region.

Iran’s foreign minister says there are no negotiations with US

Iran’s foreign minister says the country is not currently negotiating with the US to end the war and ’’does not intend’’ to do so.

Middle East wars only increase Myanmar’s strategic value for China

It began in the mid-1980s with a plan to open a trade route through Myanmar for China’s landlocked inland provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou, allowing them to trade with the outside world without having to rely on a long and underdeveloped network of roads and railroads to China’s own ports.

US expected to send thousands more soldiers to Middle East, sources say

The Pentagon is expected to send ​thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two people familiar with the ‌matter told Reuters on Tuesday, adding to a massive U.S. military buildup even as President Donald Trump talks about a possible deal with Tehran to end the war.

Oil prices Tumble back below $100 on ceasefire optimism

Oil prices fell sharply in early asian trade on Wednesday, with both major benchmarks dropping more than 5% as traders reacted to signs of potential de-escalation in the Middle East conflict as well as a crude inventory build in the U.S.

Philippine president declares energy emergency as impact of Iran war felt

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared a national energy emergency in response to the US-Israel war on Iran ⁠and what he called the “imminent danger” posed to the country’s energy supply.

EU demands ’serious reform’ of the WTO to stop flood of Chinese exports

European fears over the impact of a surge in imports from China on the bloc’s faltering industrial base will be raised during World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks in the coming days.

Oil at $150 will trigger global recession, says boss of financial giant BlackRock

If the price of oil hits $150 a barrel it will trigger a global recession, the boss of US financial giant BlackRock has told the BBC.