live Trump urges action at Strait of Hormuz as 20,000 sailors stranded- Middle East, 31 March
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is escalating further with missile and drone attacks, expanded strikes on key infrastructure, and growing regional fa...
The White House said on Monday it is increasingly optimistic about reaching a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine, as President Donald Trump’s special envoy travels to Moscow following talks with Ukrainian officials in Florida.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the administration believes momentum is building, with negotiations continuing through what she described as a form of “shuttle diplomacy” between Kyiv and Moscow.
“The administration feels very optimistic,” Leavitt said.
“Just yesterday … they had very good talks with the Ukrainians in Florida. And now, of course, Special Envoy Witkoff is on his way to Russia. This is the shuttle diplomacy you’ve seen from this administration — where we speak equally with both sides.”
Leavitt added that Trump’s foreign policy team, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Envoy Steve Witkoff, has been “working hard” to refine a written framework presented to both sides in recent weeks.
“We’ve put points on paper. Those points have been very much refined,” she said, but declined to discuss details, saying negotiators must be allowed to continue their work.
Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian officials this week in Moscow as part of ongoing discussions over proposed revisions to the U.S. peace plan.
The remarks come as pressure builds from European leaders and Kyiv for guarantees that any settlement respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and security needs.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is escalating further with missile and drone attacks, expanded strikes on key infrastructure, and growing regional fallout. At the same time, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate began to emerge amid rising global energy and security concerns.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
A Russia-flagged tanker carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude has arrived in Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, marking the first major oil delivery to the island since the Trump administration cut off its fuel supplies.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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