U.S. and Iran exchange threats - Tuesday, 10 March
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including thr...
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would order agencies to begin releasing files on extraterrestrial life and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), calling for more openness while criticising Barack Obama over his recent alien remarks.
In a social media post, Donald Trump said he would direct the Secretary of War and other agencies to start identifying files on extraterrestrial life, UAPs and Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), calling the subjects "extremely interesting and important."
He did not give details on what material would be released or when.
He said public interest justified greater openness, adding that he would direct agencies "to begin releasing" files on the issue.
Trump also accused former U.S. President Barack Obama of improperly revealing classified information when speaking about aliens, though he offered no evidence.
He said Obama "made a big mistake" and added, "He took it out of classified information ... He's not supposed to be doing that."
Obama had discussed the subject during an interview with podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen on 14 February.
Cohen asked Obama if aliens were real, he replied, "They're real, but I haven't seen them, and they're not being kept in ... Area 51. There's no underground facility unless there's this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States."
Area 51 is a classified Air Force site in Nevada and has long fuelled speculation about alien bodies and a crashed spacecraft. CIA archives released in 2013 identified it as a testing ground for top-secret spy planes.
There was no indication in Obama's remarks that he disclosed classified information. His office did not respond to a request for comment.
On Instagram, Obama said, "I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!"
He explained that he believed alien life likely exists somewhere because the universe is vast but said the chance of extraterrestrial visitors reaching Earth was low.
In recent years, the Pentagon has investigated reported sightings. Senior military leaders said in 2022 they found no evidence that aliens had visited Earth or crash-landed.
A 2024 Pentagon report said U.S. government probes since World War Two had uncovered no extraterrestrial technology and that most sightings were misidentified ordinary objects or natural phenomena.
The National Archives says it holds UFO-related records across numerous collections, reflecting decades of public curiosity and official scrutiny.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
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