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.
As the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran enters its second month, the White House is reportedly considering an early end to its military campaign, even as the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Washington is actively pursuing a diplomatic resolution ahead of a 6 April deadline. While the Pentagon continues to deploy thousands of troops to the Middle East to expand military options, domestic pressure is mounting on the Trump administration as global supply disruptions push U.S. petrol prices above $4 a gallon ahead of the crucial November midterm elections.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to "completely obliterate" Iran's energy plants and oil wells. At the same time, Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded Kuwaiti crude oil tanker off Dubai on Monday. Crude oil prices briefly spiked sending global crude prices soaring past $101 a barrel, pushing U.S. petrol prices to a three-year high and creating a significant political headache for the Republicans ahead of November's midterm elections.
Three Indonesian UN peacekeepers killed in southern Lebanon
Three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia have been killed and several others critically injured in two separate explosions in southern Lebanon, marking the first time United Nations staff have been fatally targeted since the conflict erupted between Israel and Hezbollah. The deaths occurred near Bani Hayyan and Adchit al-Qusayr, and sparked international outrage; Indonesia has forcefully condemned the "heinous" attacks and demanded an emergency UN Security Council meeting, whilst UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that targeting peacekeeping personnel constitutes a grave violation of international law and a potential war crime.
Israeli parliament has passed new legislation making the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians convicted of carrying out deadly terrorist attacks. Championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as a "day of deterrence", the law uniquely denies Palestinians the avenues for appeal or clemency that remain available to Israeli citizens convicted of similar offences. The move has drawn fierce condemnation from the Palestinian Authority, human rights organisations, and the European Union, with the UK government warning that the "de facto discriminatory character" of the bill risks severely undermining Israel’s democratic commitments.
At least 70 people have been killed and nearly 6,000 displaced following a brutal gang massacre in Haiti’s Artibonite region, according to local rights organisations. Heavily armed members of the Gran Grif gang reportedly dug trenches to slow the response of Kenyan-led security forces before setting fire to more than 50 homes in the towns of Jean Denis and Pont Sondé.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” a...
The public health challenge linked to the emergence of a rare strain of hantavirus is complex, according to pharmacist and health commentator ...
The man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during a Wh...
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Sp...
Around 100 boys in Georgia are living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy - a dise...
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
Around 100 boys in Georgia are living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy - a disease that has never allowed a child to grow old. Their parents have spent weeks protesting outside government offices, saying their sons cannot wait any longer for treatment.
Iran warned of an “immediate, intense, and powerful” response to any renewed Israeli or U.S. attack, as efforts to secure an interim peace deal appeared to stall despite fresh diplomatic contacts.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday (11 May) morning, temporarily disrupting airport operations, officials said.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cited Azerbaijan as an example of what he described as a sovereign foreign policy, recalling remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev during talks in Yerevan, where he sharply criticised resolutions adopted against his country by the European Parliament.
The man accused of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump during a White House gala last month pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal court on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron opened France’s first-ever business summit in an English-speaking African nation on Monday (11 May), as Paris seeks to strengthen ties across the continent following a decline in influence in several former French colonies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attempt a political fightback on Monday (11 May) with a speech promising closer ties with the European Union after Labour suffered heavy local election losses and growing calls for his resignation.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that three Polish nationals and two Moldovan citizens had been released from detention in Belarus and Russia, highlighting what he described as growing diplomatic cooperation with Minsk.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel aims to eventually end its reliance on U.S. financial military support within the next decade. The decision signals a long-term shift in the country’s defence policy as it seeks to deepen ties with Gulf states.
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