Oil prices hit four year high: Latest news on the Middle East conflict on 9 March
Global oil prices reached a four year high on Monday (9 March), surpassing $...
U.S. and Russian delegations have arrived in Istanbul for talks aimed at normalising diplomatic operations. The focus is on resolving embassy issues that have been hindered by tensions, restrictions, and property disputes, with broader relations dependent on resolving the Ukraine conflict.
U.S. and Russian delegations have arrived in Istanbul for crucial talks aimed at normalising the functioning of their diplomatic missions. These discussions come after the war in Ukraine strained relations between the two nations, marking one of the most significant confrontations since the Cold War.
The talks will be led by Russia's new ambassador to Washington, Alexander Darchiev, and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter. The primary focus will be on restoring the day-to-day operations of the embassies, which have been hindered by years of escalating tensions, property freezes, and claims of intimidation.
Both Moscow and Washington have faced difficulties in managing their diplomatic operations, with restrictions affecting the movement and financial operations of diplomats. Russia has highlighted complications in paying its diplomats due to Western sanctions, while the U.S. has faced restrictions on its diplomats' mobility in Russia.
Despite these challenges, both sides have emphasised that the talks are solely focused on embassy operations, with the broader issue of the bilateral relationship tied to the resolution of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These discussions are seen as a first step toward stabilising diplomatic communications amid a tumultuous geopolitical landscape.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
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.
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. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
An explosion damaged a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège early on Monday (9 March) in what authorities said was an antisemitic attack that caused damage but no injuries.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint release of oil from emergency reserves coordinated by the International Energy Agency, the Financial Times reports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 9th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment