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 $...
French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, backing the recognition of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.
During a state visit to Indonesia, Macron emphasized that only a political solution could bring lasting peace to the region, stating, "Together with Saudi Arabia, we will soon organize a conference on Gaza in New York to revitalize efforts for the recognition of both a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, and its right to live in peace and security."
Macron’s comments mark a significant political moment, as France continues to lead calls for Palestinian statehood. The French president has been working to encourage other European nations, such as the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium, to join this effort. This diplomatic push is expected to culminate at a United Nations conference next month. A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently announced that the UK is ready to collaborate with allies to "support the foundations of Palestinian statehood." Should this move succeed, the UK and France would become the first G7 nations to recognize Palestine as a state.
Currently, Palestine is recognized by 140 UN member states, including countries like Norway, Spain, and Ireland, which voiced their support last year. However, there are concerns about whether recognizing Palestine could inadvertently legitimize the militant group Hamas, which governs Gaza.
The context for this renewed push is the ongoing conflict that began with the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Israel has demanded the release of all hostages, but as of now, only 20 of the 57 still held are believed to be alive. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 53,939 people, including 16,500 children, have been killed in the region since the attack.
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.
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