Iran rejects direct negotiations with US after Donald Trump letter March 30, 2025 Tehran has rejected direct negotiations with the US in response to a letter from Donald Trump over its rapidly advancing nuclear programme, the president of Iran has said. The remarks from Masoud Pezeshkian represented the first official acknowledgement of how Iran responded to Trump’s letter. It also suggests that tensions may further rise between Tehran [...]
Israeli air strikes on Yemen airport ‘were metres from WHO chief’ December 27, 2024 A new round of alleged Israeli air strikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports while the World Health Organisation’s director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few metres from where we were — [...]
Elon Musk and Fox News host chosen for Trump cabinet and advisory roles November 13, 2024 Tech billionaire Elon Musk and Fox News host Pete Hegseth have been asked to serve as advisors and in Donald Trump’s cabinet. Musk is set to lead a new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which will advise the President on how to reform and make savings in the government, after he previously claimed he [...]
BP beats estimates despite lower oil prices October 29, 2024 FTSE 100 oil giant BP has reported strong-than-expected earnings for the third quarter. On Tuesday, it posted an underlying replacement cost profit, used as a proxy for net profit, of $2.3bn (£1.8bn) for the three months to 30 September. The figure beat analyst expectations of $2.1bn (£1.6bn), according to an LSEG-compiled consensus. However, the figure [...]
Government: Israel’s escalation in the Middle East ‘in no one’s interest’ October 26, 2024 The government said it is monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East “closely” after Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting military sites in Iran. The attacks did not target nuclear or oil facilities, two Israeli officials confirmed to the Associated Press. A government spokesman said on Saturday morning: “We are monitoring this situation [...]
FTSE 100: London gains as Iran’s attack on Israel sends oil prices higher October 2, 2024 London markets made gains on Wednesday after an unprecedented missile attack on Israel by Iran that sent oil prices higher and shook global stocks.
Israel vows to retaliate after Iran missile barrage October 2, 2024 The prospect of a regional conflict loomed large over the Middle East on Tuesday, after Iran launched a series of missiles into Israel in an attack for which Israeli forces promised there would be “consequences”. Over the course of several hours, nearly 200 missiles were by fired by Iran into Israel, according to Israeli army [...]
My Favourite Cake review: Heartening and heartbreaking September 12, 2024 There are lots of movies about people finding love later in life. Iranian comedy-drama My Favourite Cake asks what happens when that love itself is an act of rebellion? Lily Farhadpour is magnificent as Mahin, a 70-year-old widow living a lonely life in modern Iran. Spurred by a recent meeting with friends, she takes the [...]
Lammy urges ‘restraint’ after Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates August 25, 2024 Foreign secretary David Lammy has urged Israel to show “restraint” after an exchange of fire with Lebanese militants Hezbollah on Sunday morning. The Israeli military carried out a series of air strikes in southern Lebanon early on Sunday, saying it had intelligence Hezbollah was planning to carry out an attack of its own. The Iran-backed [...]
FTSE 100: BP, Shell and oil prices surge on assassination of Hamas leader in Iran July 31, 2024 The FTSE 100 jumped over a hundred points on Wednesday morning, after the assassinations of two Hamas and Hezbollah leaders caused the index’s energy and commodities constituents to surge. Shares in BP and Shell both rose by between two and three per cent in early morning trading, helping the index as a whole to jump [...]