Israel responding to barrage of Iranian missiles
Israel this morning said its air defences were responding to a second barrage of missiles incoming from Iran.
Earlier in the day, sirens sounded about an hour after sunrise across a large swathe of central Israel, including areas around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied West Bank.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 06:13
Fuel prices in Thailand surged today after the government lifted a cap on diesel prices and reduced fuel subsidies.
The majority of fuel types rose by 6 baht ($0.18) per litre. Diesel prices jumped by about 18 per cent.
The increase is expected to hit the industrial and transportation sectors particularly hard and has raised concerns about a ripple effect on the cost of goods.
Videos and photos shared on social media showed long lines forming at gas stations after the price hike was announced late Wednesday night.
Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul said earlier this week the government would allow fuel prices to adjust in line with global market rates, aiming to manage demand following a surge in panic buying.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 05:50
Japan begins release of oil reserves
Japan has begun releasing another portion of its strategic oil reserves as it seeks to cushion the impact of surging prices driven by the war in Iran.
“The release [of the national stockpile] started at 10.59am local time to oil refiners,” Kaname Morimoto, an official of the ministry of economy, trade and industry, told AFP news agency.
Japan is the world’s fifth-largest oil importer, sourcing more than 90 per cent of its crude from the Middle East.
A man refuels a motorcycle at a gas station in Tokyo on March 18, 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 05:30
China’s top diplomat says Beijing sees a “glimmer of hope” for peace in the Middle East due to efforts being made to stop the war.
The Trump administration has sent Tehran a 15-point peace plan but warned it would “unleash hell” if the Islamic Republic refuses to accept.
China, an Iran ally which has been largely on the sidelines of the conflict, urged dialogue between Tehran and the Washington.”With both the United States and Iran signalling a willingness to negotiate, a glimmer of hope for peace has emerged,” Wang Yi told Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty.
The statement came hours before Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said no negotiations had taken place so far, adding that Tehran’s position remained “completely principled”.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 05:15
White House staffers ‘baffled’ over Trump claiming Iran gave him a prize
White House staffers were reportedly left “baffled” by President Donald Trump’s claim Tuesday that he had received a gift from Iran, about which he then refused to disclose anything further.
“They’re gonna make a deal,” the president said of Tehran in the Oval Office as he swore in Markwayne Mullin as his new Homeland Security secretary, replacing Kristi Noem.
“They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present and the present arrived today. It was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money,” he added. “I’m not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize, and they gave it to us.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 05:10
Israel launches heavy strikes on Isfahan
Activists in Iran reported heavy strikes early this morning around Isfahan, a city some 330km south of Iran’s capital, Tehran.
The pro-reform newspaper Ham Mihan reported online about strikes in the area.Isfahan is home to a major Iranian air base and other military sites, as well as one of the nuclear sites bombed by the United States during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June.
The semiofficial Fars news agency, close to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, described the attacks as targeting “two residential areas,” without elaborating.
Earlier, Israel’s military said it had completed “a wide-scale wave of strikes” across Iran, including in Isfahan.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 04:59
Russia sending drones to Iran – report
Iran is about to receive a phased shipment of drones, medicine and food from Russia, the Financial Times reported, citing western intelligence reports.
Iranian and Russian officials began holding secret talks on supplying drones within days of US and Israeli strikes on Tehran last month, the report said.
Preparations for the deliveries started in early March and were expected to be completed by the end of the month.
Moscow has reportedly provided its ally with critical support, including satellite imagery, targeting data and wider intelligence assistance, according to people familiar with the matter.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 04:40
Oil prices rise to $103 a barrel
Oil prices climbed this morning, recovering some of the previous day’s losses as investors reexamined prospects for de-escalation in the Middle East as Iran said it was still reviewing a US proposal to end the war, which has disrupted energy flows.
Brent futures rose $1.13, or 1.1 per cent, to $103.35 a barrel by, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $1.08, or 1.2 per cent, at $91.40 a barrel.
Both benchmarks slumped more than 2 per cent yesterday. Despite reviewing the proposal, Iran has no intention of holding talks to end the widening Middle East conflict, the country’s foreign minister said.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 04:38
Korea’s Lee calls for electricity saving amid fuel price increases
South Korean president Lee Jae Myung this morning urged the public to conserve electricity, warning that rising fuel prices could drive increased demand for power, as electricity rates remain relatively stable under government-controlled tariffs.
Mr Lee was holding an emergency economic meeting to address the fallout of the Iran war on Asia’s fourth-largest economy, which relies almost entirely on energy imports.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 March 2026 04:20
US military shares photos of USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier
Rachel Dobkin26 March 2026 04:00