Iran executes two members of exile group
Two more members of the Iranian exile group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq were hanged this morning in Iran, state media reported.
The two men were identified as Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi.
Amnesty International has said Tehran’s Revolutionary Court convicted the men on charges of armed rebellion against the state “following a grossly unfair trial in October 2024” after they were subjected to torture.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 06:54
Spain closes its airspace to US planes involved in war
Spain has closed its airspace to US planes involved in the Iran war, defence minister Margarita Robles said, marking another step in the country’s opposition to the US and Israel’s conflict in the Middle East.
Spain had already said the US could not use jointly operated military bases in the Iran conflict, which Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has described as illegal, reckless and unjust.
Defence minister Robles said Monday the same logic applied to the use of Spanish airspace in the conflict.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 06:45
JetBlue is raising the price of checked bags by at least $4
The budget airline JetBlue has increased its checked baggage fees by at least $4 as it grapples with the spiraling price of jet fuel due to President Donald Trump’s war on Iran.
JetBlue’s website now shows a minimum charge of $39 for your first checked bag, including a $10 discount for pre-booking online — up $4 from its previous price of $35.
At peak times, such as during summer and on major U.S. holidays, the fee will rise from $40 to $49.
“As we experience rising operating costs, we regularly evaluate how to manage those costs while keeping base fares competitive and continuing to invest in the experience our customers value,” a spokesperson told The Independent.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 06:40
‘No oil leakage’ from Kuwait tanker hit by Iran
The Dubai media office has confirmed this morning that there has been no oil leakage from the Kuwaiti crude oil tanker hit by an Iranian attack at Dubai Port’s anchorage.
“Dubai authorities confirm that response teams have successfully contained the incident involving the Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters, with no oil leakage and no injuries reported,” the media office said on X.
File: A metro train passes by a plume of smoke rising from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on March 1, 2026 (AFP via Getty Images)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 06:36
Watch: UK forces conduct air-to-air refuelling operations near CyprusUK forces conduct air-to-air refuelling operations near Cyprus amid Iran crisis
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 06:30
Indonesia condemns ‘heinous’ attacks on its peacekeepers
Indonesia’s foreign minister condemned the “heinous” attack on its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, which the Israeli forces have incessantly targeted in recent days.
Sugiono called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting and “for a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation” into the attack after speaking with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres.
Israel’s military said early this morning that it was aware of the reports regarding the two incidents and they are being reviewed thoroughly to determine whether they resulted from Hezbollah or the military’s activity.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 06:15
Gulf allies privately make the case to Trump to keep fighting
Gulf allies of the US are arguing that Tehran hasn’t been weakened enough by the monthlong US-led bombing campaign, according to US, Gulf and Israeli officials.
Officials from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain have conveyed in private conversations that they do not want the military operation to end until there are significant changes in the Iranian leadership or there’s a dramatic shift in Iranian behaviour, according to the officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
While regional leaders are broadly supportive now of the US efforts, one Gulf diplomat described some division, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading the calls for increasing military pressure on Tehran.
The UAE has emerged as perhaps the most hawkish of the Gulf countries and is pushing hard for Trump to order a ground invasion, the diplomat said.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 06:00
Australia condemns attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong has condemned the attack on Indonesian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, which has been incessantly targeted by Israeli forces in recent days.
“Attacks on UN peacekeepers are unacceptable,” she said in a post on X.
“We condemn the killing of three Indonesian personnel serving with the UN in Lebanon. We extend our sincere condolences to their loved ones, colleagues and to Indonesia. We support Indonesia’s calls for a thorough investigation.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 05:53
Trump’s approval rating dips to new second-term low
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a second-term low, a sign of “profound problems” in the Republican’s coalition, a top pollster argues.
As of Monday, President Trump had an average of 39.9 percent approval, and a net approval rating of -16.7, according to composite measures from polling expert Nate Silver. The share of Americans who strongly disapprove of Trump also hit a second-term high, at 46.7 percent, Silver found.
The pollster attributed the president’s dismal approval rating, which has fallen by nearly 5 percent this month, to the ongoing war with Iran and the resulting spike in gas prices.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 05:40
Oil prices reversed course in Asian trading early this morning, paring earlier gains, following a report that US president Donald Trump told aides he is willing to end the Iran war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures for May were down $1.22, or 1.08 per cent, to $111.56 per barrel at 2am GMT after rising 2 per cent earlier in the session. The May contract expires today and the more active June contract was at $105.76.
US West Texas Intermediate futures for May fell 98 cents, or 0.95 per cent, to $101.90 a barrel after hitting their highest point since March 9 in early trading.
Analysts said the fall in prices is a temporary reaction to the idea of the war’s end, but any meaningful change in prices would not materialise until flows through the Strait of Hormuz are completely reinstated.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 March 2026 05:20