March 31, 2026
Mohammad Marandi on US Ground Invasion Plans in Iran
Average Gasoline Price Hits $4 in U.S., a ‘Headache’ for Drivers and Trump
THE NEW YORK TIMES: A month since the first U.S.-Israeli attacks and Iran’s response effectively shut off Persian Gulf oil, drivers are paying significantly more to fill up.
Gasoline in the United States crossed an average of $4 a gallon on Tuesday, a threshold it hadn’t reached since August 2022, continuing a series of nearly uninterrupted increases since the Middle East war began that are chipping away at the spending power of American consumers.
Since the end of February, the average cost of regular gasoline has jumped 35 percent, according to data from the AAA motor club.
Seeing gasoline at more than $4 a gallon — when it was below $3 a month ago — could push American drivers to change their spending habits.
“We have this obsession with gas prices because they dictate a lot of ‘Can we drive? Can we do things we enjoy?’ And now some of that is at risk,” said Patrick De Haan, an analyst at GasBuddy, which also tracks fuel prices.
“As we get to a month of increases and prices are much higher,” he added, “the amount of pressure on Americans’ budgets and their spending is going to ramp up.”
For President Trump, who not long ago was boasting about how prices had fallen since he was re-elected in 2024, the highly visible reminder of the war’s consequences is a political burden. » | Emmett Lindner | Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Gasoline in the United States crossed an average of $4 a gallon on Tuesday, a threshold it hadn’t reached since August 2022, continuing a series of nearly uninterrupted increases since the Middle East war began that are chipping away at the spending power of American consumers.
Since the end of February, the average cost of regular gasoline has jumped 35 percent, according to data from the AAA motor club.
Seeing gasoline at more than $4 a gallon — when it was below $3 a month ago — could push American drivers to change their spending habits.
“We have this obsession with gas prices because they dictate a lot of ‘Can we drive? Can we do things we enjoy?’ And now some of that is at risk,” said Patrick De Haan, an analyst at GasBuddy, which also tracks fuel prices.
“As we get to a month of increases and prices are much higher,” he added, “the amount of pressure on Americans’ budgets and their spending is going to ramp up.”
For President Trump, who not long ago was boasting about how prices had fallen since he was re-elected in 2024, the highly visible reminder of the war’s consequences is a political burden. » | Emmett Lindner | Tuesday, March 31, 2026
March 30, 2026
Life under US Sanctions in Iran: Living with Economic Pressure | SLICE | Full Documentary
Mar 25, 2026 | November 1979: The United States impose their first embargo on Iran in response to staff at their embassy in Tehran being taken hostage.
Today, relationships between Tehran and Washington continue to deteriorate and the Iranian economy is suffering under the weight of US sanctions. Inflation, unemployment, trafficking of medicines, and ration coupons – the Iranian people are paying a heavy price. But how do the Iranians survive under the heavy burden of this embargo? And just who is benefiting from it?
From Washington to Tehran, via Brussels, Paris, and Tel Aviv, this geopolitical documentary takes us behind the scenes of this shadow war and retrace the deployment of the US sanctions on Iran since they began.
With testimony from political leaders and economics experts from Europe, Iran, and America, along with extensive archive footage, this film questions the political effectiveness of these sanctions and reveals the input they are having on diplomacy and trade today.
Documentary: Embargo, Iran and the Sanctions
Directed by: Magali Serre
Production: ARTLINE PRODUCTION (2020)
Today, relationships between Tehran and Washington continue to deteriorate and the Iranian economy is suffering under the weight of US sanctions. Inflation, unemployment, trafficking of medicines, and ration coupons – the Iranian people are paying a heavy price. But how do the Iranians survive under the heavy burden of this embargo? And just who is benefiting from it?
From Washington to Tehran, via Brussels, Paris, and Tel Aviv, this geopolitical documentary takes us behind the scenes of this shadow war and retrace the deployment of the US sanctions on Iran since they began.
With testimony from political leaders and economics experts from Europe, Iran, and America, along with extensive archive footage, this film questions the political effectiveness of these sanctions and reveals the input they are having on diplomacy and trade today.
Documentary: Embargo, Iran and the Sanctions
Directed by: Magali Serre
Production: ARTLINE PRODUCTION (2020)
March 29, 2026
Brit in Germany: Why Britain's Story No Longer Holds
Mar 29, 2026 | Many people in Britain say the same thing now: “I feel like a stranger in my own country.”
This video explores why that feeling has become so widespread, and why it isn’t primarily about immigration, culture wars, or political tribes.
Britain is a country historically held together by story rather than systems. But when the economic reality changes and the story doesn’t, coherence starts to break down.
This is an analysis of national identity, economics, culture, and what happens when a country no longer recognises itself, even though life still appears to function.
This video explores why that feeling has become so widespread, and why it isn’t primarily about immigration, culture wars, or political tribes.
Britain is a country historically held together by story rather than systems. But when the economic reality changes and the story doesn’t, coherence starts to break down.
This is an analysis of national identity, economics, culture, and what happens when a country no longer recognises itself, even though life still appears to function.
March 28, 2026
Rob Groves: Who's Really Bankrolling Reform UK?
Mar 28, 2026 | The government has moved to ban cryptocurrency donations to UK political parties and cap overseas donations at £100,000 a year.
On the face of it, that's a victory for democracy. But dig a little deeper and this story is really about one man: Nigel Farage, and the £12 million pumped into his Reform UK by a Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire.
This week we follow the money, and ask why Farage has gone so uncharacteristically quiet.
On the face of it, that's a victory for democracy. But dig a little deeper and this story is really about one man: Nigel Farage, and the £12 million pumped into his Reform UK by a Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire.
This week we follow the money, and ask why Farage has gone so uncharacteristically quiet.
Michael Lambert: Nigel Farage: The £1.5m Grifter Who Will NEVER Be PM
Mar 28, 2026 | Nigel Farage finally got into Parliament, but he’s already acting like he’s too good for the job. While his constituents in Clacton are left with a "Ghost MP," Nigel is busy raking in over £1.5 million a year from GB News, Trump-style rallies, and £40 Cameo videos.
In this video,
I break down why Nigel Farage will NEVER be Prime Minister and why his party has become a dumping ground for the political scrapheap. We’re looking at the "Loser’s Gallery" of defectors—from Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick to the has-beens like Nadhim Zahawi, Nadine Dorries, and Jonathan Gullis.
Are they "patriots," or just "deadbeats" looking for their next taxpayer-funded gravy train? From Zia Yusuf’s corporate gloss to James McMurdock’s loan scandals and Rupert Lowe’s ego trips—it’s time to expose the Reform UK grift for what it really is.
The Defector Deadbeats: Why Jenrick, Braverman, and Kruger are political rejects.
The Trump Strategy: Why Nigel is more interested in being a celebrity than a leader.
In this video,
I break down why Nigel Farage will NEVER be Prime Minister and why his party has become a dumping ground for the political scrapheap. We’re looking at the "Loser’s Gallery" of defectors—from Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick to the has-beens like Nadhim Zahawi, Nadine Dorries, and Jonathan Gullis.
Are they "patriots," or just "deadbeats" looking for their next taxpayer-funded gravy train? From Zia Yusuf’s corporate gloss to James McMurdock’s loan scandals and Rupert Lowe’s ego trips—it’s time to expose the Reform UK grift for what it really is.
The Defector Deadbeats: Why Jenrick, Braverman, and Kruger are political rejects.
The Trump Strategy: Why Nigel is more interested in being a celebrity than a leader.
March 27, 2026
Trump Extends Deadline for Iran to Re-open Strait of Hormuz as Stock Markets Fall | BBC News
President Trump has claimed that talks with Iran are “going very well” and he’s said he’s giving its leaders a further 10 days to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, before launching threatened attacks on the country’s energy sites.
In a post on his Truth Social media platform Trump wrote: "As per Iranian Government request... I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days.”
Earlier, the US president said the US would be Iran’s “worst nightmare” if it doesn’t agree to a peace plan. His special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that he has sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran.
Trump said talks with Iran were continuing and claimed it had let some oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to him. Iran has denied that talks to end the war are taking place.
US stocks fell again, adding to steep falls seen since the start of the war.
Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Gary O’Donoghue, Faisal Islam and James Landale.
In a post on his Truth Social media platform Trump wrote: "As per Iranian Government request... I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days.”
Earlier, the US president said the US would be Iran’s “worst nightmare” if it doesn’t agree to a peace plan. His special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that he has sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran.
Trump said talks with Iran were continuing and claimed it had let some oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to him. Iran has denied that talks to end the war are taking place.
US stocks fell again, adding to steep falls seen since the start of the war.
Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Gary O’Donoghue, Faisal Islam and James Landale.
March 26, 2026
Spain’s PM Responds to Trump’s Threats to ‘Cut Off’ Trade | WSJ
Global Recession If Oil Price Hits $150, Boss of Financial Giant BlackRock Warns | BBC News
Mar 25, 2026 | If the price of oil hits $150 a barrel it will trigger a global recession, the boss of US financial giant BlackRock has told the BBC.
Larry Fink, who leads the world's largest asset manager, said if Iran "remains a threat" and oil prices stay high it will have "profound implications" for the world economy.
In a wide-ranging exclusive interview, he also denied there was an AI bubble, although he said the new technology meant too many people were pursuing university degrees and not enough doing technical training.
BlackRock is a financial colossus, controlling assets worth $14 trillion (£10.5tn), and is one of the biggest investors in many of the world's largest companies.
Larry Fink, who leads the world's largest asset manager, said if Iran "remains a threat" and oil prices stay high it will have "profound implications" for the world economy.
In a wide-ranging exclusive interview, he also denied there was an AI bubble, although he said the new technology meant too many people were pursuing university degrees and not enough doing technical training.
BlackRock is a financial colossus, controlling assets worth $14 trillion (£10.5tn), and is one of the biggest investors in many of the world's largest companies.
I Travelled Venezuela after Maduro’s Capture - Here’s What’s Really Happening | Rare Access
Mar 26, 2026 | On a rare journalist visa, BBC South America Correspondent Ione Wells travels across Venezuela, just weeks after the US military operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro.
In this reporter vlog, Ione explores the reality of a nation in transition - from the streets of Caracas to the coastal state of Sucre. What has actually changed since the US announced it would “run” the country? …
In this reporter vlog, Ione explores the reality of a nation in transition - from the streets of Caracas to the coastal state of Sucre. What has actually changed since the US announced it would “run” the country? …
Richard Wolff: Iran War Destroys Global Economy & US Empire
Physical Oil Shortages within 2-3 Weeks, Says Energy Expert
Mar 25, 2026 | “I think within the next two to three weeks you will see physical shortages”
Drilling North Sea oil “won’t change the whole crisis situation” but it will help to maximise our supply and reduce the likelihood of oil shortages, says Nick Butler, former vice president for strategy and policy at BP and Gordon Brown advisor.
Drilling North Sea oil “won’t change the whole crisis situation” but it will help to maximise our supply and reduce the likelihood of oil shortages, says Nick Butler, former vice president for strategy and policy at BP and Gordon Brown advisor.
Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Cuban health care was once the pride of the island. Now the U.S. oil blockade is upending even basic medical care.
As a nationwide blackout in Cuba stretched into a second day this past weekend, the stakes were rising for Jorge Pérez Álvarez.
The 21-year-old suffers from a genetic disease preventing his lungs from pumping air on their own. He needs a ventilator at all times to keep breathing.
His ventilator’s backup battery is supposed to last more than a day, but that has been tested repeatedly in recent weeks, including three nationwide outages that each pushed up against its limits. And with the power out for hours every day, there is hardly enough time to recharge it.
“I don’t know how long we can keep going,” said his mother, Xenia Álvarez, standing near her son’s crumpled body in his bedroom in a poor neighborhood of Havana. “His life depends on electricity.”
The U.S. oil blockade on Cuba is fast exhausting the country’s supply of fuel, causing daily blackouts, food shortages, canceled classes and black-market gas prices approaching $40 a gallon. It is also crippling Cuba’s universal health care system, a state institution once considered a triumph for a poor nation, but is now struggling to provide basic care.
In interviews, six Cuban doctors said that rapidly deteriorating conditions at hospitals and clinics across Cuba were causing deaths that would otherwise be preventable.
“I can’t tell you how many deaths, but I’m sure there are more than in the same period last year,” said Dr. Alioth Fernandez, chief anesthesiologist at Havana’s largest pediatric hospital. “I see it in shift handovers, in colleagues’ comments and in children I’ve operated on.”
The blockade’s effects are cascading through the system. Hospitals are canceling surgeries and sending patients home because doctors and nurses can’t commute to work. Clinics are struggling to administer treatments like chemotherapy and dialysis because of power outages. » | By Ed Augustin and Jack Nicas | Photographs by Jorge Luis Baños | Ed Augustin and Jorge Luis Baños reported from Havana. | Thursday, March 26, 2026
Leer en español.
As a nationwide blackout in Cuba stretched into a second day this past weekend, the stakes were rising for Jorge Pérez Álvarez.
The 21-year-old suffers from a genetic disease preventing his lungs from pumping air on their own. He needs a ventilator at all times to keep breathing.
His ventilator’s backup battery is supposed to last more than a day, but that has been tested repeatedly in recent weeks, including three nationwide outages that each pushed up against its limits. And with the power out for hours every day, there is hardly enough time to recharge it.
“I don’t know how long we can keep going,” said his mother, Xenia Álvarez, standing near her son’s crumpled body in his bedroom in a poor neighborhood of Havana. “His life depends on electricity.”
The U.S. oil blockade on Cuba is fast exhausting the country’s supply of fuel, causing daily blackouts, food shortages, canceled classes and black-market gas prices approaching $40 a gallon. It is also crippling Cuba’s universal health care system, a state institution once considered a triumph for a poor nation, but is now struggling to provide basic care.
In interviews, six Cuban doctors said that rapidly deteriorating conditions at hospitals and clinics across Cuba were causing deaths that would otherwise be preventable.
“I can’t tell you how many deaths, but I’m sure there are more than in the same period last year,” said Dr. Alioth Fernandez, chief anesthesiologist at Havana’s largest pediatric hospital. “I see it in shift handovers, in colleagues’ comments and in children I’ve operated on.”
The blockade’s effects are cascading through the system. Hospitals are canceling surgeries and sending patients home because doctors and nurses can’t commute to work. Clinics are struggling to administer treatments like chemotherapy and dialysis because of power outages. » | By Ed Augustin and Jack Nicas | Photographs by Jorge Luis Baños | Ed Augustin and Jorge Luis Baños reported from Havana. | Thursday, March 26, 2026
Leer en español.
March 25, 2026
Steve Rosenberg: Russian Newspaper Slams Internet Blackouts & Growing Restrictions inside Russia
March 24, 2026
'We Learned the Lesson...': EU Chief Makes Shocking Admission During Speech at Australian Parliament
Mar 24, 2026 | World News: In a striking moment at the Australian Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a candid admission, saying “we learned the lesson…” during a major speech that touched on global security, economic resilience, and shifting geopolitical realities. Her remarks have sparked widespread attention, as she reflected on past challenges and the need for stronger international cooperation in an increasingly unstable world.
Addressing lawmakers, the EU chief highlighted lessons drawn from recent global crises, emphasizing the importance of unity, preparedness, and strategic independence. The speech underscores Europe’s evolving stance on global partnerships and its approach to emerging threats. Watch the full address as Ursula von der Leyen delivers a powerful message on lessons learned, future strategy, and the changing world order.
Addressing lawmakers, the EU chief highlighted lessons drawn from recent global crises, emphasizing the importance of unity, preparedness, and strategic independence. The speech underscores Europe’s evolving stance on global partnerships and its approach to emerging threats. Watch the full address as Ursula von der Leyen delivers a powerful message on lessons learned, future strategy, and the changing world order.
US Plays with Total War Insanity | Patrick Henningsen
Where Have Cuba's Friends Gone? | DW News
Mar 24, 2026 | Cuba is facing one of its worst crises in decades. After the U.S. imposed a near total oil blockade on the island — and warned of tariffs on any country willing to supply fuel — Cuba’s long standing alliances in Latin America have begun to crumble.
With Venezuela’s President Maduro removed and its oil shipments cut off, the island has plunged deeper into blackouts, shortages and a growing humanitarian emergency.
Why are Cuba’s traditional left wing allies staying silent? And how is U.S. pressure reshaping diplomacy across the region?
DW speaks with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, to understand why Mexico, Brazil and Colombia are keeping their distance and what Cuba’s future could look like as it becomes increasingly isolated.
With Venezuela’s President Maduro removed and its oil shipments cut off, the island has plunged deeper into blackouts, shortages and a growing humanitarian emergency.
Why are Cuba’s traditional left wing allies staying silent? And how is U.S. pressure reshaping diplomacy across the region?
DW speaks with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, to understand why Mexico, Brazil and Colombia are keeping their distance and what Cuba’s future could look like as it becomes increasingly isolated.
L'Australie et l'Union européenne signent un vaste accord de libre-échange
LE FIGARO : L’accord a été signé par la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen et le premier ministre australien Anthony Albanese, à Canberra.
L'Australie et l'Union européenne (UE) ont signé mardi à Canberra un vaste accord de libre-échange, conclu au terme d’années de négociations pour stimuler le commerce bilatéral, malgré les protestations d’agriculteurs européens. Le texte a été signé lors de la première visite de la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen dans le pays depuis son entrée en fonction, alors que les deux partenaires font face à des incertitudes renforcées par la guerre au Moyen-Orient.
L’Australie et l’UE sont également convenus de renforcer leur coopération en matière de défense et d’améliorer l’accès européen aux minéraux critiques australiens. Bruxelles comme Canberra cherchent à diversifier les débouchés de leurs exportations, pour faire face aux pressions des États-Unis et de la Chine. L’UE est aujourd’hui le troisième partenaire commercial bilatéral de l’Australie et sa deuxième source d’investissements étrangers. « L’UE et l’Australie sont peut-être géographiquement très éloignées, mais nous ne pourrions être plus proches dans notre vision du monde », a déclaré Mme von der Leyen. « C’est un moment important pour notre nation, nous sécurisons un accord avec la deuxième économie du monde », a souligné le premier ministre australien Anthony Albanese. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 24 March 2026
À cause du Brexit, la Grande-Bretagne est laissée pour compte ! — © Mark Alexander
L'Australie et l'Union européenne (UE) ont signé mardi à Canberra un vaste accord de libre-échange, conclu au terme d’années de négociations pour stimuler le commerce bilatéral, malgré les protestations d’agriculteurs européens. Le texte a été signé lors de la première visite de la présidente de la Commission européenne Ursula von der Leyen dans le pays depuis son entrée en fonction, alors que les deux partenaires font face à des incertitudes renforcées par la guerre au Moyen-Orient.
L’Australie et l’UE sont également convenus de renforcer leur coopération en matière de défense et d’améliorer l’accès européen aux minéraux critiques australiens. Bruxelles comme Canberra cherchent à diversifier les débouchés de leurs exportations, pour faire face aux pressions des États-Unis et de la Chine. L’UE est aujourd’hui le troisième partenaire commercial bilatéral de l’Australie et sa deuxième source d’investissements étrangers. « L’UE et l’Australie sont peut-être géographiquement très éloignées, mais nous ne pourrions être plus proches dans notre vision du monde », a déclaré Mme von der Leyen. « C’est un moment important pour notre nation, nous sécurisons un accord avec la deuxième économie du monde », a souligné le premier ministre australien Anthony Albanese. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mardi 24 March 2026
À cause du Brexit, la Grande-Bretagne est laissée pour compte ! — © Mark Alexander
March 23, 2026
Has Meloni Turned against Trump over Iran as Key Referendum Tests Her Leadership?
Mar 23, 2026 | Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s criticism of the US-Israeli war on Iran has exposed cracks in her relationship with US President Donald Trump.
She was supposed to be Europe’s ‘Trump whisperer’ but Meloni has even compared the Iran war to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Italian public opinion is firmly against being drawn into the conflict and this weekend Meloni faced a key test of her leadership with a crucial referendum on judicial reform.
So, has Meloni chosen domestic loyalty over transatlantic relations?
Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:
Riccardo Alcaro, Head of Research of the Programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali
Marta Grande, Former President of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Chamber of Deputies of Italy
Amy Frederiksen, Republican Strategist
She was supposed to be Europe’s ‘Trump whisperer’ but Meloni has even compared the Iran war to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Italian public opinion is firmly against being drawn into the conflict and this weekend Meloni faced a key test of her leadership with a crucial referendum on judicial reform.
So, has Meloni chosen domestic loyalty over transatlantic relations?
Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:
Riccardo Alcaro, Head of Research of the Programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali
Marta Grande, Former President of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Chamber of Deputies of Italy
Amy Frederiksen, Republican Strategist
Stock Markets Plunge after Trump’s Ultimatum on Iran
THE GUARDIAN: Stocks slump in Asia and Europe, gold slides and investors brace for higher oil prices after US president’s threat
Global stock markets dropped sharply on Monday after Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless the strait of Hormuz is opened.
Stock markets in Asia and Europe slumped at the start of the week. Japan’s Nikkei share index dropping by 3.4%, China’s CSI 300 down 2.8%, and the South Korean Kospi fell 6.5%.
In Europe, Spain’s Ibex was off 1.9%, France’s CAC 40 index declined 1.5%, Germany’s Dax dropped 1.9% and the FTSE 100 fell nearly 1.5%.
The US president said on Saturday that he was giving Iran 48 hours – until shortly before midnight GMT on Monday – to open the strait, which carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Tehran has said it will “irreversibly destroy” essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US follows through on Trump’s threat. » | Lauren Almeida | Monday, March 23, 2026
Global stock markets dropped sharply on Monday after Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless the strait of Hormuz is opened.
Stock markets in Asia and Europe slumped at the start of the week. Japan’s Nikkei share index dropping by 3.4%, China’s CSI 300 down 2.8%, and the South Korean Kospi fell 6.5%.
In Europe, Spain’s Ibex was off 1.9%, France’s CAC 40 index declined 1.5%, Germany’s Dax dropped 1.9% and the FTSE 100 fell nearly 1.5%.
The US president said on Saturday that he was giving Iran 48 hours – until shortly before midnight GMT on Monday – to open the strait, which carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Tehran has said it will “irreversibly destroy” essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US follows through on Trump’s threat. » | Lauren Almeida | Monday, March 23, 2026
March 22, 2026
Iran erklärt: Straße von Hormus ist offen – außer für Schiffe von „Feinden“
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Die Straße von Hormus sei weiterhin passierbar, erklärt der iranische Vertreter bei der UN-Seefahrtsorganisation. „Feindliche“ Schiffe seien allerdings ausgenommen.
Eine Passage durch Straße von Hormus bleibt nach iranischen Angaben möglich, mit Ausnahme von Schiffen, die mit „Irans Feinden“ in Verbindung stehen, wie die iranische Nachrichtenagentur Mehr auf Telegram mitteilte. Das habe der Iran in einer Stellungnahme an die Internationale Seeschifffahrts-Organisation (IMO) erklärt, hieß es.
Der Schiffsverkehr durch die Straße von Hormus ist aufgrund des Iran-Kriegs stark eingeschränkt. Die strategisch wichtige Handelsroute ist für etwa ein Fünftel der weltweiten Öl- und LNG-Transporte von zentraler Bedeutung. Die weitgehende Blockade hat weltweit für steigende Energiepreise gesorgt. » | Anika Schlünz | Sonntag, 22. März 2026
Iran-Krieg: Spanien friert die Mieten ein: Spanien beschließt wegen des Iran-Kriegs einen Mietenstopp. Das milliardenschwere Entlastungspaket gegen die Kriegsfolgen führte zuvor zu massivem Streit in der Koalition. »
Eine Passage durch Straße von Hormus bleibt nach iranischen Angaben möglich, mit Ausnahme von Schiffen, die mit „Irans Feinden“ in Verbindung stehen, wie die iranische Nachrichtenagentur Mehr auf Telegram mitteilte. Das habe der Iran in einer Stellungnahme an die Internationale Seeschifffahrts-Organisation (IMO) erklärt, hieß es.
Der Schiffsverkehr durch die Straße von Hormus ist aufgrund des Iran-Kriegs stark eingeschränkt. Die strategisch wichtige Handelsroute ist für etwa ein Fünftel der weltweiten Öl- und LNG-Transporte von zentraler Bedeutung. Die weitgehende Blockade hat weltweit für steigende Energiepreise gesorgt. » | Anika Schlünz | Sonntag, 22. März 2026
Iran-Krieg: Spanien friert die Mieten ein: Spanien beschließt wegen des Iran-Kriegs einen Mietenstopp. Das milliardenschwere Entlastungspaket gegen die Kriegsfolgen führte zuvor zu massivem Streit in der Koalition. »
Iran Warns of ‘Irreversible Damage’ to Regional Infrastructure If Power Plants Attacked
THE GUARDIAN: In a post on X, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that critical infrastructure and energy facilities in the Middle East could be “irreversibly destroyed” if Iranian power plants are attacked. He wrote:
”Immediately after the power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, the critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and will be destroyed in an irreversible manner, and the price of oil will remain high for a long time.”Click here for more » | Sunday, March 2026
‘The Stakes Are Enormous’: How a Prolonged Iran War Could Shock the Global Economy
THE GUARDIAN: Donald Trump’s ‘little excursion’ is likely to have long-term effects, from oil prices to inflation to growth, say experts
In the days after the US and Israel first bombed Iran, financial markets bet the economic fallout from Donald Trump’s “little excursion” in the Middle East would be short-lived.
“There are risks from higher oil prices longer term. But this is a tail risk,” one US-based fund manger said after the airstrike killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “History has shown time and time again that geopolitical flare-ups like this tend to be short-lived. This one should prove to be no exception.’’
Goldman Sachs told clients it expected temporary disruption. “Oil prices to decline throughout the year. But risks are skewed to the upside,” its analysts wrote. UniCredit suggested crude would be capped at about $80 a barrel. “Given its struggle for survival, the Iranian regime has an incentive to keep its response measured”.
Three weeks later, the prospect of a drawn-out war is causing mounting economic problems. Oil prices have soared above $100 a barrel, European gas prices have doubled, volatility stalks financial markets, and consumers worldwide are bracing for a surge in living costs. Central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and European Central Bank, warn the war could have a material impact on inflation and dent global growth.
“Market wisdom still holds that the war will end quickly, with the strait of Hormuz soon to reopen,” said Albert Edwards, a senior analyst at Société Générale. “Maybe the market is right, but in my opinion the risks are asymmetric that stagflation bursts the complacency bubble.”
With each day, more problems are emerging. From the soaring price of petrol and diesel for motorists, to cancelled flights and the worst travel disruption since the Covid pandemic. » | Richard Partington | Sunday, March 22, 2026
In the days after the US and Israel first bombed Iran, financial markets bet the economic fallout from Donald Trump’s “little excursion” in the Middle East would be short-lived.
“There are risks from higher oil prices longer term. But this is a tail risk,” one US-based fund manger said after the airstrike killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “History has shown time and time again that geopolitical flare-ups like this tend to be short-lived. This one should prove to be no exception.’’
Goldman Sachs told clients it expected temporary disruption. “Oil prices to decline throughout the year. But risks are skewed to the upside,” its analysts wrote. UniCredit suggested crude would be capped at about $80 a barrel. “Given its struggle for survival, the Iranian regime has an incentive to keep its response measured”.
Three weeks later, the prospect of a drawn-out war is causing mounting economic problems. Oil prices have soared above $100 a barrel, European gas prices have doubled, volatility stalks financial markets, and consumers worldwide are bracing for a surge in living costs. Central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and European Central Bank, warn the war could have a material impact on inflation and dent global growth.
“Market wisdom still holds that the war will end quickly, with the strait of Hormuz soon to reopen,” said Albert Edwards, a senior analyst at Société Générale. “Maybe the market is right, but in my opinion the risks are asymmetric that stagflation bursts the complacency bubble.”
With each day, more problems are emerging. From the soaring price of petrol and diesel for motorists, to cancelled flights and the worst travel disruption since the Covid pandemic. » | Richard Partington | Sunday, March 22, 2026
How the Gulf Countries Are Responding to the Iran War Energy Shock
Mar 21, 2026 | As energy prices rise, the US is increasingly looking for ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping.
So what are the workarounds? And can any of them stave off an energy crisis?
So what are the workarounds? And can any of them stave off an energy crisis?
Iran Launches Attack on Israel’s Top Secret Nuclear Facility in Negev Desert | BBC News
Mar 21, 2026 | Iranian missiles have struck an Israeli town housing the country’s top secret nuclear facility, believed to be the site of its nuclear weapons arsenal. The Shimon Perez Negev Nuclear Research Centre contains a nuclear reactor and is close to the town of Dimona in the Negev desert in southern Israel.
Around 100 people are reported to have been injured in Dimona, when the missiles hit residential buildings. There are unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths. Injuries and deaths were also reported in the southern Israeli city of Arad. Iran said the strike on Dimona was in retaliation for an Israeli attack earlier in the day on its nuclear facilities at Natanz. Iran's nuclear agency said the site had come under attack but there had been no leakage of radioactivity.
Iran’s state news agency said: “The enemy has once again received an unforgettable lesson. The missile attack on the Dimona area has once again sent a clear message: No area is safe from Iranian missiles. The enemy must surrender before it is too late.”
The United Arab Emirates also reported many people injured there in the latest missile attacks by Iran. The UAE’s defence ministry said it had intercepted hundreds of missiles. Israel and the US have continued their airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran, while US Central Command said it had degraded Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
G7 foreign ministers have issued a statement calling for an “immediate end” to Iranian strikes in the Gulf region. They also said they were prepared to take measures to protect global energy supplies.
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Joe Inwood, Esyllt Carr and Damian Grammaticas.
Around 100 people are reported to have been injured in Dimona, when the missiles hit residential buildings. There are unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths. Injuries and deaths were also reported in the southern Israeli city of Arad. Iran said the strike on Dimona was in retaliation for an Israeli attack earlier in the day on its nuclear facilities at Natanz. Iran's nuclear agency said the site had come under attack but there had been no leakage of radioactivity.
Iran’s state news agency said: “The enemy has once again received an unforgettable lesson. The missile attack on the Dimona area has once again sent a clear message: No area is safe from Iranian missiles. The enemy must surrender before it is too late.”
The United Arab Emirates also reported many people injured there in the latest missile attacks by Iran. The UAE’s defence ministry said it had intercepted hundreds of missiles. Israel and the US have continued their airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran, while US Central Command said it had degraded Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
G7 foreign ministers have issued a statement calling for an “immediate end” to Iranian strikes in the Gulf region. They also said they were prepared to take measures to protect global energy supplies.
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Joe Inwood, Esyllt Carr and Damian Grammaticas.
March 21, 2026
Could the US Lose the War in Iran?
Mar 21, 2026 | Is the United States really winning the war against Iran—or is the situation more complicated than it seems? Despite massive airstrikes and thousands of Iranian targets destroyed, Iran continues to launch drone attacks, strike oil infrastructure, and disrupt global shipping.
How is a country with far fewer military resources still able to challenge the world’s most powerful military? Anthony Davis breaks down the strategy behind modern asymmetric warfare—where weaker nations use cheap drones, missiles, and strategic geography to impose huge costs on stronger opponents. He also explores how the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets, and economic pressure could play a decisive role in the conflict, as Trump begs former allies for assistance.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
How is a country with far fewer military resources still able to challenge the world’s most powerful military? Anthony Davis breaks down the strategy behind modern asymmetric warfare—where weaker nations use cheap drones, missiles, and strategic geography to impose huge costs on stronger opponents. He also explores how the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets, and economic pressure could play a decisive role in the conflict, as Trump begs former allies for assistance.
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
Michael Lambert: Top Ten Brexit Lies and Starmer's Stupid Red Lines
Mar 21, 2026 | Is the "Brexit Omertà" finally over?
In this video, I break down why senior Labour politicians are suddenly finding their voices to criticize the economic damage of leaving the EU.
We look at the latest YouGov data showing a massive 82% of Labour voters now support rejoining the EU—leaving Keir Starmer in a nearly impossible political position. Why did he set "Red Lines" back in 2022 that ruled out the Single Market and Customs Union, and can he ever walk them back?
In this video, I break down why senior Labour politicians are suddenly finding their voices to criticize the economic damage of leaving the EU.
We look at the latest YouGov data showing a massive 82% of Labour voters now support rejoining the EU—leaving Keir Starmer in a nearly impossible political position. Why did he set "Red Lines" back in 2022 that ruled out the Single Market and Customs Union, and can he ever walk them back?
Bernie Sanders: We Are Living in Dangerous Times
March 20, 2026
Le Kremlin affirme vouloir aider Cuba, sans évoquer de livraison de pétrole russe
LE FIGARO : Le gouvernement américain, qui a récemment assoupli ses sanctions contre le pétrole russe, a souligné jeudi qu’il interdisait toujours la livraison à Cuba d’hydrocarbures venant de Russie.
Le Kremlin a affirmé vendredi discuter avec Cuba, pays allié de Moscou, des moyens d'aider l'île soumise à un blocus pétrolier américain, se refusant néanmoins à commenter des informations sur une livraison secrète de gazole d'origine russe. « Nous sommes en contact constant avec les autorités cubaines, avec nos amis cubains et nous discutons avec eux des moyens d'aider Cuba dans la situation difficile dans laquelle elle se trouve », a déclaré le porte-parole de la présidence russe, Dmitri Peskov, lors de son point presse quotidien.
Cuba n’a plus importé de pétrole depuis le 9 janvier
« C'est tout ce que je peux dire sur le sujet », a-t-il ajouté. Selon le service de suivi maritime Windward, un pétrolier s'apprête à livrer clandestinement « d'ici quelques jours » du gazole d'origine russe à Cuba s'il parvient à atteindre l'île. Le Sea Horse, battant pavillon de Hong Kong et qui n'est pas visé par des sanctions, transporterait selon Windward environ 190.000 barils de gazole russe, chargé depuis un autre navire au large de Chypre début février. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 20 mars 2026
Related article in English here.
Le Kremlin a affirmé vendredi discuter avec Cuba, pays allié de Moscou, des moyens d'aider l'île soumise à un blocus pétrolier américain, se refusant néanmoins à commenter des informations sur une livraison secrète de gazole d'origine russe. « Nous sommes en contact constant avec les autorités cubaines, avec nos amis cubains et nous discutons avec eux des moyens d'aider Cuba dans la situation difficile dans laquelle elle se trouve », a déclaré le porte-parole de la présidence russe, Dmitri Peskov, lors de son point presse quotidien.
Cuba n’a plus importé de pétrole depuis le 9 janvier
« C'est tout ce que je peux dire sur le sujet », a-t-il ajouté. Selon le service de suivi maritime Windward, un pétrolier s'apprête à livrer clandestinement « d'ici quelques jours » du gazole d'origine russe à Cuba s'il parvient à atteindre l'île. Le Sea Horse, battant pavillon de Hong Kong et qui n'est pas visé par des sanctions, transporterait selon Windward environ 190.000 barils de gazole russe, chargé depuis un autre navire au large de Chypre début février. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 20 mars 2026
Related article in English here.
What the Attacks Oil & Gas Facilities in the Middle East Mean for Global Energy Security | DW News
Steve Rosenberg: In Russia "Restrictions Are Tightening, Self-censorship Increasing."
Is Russian Oil Headed for Cuba, Testing the U.S. Blockade?
THE NEW YORK TIMES: A Russian oil tanker is being closely tracked to see if it will challenge the Trump administration’s blockade on Cuba.
A Russian tanker full of oil is moving through the Atlantic Ocean and drawing scrutiny to see if it is heading to Cuba, a potential test of the U.S. oil blockade of the island, according to shipping data and industry analysts.
The ultimate destination of the tanker is still unknown. But if Russia is attempting to send oil to Cuba, as some analysts suspect, it could represent a critical lifeline for the Cuban government — and a new potential showdown between two superpowers over the small island nation.
Cuba has not received a significant shipment of fuel since Jan. 9, soon after the United States captured Venezuela’s president and took control of its oil exports, which once largely powered Cuba.
That is causing a severe crisis for Cuba. The Trump administration has threatened other nations not to send fuel, hoping to choke Cuba’s government into submission.
The tanker, called the Anatoly Kolodkin and owned by the Russian government, is carrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of crude oil, which analysts estimate could buy Cuba weeks of energy. » | Christiaan Triebert and Jack Nicas | The reporters analyzed ship-tracking data and satellite images and spoke to oil-shipping analysts for this article. | Thursday, March 19, 2026
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A Russian tanker full of oil is moving through the Atlantic Ocean and drawing scrutiny to see if it is heading to Cuba, a potential test of the U.S. oil blockade of the island, according to shipping data and industry analysts.
The ultimate destination of the tanker is still unknown. But if Russia is attempting to send oil to Cuba, as some analysts suspect, it could represent a critical lifeline for the Cuban government — and a new potential showdown between two superpowers over the small island nation.
Cuba has not received a significant shipment of fuel since Jan. 9, soon after the United States captured Venezuela’s president and took control of its oil exports, which once largely powered Cuba.
That is causing a severe crisis for Cuba. The Trump administration has threatened other nations not to send fuel, hoping to choke Cuba’s government into submission.
The tanker, called the Anatoly Kolodkin and owned by the Russian government, is carrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of crude oil, which analysts estimate could buy Cuba weeks of energy. » | Christiaan Triebert and Jack Nicas | The reporters analyzed ship-tracking data and satellite images and spoke to oil-shipping analysts for this article. | Thursday, March 19, 2026
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March 19, 2026
Iran Says It Will Show ‘Zero Restraint’ If Energy Infrastructure Is Targeted Again
THE GUARDIAN: Foreign minister issues warning after Israeli attack on South Pars gasfield and as Qatar reels from retaliatory strike
Iran said on Thursday it would show “zero restraint” if its energy infrastructure was targeted again as Qatar revealed that almost a fifth of its liquefied natural gas export capacity had been knocked out in an Iranian strike that is likely to have a years-long impact.
The warning, delivered by the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, followed Israel’s attack on Iran’s massive South Pars gasfield – which it shares with Qatar – which triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas complex and other Gulf neighbours, sending stock markets tumbling globally and triggering sharp increases in gas prices.
Ras Laffan supplies about 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas. Israel also confirmed on Thursday that the Bazan Group refinery in Haifa had been hit and damaged in a claimed Iranian strike.
Araghchi said in a post on X: “Our response to Israel’s attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation. ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck again.” » | Peter Beaumont, Lorenzo Tondo in Jerusalem and Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai | Thursday, March 19, 2026
Iran said on Thursday it would show “zero restraint” if its energy infrastructure was targeted again as Qatar revealed that almost a fifth of its liquefied natural gas export capacity had been knocked out in an Iranian strike that is likely to have a years-long impact.
The warning, delivered by the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, followed Israel’s attack on Iran’s massive South Pars gasfield – which it shares with Qatar – which triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas complex and other Gulf neighbours, sending stock markets tumbling globally and triggering sharp increases in gas prices.
Ras Laffan supplies about 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas. Israel also confirmed on Thursday that the Bazan Group refinery in Haifa had been hit and damaged in a claimed Iranian strike.
Araghchi said in a post on X: “Our response to Israel’s attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation. ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck again.” » | Peter Beaumont, Lorenzo Tondo in Jerusalem and Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai | Thursday, March 19, 2026
Iran War: Trump White House at ‘Panic Stations’ over Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Mar 19, 2026 | Saudi Arabia is warning it may retaliate against Iran after fresh threats to oil and gas infrastructure as Donald Trump’s administration desperately tries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
With strikes hitting key energy facilities across the Gulf, this conflict is no longer just military - it’s an economic war with global consequences.
So how far could this escalate? And what does it mean for energy prices, inflation and the world economy?
On this episode of The Fourcast Matt Frei is joined by The Economists defence editor Shashank Joshi and Channel 4 News’ economics editor Helia Ebrahimi.
With strikes hitting key energy facilities across the Gulf, this conflict is no longer just military - it’s an economic war with global consequences.
So how far could this escalate? And what does it mean for energy prices, inflation and the world economy?
On this episode of The Fourcast Matt Frei is joined by The Economists defence editor Shashank Joshi and Channel 4 News’ economics editor Helia Ebrahimi.
Iran War Energy Crisis Panics Government: ‘The Genie Is Out of the Bottle’ | Steven Swinford
Mar 19, 2026 | “The genie is out of the bottle and it’s really hard to get it back in now.”
The government is “extremely worried about the cost of living”, especially energy bills in June, as the Iran war causes “huge levels of uncertainty” for UK energy, says The Times’s political editor Steven Swinford.
The government is “extremely worried about the cost of living”, especially energy bills in June, as the Iran war causes “huge levels of uncertainty” for UK energy, says The Times’s political editor Steven Swinford.
The End of the Petrodollar? How Iran War Is Reshaping the Global Economy: Author Laleh Khalili
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
Trump Threatens to ‘Massively Blow Up’ Major Iranian Gas Field after Strikes in Qatar | BBC News
Mar 19, 2026 | US President Donald Trump threatened to “massively blow up” a major Iranian gas field, after Iran attacked Qatar's Ras Laffan in retaliation to an Israeli attack on its South Pars gas field.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US "knew nothing" of Israel's strike, and threatened an escalation if Iran attacks Qatar again.
If Iran does strike Qatar again, Trump said the US will "will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before".
Iran's South Pars is part of the world's largest natural gas field, with both Qatar and Iran operating facilities in the area - Israel is yet to comment.
The price of gas has risen sharply in the UK and Europe following the attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US "knew nothing" of Israel's strike, and threatened an escalation if Iran attacks Qatar again.
If Iran does strike Qatar again, Trump said the US will "will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before".
Iran's South Pars is part of the world's largest natural gas field, with both Qatar and Iran operating facilities in the area - Israel is yet to comment.
The price of gas has risen sharply in the UK and Europe following the attack on Qatar's Ras Laffan.
March 18, 2026
Cuba Abandoned by Allies as Trump Considers Takeover
Mar 17, 2026 | “They’re all hamstrung.”
Cuba’s neighbours Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, as well as it’s traditional allies in China and Russia have been quiet as the US has stopped Venezuelan oil going to Cuba, leading Trump to consider whether he could ‘take’ Cuba, says Jon Bonfiglio, Latin America correspondent.
Cuba’s neighbours Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, as well as it’s traditional allies in China and Russia have been quiet as the US has stopped Venezuelan oil going to Cuba, leading Trump to consider whether he could ‘take’ Cuba, says Jon Bonfiglio, Latin America correspondent.
Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Facilities after Israeli Attack on Its Largest Gasfield
THE GUARDIAN: Revolutionary Guards say they will strike infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar after South Pars field hit
Iran has threatened to attack energy infrastructure across the Gulf region in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its largest gasfield, the first targeted attacks on its fossil fuel production since the war began.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened counterstrikes on several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar “in the coming hours” after state media reports that missiles had targeted its gas facilities at the giant South Pars field, the largest gas reserves in the world.
The strikes on Iran’s South Pars gasfield, which it shares with Qatar, were widely reported in Israeli media to have been carried out by Israel with the consent of the US.
The attack against the heart of Iran’s gas infrastructure marks a key escalation in US and Israeli military operations. The two countries have until now largely spared Iran’s oil and gas sector and helped to keep a lid on the global oil price surge. » | Jillian Ambrose | Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Iran has threatened to attack energy infrastructure across the Gulf region in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its largest gasfield, the first targeted attacks on its fossil fuel production since the war began.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened counterstrikes on several energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar “in the coming hours” after state media reports that missiles had targeted its gas facilities at the giant South Pars field, the largest gas reserves in the world.
The strikes on Iran’s South Pars gasfield, which it shares with Qatar, were widely reported in Israeli media to have been carried out by Israel with the consent of the US.
The attack against the heart of Iran’s gas infrastructure marks a key escalation in US and Israeli military operations. The two countries have until now largely spared Iran’s oil and gas sector and helped to keep a lid on the global oil price surge. » | Jillian Ambrose | Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Chris Murphy Exposes Trump's Family Corruption on Prediction Markets, Introduces Bill amid Iran War
As I have said many times before, Trump has turned a once decent and admired nation into a SHITHOLE! If the powers-that-be had had the SPUNK, Trump, the Felon- and Sex Offender-in-Chief, would have been sent to prison and locked up for good! Just think of how many innocent lives would have been saved in America and around the world had someone in high office had the SPUNK, the COURAGE, to act WISELY on behalf of the NATION! Wars, chaos, corruption, and a probable impending serious downturn in the world economy could have been avoided. An old, cruel, corrupt man with galloping dementia is really NOT the right man to lead the most powerful nation on earth. When America F***S UP, the rest of the world is SCREWED! — © Mark Alexander
March 17, 2026
Iran Challenges US Dollar, Demanding Oil Be Sold in Chinese Yuan, as It Targets US Corporations
Mar 17, 2026 | In response to the US-Israeli war, Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz, the most important oil chokepoint on Earth, causing energy prices to skyrocket.
However, Tehran is allowing Chinese tankers through, and says other ships can pass if they agree to sell oil in China's currency, the renminbi (aka yuan).
Iran is also targeting offices of major American corporations, and wants to force them out of the Middle East (West Asia), while trying to expel US military bases.
Ben Norton explains how this war affects the petrodollar system, and the dominance of the dollar as the global reserve currency.
INVESTOPEDIA: Yuan vs. Renminbi: What’s the Difference? »
However, Tehran is allowing Chinese tankers through, and says other ships can pass if they agree to sell oil in China's currency, the renminbi (aka yuan).
Iran is also targeting offices of major American corporations, and wants to force them out of the Middle East (West Asia), while trying to expel US military bases.
Ben Norton explains how this war affects the petrodollar system, and the dominance of the dollar as the global reserve currency.
INVESTOPEDIA: Yuan vs. Renminbi: What’s the Difference? »
Trump Says He Will Have the ‘Honor’ of ‘Taking Cuba’
THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump’s words came amid a nationwide blackout and as a top Cuban official said his country would move to open the economy to foreign investors.
President Trump raised the possibility of the United States “taking” Cuba on Monday, telling reporters at the White House, “I do believe I will be having the honor of taking Cuba.”
“Taking Cuba. I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I can do anything I want with it,” he said. “They’re a very weakened nation right now.”
The president’s words came on the same day as Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout, amid diminishing fuel supplies. On Monday evening, Cuban officials had also planned to announce that the country’s Communist government would open itself to foreign investment, including from the United States, Cuba’s deputy prime minister, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, told NBC News.
“Cuba is open to having a fluid commercial relationship with U.S. companies, also with Cubans residing in the United States and their descendants,” the deputy prime minister said in a clip of an interview posted by the network on Monday morning.
It is unclear how widely Cuba intends to open its economy, or how the moves compare with those made a decade ago under President Barack Obama. But the scheduled announcement coincides with a severe humanitarian and energy crisis, with some experts saying the island could run out of fuel within weeks because of a de facto blockade by the Trump administration. » | Annie Correal, Jack Nicas and Frances Robles | Reporting from Mexico City and Florida. | Published: Monday, March 16, 2026. Updated: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Watch the NYT video here.
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President Trump raised the possibility of the United States “taking” Cuba on Monday, telling reporters at the White House, “I do believe I will be having the honor of taking Cuba.”
“Taking Cuba. I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I can do anything I want with it,” he said. “They’re a very weakened nation right now.”
The president’s words came on the same day as Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout, amid diminishing fuel supplies. On Monday evening, Cuban officials had also planned to announce that the country’s Communist government would open itself to foreign investment, including from the United States, Cuba’s deputy prime minister, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, told NBC News.
“Cuba is open to having a fluid commercial relationship with U.S. companies, also with Cubans residing in the United States and their descendants,” the deputy prime minister said in a clip of an interview posted by the network on Monday morning.
It is unclear how widely Cuba intends to open its economy, or how the moves compare with those made a decade ago under President Barack Obama. But the scheduled announcement coincides with a severe humanitarian and energy crisis, with some experts saying the island could run out of fuel within weeks because of a de facto blockade by the Trump administration. » | Annie Correal, Jack Nicas and Frances Robles | Reporting from Mexico City and Florida. | Published: Monday, March 16, 2026. Updated: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Watch the NYT video here.
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March 16, 2026
Kuba will Kubanern im Ausland Investitionen und Firmenbesitz auf der Insel ermöglichen
BERLINER ZEITUNG: Erstmals sollen im Ausland lebende Kubaner offiziell Firmen auf der Insel gründen und besitzen dürfen. Doch es gibt Zweifel an der Wirksamkeit der Pläne.
Kubas Regierung will im Ausland lebenden Kubanern – darunter Hunderttausende in Miami –, künftig erlauben, auf der Insel Unternehmen zu besitzen und in den Privatsektor zu investieren. Das kündigte der stellvertretende Ministerpräsident Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga in einem Interview mit NBC News in Havanna an.
„Kuba ist offen für fließende Handelsbeziehungen mit US-Unternehmen“ sowie „mit in den Vereinigten Staaten lebenden Kubanern und deren Nachkommen“, sagte Fraga, der zugleich Außenhandels- und Investitionsminister ist. Die Öffnung gehe über den reinen Handel hinaus und umfasse auch Großinvestitionen, insbesondere in die Infrastruktur, so Fraga gegenüber NBC News. » | Lea Brüggemann | Montag, 16. März 2026
Kubas Regierung will im Ausland lebenden Kubanern – darunter Hunderttausende in Miami –, künftig erlauben, auf der Insel Unternehmen zu besitzen und in den Privatsektor zu investieren. Das kündigte der stellvertretende Ministerpräsident Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga in einem Interview mit NBC News in Havanna an.
„Kuba ist offen für fließende Handelsbeziehungen mit US-Unternehmen“ sowie „mit in den Vereinigten Staaten lebenden Kubanern und deren Nachkommen“, sagte Fraga, der zugleich Außenhandels- und Investitionsminister ist. Die Öffnung gehe über den reinen Handel hinaus und umfasse auch Großinvestitionen, insbesondere in die Infrastruktur, so Fraga gegenüber NBC News. » | Lea Brüggemann | Montag, 16. März 2026
Britain Before WWI: The Empire Built by Workers I SLICE History | Full Documentary
Feb 27, 2026 | Edwardian Britain was the richest empire in the world. But behind the power of the crown stood millions of workers.
For the first time, rare archival footage from 1901–1914 has been carefully colorized, revealing the real faces of miners, dockworkers, factory girls, market porters, and children whose labour built modern Britain. From Queen Victoria’s funeral to the mills of Lancashire, from London’s docks to Blackpool’s seaside resorts, this is the story of a nation at its industrial peak — just years before the First World War would change everything.
Documentary: Edwardian Britain in Colour EP:1
Directed by: Alison Grist
Production: MAKE WAVES Ltd production for channel 5 [London & Singapore] [MW]
For the first time, rare archival footage from 1901–1914 has been carefully colorized, revealing the real faces of miners, dockworkers, factory girls, market porters, and children whose labour built modern Britain. From Queen Victoria’s funeral to the mills of Lancashire, from London’s docks to Blackpool’s seaside resorts, this is the story of a nation at its industrial peak — just years before the First World War would change everything.
Documentary: Edwardian Britain in Colour EP:1
Directed by: Alison Grist
Production: MAKE WAVES Ltd production for channel 5 [London & Singapore] [MW]
Steve Rosenberg: Russian Media Continue to List Benefits for Moscow from Iran War
March 15, 2026
Tucker Carlson Blows Up at Rutger Bregman in Unaired Fox News Interview | NowThis
Feb 20, 2019 | Fox News refused to air this full interview with historian Rutger Bregman after Fox News host Tucker Carlson lost his temper, calling his guest a 'tiny brain...moron' during the interview.
During the Rutger Bregman interview, host Tucker Carlson goes off on Bregman, calling his guest a 'tiny brain...moron.' NowThis has obtained the full segment of the unaired interview with historian Rutger Bregman that Fox News refused to air. Watch it here first..
During the Rutger Bregman interview, host Tucker Carlson goes off on Bregman, calling his guest a 'tiny brain...moron.' NowThis has obtained the full segment of the unaired interview with historian Rutger Bregman that Fox News refused to air. Watch it here first..
March 14, 2026
La Pologne, ce « Phoenix européen » en plein boom qui fait revenir sa diaspora au pays
LE FIGARO : RÉCIT - Ils étaient partis à l’Ouest, souvent pour effectuer des petits boulots ou poursuivre leurs études. Aujourd’hui, ils sont plus nombreux à quitter le Royaume-Uni, l’Allemagne ou les Pays-Bas pour revenir sur leur terre d’origine que leurs compatriotes effectuant le chemin inverse.
Le fameux mythe du « plombier polonais » ne semble être plus qu’un lointain souvenir. Il y a deux décennies, l’expression enflammait le débat public français pour désigner, avec un brin de condescendance, la main-d’œuvre peu qualifiée venue des bords de la Vistule sur notre marché du travail.
Depuis, la donne a bien changé. « Pour la première fois depuis des générations, notre solde migratoire est positif », indique Dominika Pszczółkowska, chercheuse au Centre de recherche sur les migrations de l’Université de Varsovie. Une consécration pour la Pologne qui, après s’être libérée du carcan soviétique et avoir utilisé à bon escient la manne européenne, s’impose désormais comme une locomotive économique du continent. Cette année, le pays signe même son entrée dans le Groupe des vingt pays les plus avancés de la planète. » | Par Adam Hsakou, à Varsovie | samedi 14 mars 2026
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Le fameux mythe du « plombier polonais » ne semble être plus qu’un lointain souvenir. Il y a deux décennies, l’expression enflammait le débat public français pour désigner, avec un brin de condescendance, la main-d’œuvre peu qualifiée venue des bords de la Vistule sur notre marché du travail.
Depuis, la donne a bien changé. « Pour la première fois depuis des générations, notre solde migratoire est positif », indique Dominika Pszczółkowska, chercheuse au Centre de recherche sur les migrations de l’Université de Varsovie. Une consécration pour la Pologne qui, après s’être libérée du carcan soviétique et avoir utilisé à bon escient la manne européenne, s’impose désormais comme une locomotive économique du continent. Cette année, le pays signe même son entrée dans le Groupe des vingt pays les plus avancés de la planète. » | Par Adam Hsakou, à Varsovie | samedi 14 mars 2026
Réservé aux abonnés
Trump and the Death of the Atlantic Partnership
I am in total agreement with the sentiments expressed in this video. My regular visitors will know that I have been saying similar things in my comments for a very long time. These things need to be said over and over. The concept of the so-called, one-way, and often very elusive “Special Relationship” is almost indelible in the psyche of the average Brit, because it has been repeated so many times. But the fact remains that any relationship with the USA is always lobsided and always on the side of being pleasing to America. It is not, and never could be, a relationship between two equals. Further, the undeniable fact of the matter is that Brits are Europeans, whether we are in the European Union or not, so our sensibilities and perceptions are fashioned by European mores and thought.
It is high time that we stopped harping on about this elusive special relationship, turned our backs on it, and rejoined our family and friends in Europe.
Naturally, we need to maintain good relations with America, but our future lies in and with Europe. The sooner we accept this incontrovertible fact, the better. — © Mark Alexander
Michael Lambert: Trump Is Delusional: The Real Reason for the Iran War
Mar 14, 2026 | Trump's war in ran continues and in this video I discuss the stupidity of this reckless venture and the many negative consequences. I talk about the lack of qualifications of Steve Witkoff and Jered Kushner who without any previous experience of diplomacy were sent by Trump to negotiate a peace deal with Iran.
I explain how the US has committed economic suicide and achieved diplomatic isolation as a result of this war, how the US has damaged relationships with allies in the Middle East notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
I point out that Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz where 20% of the world's oil passes should have been predicted by the United States before entering into this war.
Oil prices are rocketing and this will have.an effect on the worldwide economy.
Russia and China are now supporting Iran and this will make it all but impossible for America to end this war with victory.
The war is costing at least $1 billion per day and many lives lost. The US has lost a number of servicemen who have been killed and at least 1,000 are said to have died in Iran. The most tragic incident has been the killing of 160 people, mostly schoolgirls in an incident at the start of the war.
All of this has been caused by the decision of one man, Donald Trump. The war started just 7 days before the latest, and last, batch of the Epstein files were released and it is hard to believe that the timing of the war was not chosen by Trump to distract from the Epstein files in which he features. I also note that Trump's decision to go to war was almost certainly influenced by Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel who saw this as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to decapitate and defeat Iran
I explain how the US has committed economic suicide and achieved diplomatic isolation as a result of this war, how the US has damaged relationships with allies in the Middle East notably Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
I point out that Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz where 20% of the world's oil passes should have been predicted by the United States before entering into this war.
Oil prices are rocketing and this will have.an effect on the worldwide economy.
Russia and China are now supporting Iran and this will make it all but impossible for America to end this war with victory.
The war is costing at least $1 billion per day and many lives lost. The US has lost a number of servicemen who have been killed and at least 1,000 are said to have died in Iran. The most tragic incident has been the killing of 160 people, mostly schoolgirls in an incident at the start of the war.
All of this has been caused by the decision of one man, Donald Trump. The war started just 7 days before the latest, and last, batch of the Epstein files were released and it is hard to believe that the timing of the war was not chosen by Trump to distract from the Epstein files in which he features. I also note that Trump's decision to go to war was almost certainly influenced by Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel who saw this as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to decapitate and defeat Iran
March 13, 2026
La crisis del petróleo asesta otro golpe a la economía mundial
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Los países ya afectados por la ruptura del orden comercial internacional, la guerra en Ucrania y el caos de los legisladores estadounidenses se enfrentan a daños económicos potencialmente duraderos.
Las bombas estallan en Irán y Medio Oriente, pero las consecuencias sacuden los hogares y las empresas de todo el mundo.
En Kansas, los compradores de viviendas han visto cómo los tipos hipotecarios a 30 años superaron el 6 por ciento esta semana. En el oeste de India, las familias que lloraban la muerte de un ser querido descubrieron que se habían cerrado temporalmente los crematorios de gas.
En Hanoi, Vietnam, los propietarios de gasolineras colocaron carteles de “agotado”. En Kenia, los cultivadores y comerciantes de té temían que sus exportaciones a Irán se pudrieran en el muelle. Y en Estados Unidos, Canadá, Europa, Gran Bretaña y México, los agricultores palidecieron ante el aumento de los costos de los fertilizantes.
El recrudecimiento de la guerra en Irán ha asestado un duro golpe a una economía mundial que ya se ha visto afectada por la ruptura del orden comercial internacional, la guerra en Ucrania y la caótica política del presidente Donald Trump.
“Esto sí que es grave”, dijo David Goldwyn, exdiplomático estadounidense y exfuncionario del Departamento de Energía de Estados Unidos, sobre el cierre del estrecho de Ormuz, el punto de estrangulamiento más importante del mundo para el petróleo. Es el escenario de emergencia que todos temían, dijo. » | Por Patricia Cohen | Patricia Cohen es corresponsal de economía mundial en Londres. | 13 de marzo de 2026
Read in English
Las bombas estallan en Irán y Medio Oriente, pero las consecuencias sacuden los hogares y las empresas de todo el mundo.
En Kansas, los compradores de viviendas han visto cómo los tipos hipotecarios a 30 años superaron el 6 por ciento esta semana. En el oeste de India, las familias que lloraban la muerte de un ser querido descubrieron que se habían cerrado temporalmente los crematorios de gas.
En Hanoi, Vietnam, los propietarios de gasolineras colocaron carteles de “agotado”. En Kenia, los cultivadores y comerciantes de té temían que sus exportaciones a Irán se pudrieran en el muelle. Y en Estados Unidos, Canadá, Europa, Gran Bretaña y México, los agricultores palidecieron ante el aumento de los costos de los fertilizantes.
El recrudecimiento de la guerra en Irán ha asestado un duro golpe a una economía mundial que ya se ha visto afectada por la ruptura del orden comercial internacional, la guerra en Ucrania y la caótica política del presidente Donald Trump.
“Esto sí que es grave”, dijo David Goldwyn, exdiplomático estadounidense y exfuncionario del Departamento de Energía de Estados Unidos, sobre el cierre del estrecho de Ormuz, el punto de estrangulamiento más importante del mundo para el petróleo. Es el escenario de emergencia que todos temían, dijo. » | Por Patricia Cohen | Patricia Cohen es corresponsal de economía mundial en Londres. | 13 de marzo de 2026
Read in English
‘Unbelievably Unequal’: Report Shows How 1% of Mexicans Own 40% of Country’s Wealth
THE GUARDIAN: Fortunes of the country’s 22 billionaires doubled in last five years, reaching unprecedented collective wealth of $219bn
Scrunched between luxury apartment buildings and a lush gated community, the neighborhood of Santa Lucía Reacomodo in Mexico City is a working-class pocket of real estate. Electrical wires tangle above cinder-block houses, stray cats slink down narrow streets, debris piles up on the pavement.
María del Socorro Corona, 79, arrived here decades ago, back when it was just a cactus-covered hillside. The two-bedroom turquoise house she built with her now-deceased husband is crammed with bags of clothes and knick-knacks she sells at a weekly market.
“I have to make money,” she said, “or I won’t eat.”
While most people built their homes here in the 80s and 90s, the area really started to change about 20 years ago, Corona said, when the government constructed a bridge connecting Mexico City to the high-end business district of Santa Fe nearby. Foreigners came wanting to buy up their land, but none of the neighbors wanted to sell.
“So now the rich are over there,” she said, pointing at one of the looming luxury apartment buildings: row upon row of glass balconies with carefully manicured hedges. “And the poor are over here.”
The stark contrast in this little enclave of the capital is a microcosm of a problem that has plagued Mexico for decades: rampant income inequality, with a small slice of the population living in opulence while millions of families languish in poverty.
“Mexico is unbelievably unequal – it’s almost inconceivable,” said Viri Ríos, a public policy expert and director of Mexico Decoded. “Inequality in our country has been around for centuries: we’ve just grown accustomed to living this way.” » | Oscar Lopez in Mexico City | Thursday, March 12, 2026
Scrunched between luxury apartment buildings and a lush gated community, the neighborhood of Santa Lucía Reacomodo in Mexico City is a working-class pocket of real estate. Electrical wires tangle above cinder-block houses, stray cats slink down narrow streets, debris piles up on the pavement.
María del Socorro Corona, 79, arrived here decades ago, back when it was just a cactus-covered hillside. The two-bedroom turquoise house she built with her now-deceased husband is crammed with bags of clothes and knick-knacks she sells at a weekly market.
“I have to make money,” she said, “or I won’t eat.”
While most people built their homes here in the 80s and 90s, the area really started to change about 20 years ago, Corona said, when the government constructed a bridge connecting Mexico City to the high-end business district of Santa Fe nearby. Foreigners came wanting to buy up their land, but none of the neighbors wanted to sell.
“So now the rich are over there,” she said, pointing at one of the looming luxury apartment buildings: row upon row of glass balconies with carefully manicured hedges. “And the poor are over here.”
The stark contrast in this little enclave of the capital is a microcosm of a problem that has plagued Mexico for decades: rampant income inequality, with a small slice of the population living in opulence while millions of families languish in poverty.
“Mexico is unbelievably unequal – it’s almost inconceivable,” said Viri Ríos, a public policy expert and director of Mexico Decoded. “Inequality in our country has been around for centuries: we’ve just grown accustomed to living this way.” » | Oscar Lopez in Mexico City | Thursday, March 12, 2026
Steve Rosenberg: Moscow's Mobile Internet Blackout Sends Sales of Walkie-talkies, Pagers & Paper Maps Spiralling
March 12, 2026
La guerra en Irán causa la mayor interrupción petrolera de la historia, según agencia de energía
THE NEW YORK TIMES: El conflicto obliga a los productores a recortar la producción y cerrar puertos, mientras Irán intensifica los ataques contra las infraestructuras energéticas.
La guerra en Medio Oriente ha causado “la mayor interrupción del suministro en la historia del mercado petrolero mundial”, dijo el jueves la Agencia Internacional de Energía, al tiempo que Irán intensificaba sus ataques contra las embarcaciones petroleras de la región.
Antes de la guerra, 20 millones de barriles de petróleo pasaban diariamente por el estrecho de Ormuz, la estrecha vía navegable frente a la costa meridional de Irán. Esa cantidad se ha reducido a “un goteo” desde que Irán advirtió de que los barcos que pasaban por allí corrían peligro de ser atacados, dijo la AIE en su informe mensual.
Esta semana, los 32 Estados miembros de la AIE acordaron liberar 400 millones de barriles de petróleo de sus reservas estratégicas, la mayor cantidad de la historia y la primera liberación coordinada desde la invasión a gran escala de Ucrania por Rusia en 2022. » | Por Eshe Nelson | Reportando desde Londres | 12 de marzo de 2026
Read in English.
La guerra en Medio Oriente ha causado “la mayor interrupción del suministro en la historia del mercado petrolero mundial”, dijo el jueves la Agencia Internacional de Energía, al tiempo que Irán intensificaba sus ataques contra las embarcaciones petroleras de la región.
Antes de la guerra, 20 millones de barriles de petróleo pasaban diariamente por el estrecho de Ormuz, la estrecha vía navegable frente a la costa meridional de Irán. Esa cantidad se ha reducido a “un goteo” desde que Irán advirtió de que los barcos que pasaban por allí corrían peligro de ser atacados, dijo la AIE en su informe mensual.
Esta semana, los 32 Estados miembros de la AIE acordaron liberar 400 millones de barriles de petróleo de sus reservas estratégicas, la mayor cantidad de la historia y la primera liberación coordinada desde la invasión a gran escala de Ucrania por Rusia en 2022. » | Por Eshe Nelson | Reportando desde Londres | 12 de marzo de 2026
Read in English.
Iran Issues Statement ‘from Mojtaba Khamenei’ as Its Attacks Disrupt Energy Markets
THE GUARDIAN: Message read out by newsreader calls for national unity and says that all US bases in the region should close or face attacks
In his first public remarks as Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei apparently called for national unity and said that all US bases in the region should close or face attacks. The strait of Hormuz will remain closed in order to pressure Iran’s enemies, Khamenei reportedly said. He was not seen in the broadcast and the statement was delivered by a newsreader.
Khamenei said Iran will avenge the those who were killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, including the dozens of seven to 12-year-old girls who were killed in an airstrike that hit a school in Minab. He also offered financial compensation for Iranians who suffered damage from the attacks. Middle East Crisis Live » | Lucy Campbell (now); Tom Ambrose, Vivian Ho and Adam Fulton (earlier) | Thursday, March 12, 2026
In his first public remarks as Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei apparently called for national unity and said that all US bases in the region should close or face attacks. The strait of Hormuz will remain closed in order to pressure Iran’s enemies, Khamenei reportedly said. He was not seen in the broadcast and the statement was delivered by a newsreader.
Khamenei said Iran will avenge the those who were killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, including the dozens of seven to 12-year-old girls who were killed in an airstrike that hit a school in Minab. He also offered financial compensation for Iranians who suffered damage from the attacks. Middle East Crisis Live » | Lucy Campbell (now); Tom Ambrose, Vivian Ho and Adam Fulton (earlier) | Thursday, March 12, 2026
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Countries already walloped by a breakdown of the international trading order, war in Ukraine and chaotic U.S. policymaking are facing potentially lasting economic damage.
Bombs are exploding in Iran and the Middle East, but the fallout is rattling households and businesses in neighborhoods all over the globe.
In Kansas, home buyers saw 30-year mortgage rates edge above 6 percent this week. In Western India, families mourning the death of a loved one discovered that gas-fired crematories had been temporarily closed.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, gas station owners posted “sold out” signs. In Kenya, tea growers and traders worried their exports to Iran would rot on the dock. And across the United States, Canada, Europe, Britain and Mexico, farmers blanched at the surge in fertilizer costs.
The widening war in Iran has delivered a stunning punch to a worldwide economy that has already been walloped by a breakdown of the international trading order, war in Ukraine and President Trump’s chaotic policymaking.
“This really is the big one,” David Goldwyn, a former U.S. diplomat and U.S. Energy Department official, said of the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important choke point for oil. It is the emergency scenario everyone feared, he said.
Cargo deliveries have been stranded, shipping charges have increased and insurance premiums have skyrocketed. Yes, the price of gas at the pump is affected. But so is the price of food, medicine, airplane tickets, electricity, cooking oil, semiconductors and more.
A drawn-out war between the United States and Iran could have “catastrophic consequences” for the world’s oil market and the global economy, Amin Nasser, chief executive of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil and gas company, warned this week.
Yet even if the war, which began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel struck Iran, wraps up relatively quickly, this latest upheaval is sending consumers, workers and employers on another unnerving and unpredictable ride. » | Patricia Cohen | Patricia Cohen is the global economics correspondent in London.| Thursday, March 12, 2026
One can but wonder what all the members of Trump’s fan club have to say for themselves now! The king of dealmaking is not looking so clever now, is he? His magic touch looks pretty elusive to me. — © Mark Alexander
Bombs are exploding in Iran and the Middle East, but the fallout is rattling households and businesses in neighborhoods all over the globe.
In Kansas, home buyers saw 30-year mortgage rates edge above 6 percent this week. In Western India, families mourning the death of a loved one discovered that gas-fired crematories had been temporarily closed.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, gas station owners posted “sold out” signs. In Kenya, tea growers and traders worried their exports to Iran would rot on the dock. And across the United States, Canada, Europe, Britain and Mexico, farmers blanched at the surge in fertilizer costs.
The widening war in Iran has delivered a stunning punch to a worldwide economy that has already been walloped by a breakdown of the international trading order, war in Ukraine and President Trump’s chaotic policymaking.
“This really is the big one,” David Goldwyn, a former U.S. diplomat and U.S. Energy Department official, said of the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important choke point for oil. It is the emergency scenario everyone feared, he said.
Cargo deliveries have been stranded, shipping charges have increased and insurance premiums have skyrocketed. Yes, the price of gas at the pump is affected. But so is the price of food, medicine, airplane tickets, electricity, cooking oil, semiconductors and more.
A drawn-out war between the United States and Iran could have “catastrophic consequences” for the world’s oil market and the global economy, Amin Nasser, chief executive of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil and gas company, warned this week.
Yet even if the war, which began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel struck Iran, wraps up relatively quickly, this latest upheaval is sending consumers, workers and employers on another unnerving and unpredictable ride. » | Patricia Cohen | Patricia Cohen is the global economics correspondent in London.| Thursday, March 12, 2026
One can but wonder what all the members of Trump’s fan club have to say for themselves now! The king of dealmaking is not looking so clever now, is he? His magic touch looks pretty elusive to me. — © Mark Alexander
Saudi Arabia and UAE Defence Strategy Against Iranian Missile Strikes
Rutger Bregman, Historian, Called Out Billionaires Face to Face in Davos
Why America Is Losing the War with Iran (w/ John Mearsheimer) | The Chris Hedges Report
Elect a know-nothing fool, expect geopolitical chaos! – © Mark Alexander
Wolff Responds: "Iran! Underappreciated Aspects" Dated March 11, 2026
March 11, 2026
‘The Shine Has Been Taken Off’: Dubai Faces Existential Threat as Foreigners Flee Conflict
THE GUARDIAN: Tens of thousands of residents and tourists have left UAE since the US and Israel started bombing Iran two weeks ago, leaving beach bars, malls and hotels eerily empty
In the playground of the rich, nobody wanted this war. For decades, Dubai built itself up as a sanctuary of unadulterated consumerism visited by tourists the world over.
But now, the city in the United Arab Emirates faces an existential threat, as the war between the US and Israel and Iran has shaken the foundations of the “Dubai dream” that so many foreigners had bought into.
The UAE has borne the brunt of more than two-thirds of Iran’s strikes; the state targeted in part, say analysts, for its deep military and intelligence partnerships with western powers, and Dubai’s reputation as a favoured centre for global finance and western holidays.
“The shine has definitely been taken off,” said John Trudinger, a British resident of Dubai for 16 years, who is a headteacher at an Emirati school in Dubai. He employs more than 100 teachers from the UK and said most have been so “deeply traumatised and really struggling to cope” with the sudden arrival of war in Dubai that they have left and won’t come back.
They are among the tens of thousands of residents and tourists that have fled Dubai since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran almost two weeks ago. The city’s large population of migrant workers largely don’t have that privilege. » | Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai | Wednesday, March 11, 2026
In the playground of the rich, nobody wanted this war. For decades, Dubai built itself up as a sanctuary of unadulterated consumerism visited by tourists the world over.
But now, the city in the United Arab Emirates faces an existential threat, as the war between the US and Israel and Iran has shaken the foundations of the “Dubai dream” that so many foreigners had bought into.
The UAE has borne the brunt of more than two-thirds of Iran’s strikes; the state targeted in part, say analysts, for its deep military and intelligence partnerships with western powers, and Dubai’s reputation as a favoured centre for global finance and western holidays.
“The shine has definitely been taken off,” said John Trudinger, a British resident of Dubai for 16 years, who is a headteacher at an Emirati school in Dubai. He employs more than 100 teachers from the UK and said most have been so “deeply traumatised and really struggling to cope” with the sudden arrival of war in Dubai that they have left and won’t come back.
They are among the tens of thousands of residents and tourists that have fled Dubai since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran almost two weeks ago. The city’s large population of migrant workers largely don’t have that privilege. » | Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai | Wednesday, March 11, 2026
How Trump’s War With Iran Changed the World in a Week
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The conflict is reshaping travel patterns, energy dependencies, living costs, trade routes and diplomatic alliances.
Since President Trump launched a new war with Iran, he has portrayed it as a shock-and-awe assault with few lasting consequences, especially for Americans. On Monday in Florida, he called it a “brief disruption.”
Experts say it is rapidly becoming something else entirely: a jolt to the global security order and economy that far exceeds those delivered by other recent conflicts in the Middle East.
Mr. Trump’s war, now nearly two weeks old, is already reshaping travel patterns, energy dependencies, living costs, trade routes and strategic partnerships. Countries typically shielded from regional conflict, like Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates, have faced retaliatory Iranian fire. The fallout could disrupt midterm elections in the United States, tilt the war calculus in Ukraine and force China into a major economic pivot.
Those effects may compound if Mr. Trump presses ahead with the war, particularly if Iran escalates its counterattacks and blocks ship traffic through the critical oil passage of the Strait of Hormuz. Some economists are already invoking a dreaded memory for any U.S. president — the specter of oil-shock-induced stagflation, with growth stalling and prices roaring upward. » | Jim Tankersley | Reporting from Berlin, Washington and London’s Heathrow Airport | Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Since President Trump launched a new war with Iran, he has portrayed it as a shock-and-awe assault with few lasting consequences, especially for Americans. On Monday in Florida, he called it a “brief disruption.”
Experts say it is rapidly becoming something else entirely: a jolt to the global security order and economy that far exceeds those delivered by other recent conflicts in the Middle East.
Mr. Trump’s war, now nearly two weeks old, is already reshaping travel patterns, energy dependencies, living costs, trade routes and strategic partnerships. Countries typically shielded from regional conflict, like Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates, have faced retaliatory Iranian fire. The fallout could disrupt midterm elections in the United States, tilt the war calculus in Ukraine and force China into a major economic pivot.
Those effects may compound if Mr. Trump presses ahead with the war, particularly if Iran escalates its counterattacks and blocks ship traffic through the critical oil passage of the Strait of Hormuz. Some economists are already invoking a dreaded memory for any U.S. president — the specter of oil-shock-induced stagflation, with growth stalling and prices roaring upward. » | Jim Tankersley | Reporting from Berlin, Washington and London’s Heathrow Airport | Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Why Crypto Isn’t Cool Anymore | The Economist
Epstein Conspiracy: All the Proof We Need
Feb 10, 2026 | The Epstein files - and the cover-up - reveal all we need to know. Call a friend. Start organizing. Get educated. Let’s put this primitive “predatory phase” of humanity behind us.
We know what to do. We know how to feed, house, clothe, and care for all of us on this miraculous floating orb in outer space.
We know what to do. We know how to feed, house, clothe, and care for all of us on this miraculous floating orb in outer space.
The Billionaire Crime Ring
Our so-called democratic leaders have just allowed THIS SHIT to happen! They haven’t had the SPUNK to do ANYTHING about it! The West needs CHANGE, BIG CHANGE. SOON! Kick the MORONS out of office and let the grown-ups take the reins. But we must make sure that these grown-ups have SPUNK. Lots of it! — © Mark Alexander
Steve Rosenberg: In Russia, Who's Criticising Donald Trump...and Who Isn't?
March 10, 2026
The Economics of a Dying Empire (w/ Richard Wolff) | The Chris Hedges Report
March 09, 2026
Peter Schiff: Iran War Creates Chaos in the World Economy
‘We Just Don’t Know’ How High Gas Prices Will Go as Iran War Continues Warns Utilita Chair
Mar 9, 2026 | “It's going to be a white knuckle ride”
Utilita chair Derek Lickorish MBE tells Times Radio “we just don’t know” how high gas prices will go as long as the war in the Middle East continues.
WIKIPEDIA: Utilita Energy »
Utilita chair Derek Lickorish MBE tells Times Radio “we just don’t know” how high gas prices will go as long as the war in the Middle East continues.
WIKIPEDIA: Utilita Energy »
March 07, 2026
Gas Prices Continue to Surge in U.S., Rising 14% in a Week
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Soaring oil prices suggest that more increases could be in store for American drivers. Diesel, jet fuel, and other refined products are also becoming much more expensive.
The price of gas in the United States reached an average of $3.41 per gallon on Saturday, a day after crude oil prices soared to levels not seen since 2023 as the spillover from the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran continued.
That gain means gasoline has jumped 14 percent in the past week, according to data from the AAA motor club. The prices recorded Saturday were the highest for gasoline since 2024.
The suddenly rising energy costs — everything from jet fuel to diesel for trucks and tractors is more expensive — are rooted in supplies of crude oil coming from the Persian Gulf. The tankers that normally carry oil out of the region are not sailing, cutting the world off from about one-fifth of its oil supply.
That’s led to a surge in oil prices globally. By Friday, the U.S. crude benchmark, called West Texas Intermediate, had climbed more than 35 percent for the week, to settle at $90.90 a barrel, with much of that gain coming on Friday alone. The last time crude was trading at those levels, gasoline in the United States was above $3.80 a gallon, the data from AAA shows. » | Emmett Lindner | Saturday, March 7, 2026
The price of gas in the United States reached an average of $3.41 per gallon on Saturday, a day after crude oil prices soared to levels not seen since 2023 as the spillover from the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran continued.
That gain means gasoline has jumped 14 percent in the past week, according to data from the AAA motor club. The prices recorded Saturday were the highest for gasoline since 2024.
The suddenly rising energy costs — everything from jet fuel to diesel for trucks and tractors is more expensive — are rooted in supplies of crude oil coming from the Persian Gulf. The tankers that normally carry oil out of the region are not sailing, cutting the world off from about one-fifth of its oil supply.
That’s led to a surge in oil prices globally. By Friday, the U.S. crude benchmark, called West Texas Intermediate, had climbed more than 35 percent for the week, to settle at $90.90 a barrel, with much of that gain coming on Friday alone. The last time crude was trading at those levels, gasoline in the United States was above $3.80 a gallon, the data from AAA shows. » | Emmett Lindner | Saturday, March 7, 2026
Truth To Power: Trump Exposed: What Really Happened with Iran
Trump is a F*****G LIAR, and an UNSCRUPULOUS ONE at that! He is also a CRUEL CRIMINAL who understands NO GEOPOLITICS. The man should be in prison, not in the White House. — © Mark Alexander
March 06, 2026
U.S. Employers Cut Jobs in Sign of a Shakier Economy
THE NEW YORK TIMES: A weaker-than-expected report for February showed a decline of 92,000 jobs, and a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.4 percent.
Job growth fizzled in February, a sign of unexpected weakness in the labor market.
Employers cut 92,000 jobs in February, the Labor Department reported on Friday, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent. The job losses cut across nearly all major sectors, including health care, which was weighed down by a nurses strike in California.
The report dimmed the picture of the labor market and all but shut down the prospect of a resurgence in growth after an anemic year of hiring that was weighed down by economic uncertainty. Many economists had forecast that employers would shake off their reluctance to hire this year.
Here’s what else to know: Live Updates » | Sydney Ember | Friday, March 6, 2026
Job growth fizzled in February, a sign of unexpected weakness in the labor market.
Employers cut 92,000 jobs in February, the Labor Department reported on Friday, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent. The job losses cut across nearly all major sectors, including health care, which was weighed down by a nurses strike in California.
The report dimmed the picture of the labor market and all but shut down the prospect of a resurgence in growth after an anemic year of hiring that was weighed down by economic uncertainty. Many economists had forecast that employers would shake off their reluctance to hire this year.
Here’s what else to know: Live Updates » | Sydney Ember | Friday, March 6, 2026
Wie Trumps Iran-Krieg die nächste Finanzkrise auslösen könnte
March 05, 2026
El líder de España Pedro Sánchez intensifica su disputa con Trump
THE NEW YORK TIMES: El presidente del gobierno español ha arremetido contra los ataques de EE. UU. e Israel, y se ha negado a participar incluso después de que Trump amenazara a Madrid con represalias económicas.
Captura de pantalla tomada de este artículo del NYT. | El presidente del gobierno español, Pedro Sánchez, hablando en Madrid en febrero. Sánchez, que se enfrenta a conflictos políticos en su país, ha intentado distinguir sus políticas de las del presidente Trump.Credit...Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters
Durante más de un año, el presidente del gobierno español, Pedro Sánchez, se ha posicionado como líder de la resistencia de la izquierda europea al presidente Donald Trump.
Mientras Trump aumentaba las deportaciones, Sánchez ofrecía a los migrantes indocumentados una vía para obtener la residencia. Mientras el presidente de Estados Unidos defendía a las empresas tecnológicas estadounidenses, Sánchez intentaba restringirlas. Y el pasado fin de semana, Sánchez se negó a que los aviones de guerra estadounidenses utilizaran España como plataforma de lanzamiento de ataques contra Irán, lo que hizo que Trump amenazara con poner fin al comercio con España.
El miércoles, esas tensiones llegaron a su punto álgido cuando Sánchez pronunció un discurso especial a la nación en el que condenó la campaña contra Irán y reiteró su negativa a participar a pesar de las amenazas de Trump de tomar represalias económicas.
“No vamos a ser cómplices de algo que es malo para el mundo, y que también es contrario a nuestros valores e intereses, simplemente por el miedo a las represalias de alguno”, dijo Sánchez en el discurso televisado.
“Ni siquiera están claros los objetivos de quienes lanzaron el primer ataque”, añadió Sánchez, refiriéndose a Estados Unidos e Israel. » | Por Jason Horowitz | Reportando desde Madrid | 4 de marzo de 2026
Read in English.
Durante más de un año, el presidente del gobierno español, Pedro Sánchez, se ha posicionado como líder de la resistencia de la izquierda europea al presidente Donald Trump.
Mientras Trump aumentaba las deportaciones, Sánchez ofrecía a los migrantes indocumentados una vía para obtener la residencia. Mientras el presidente de Estados Unidos defendía a las empresas tecnológicas estadounidenses, Sánchez intentaba restringirlas. Y el pasado fin de semana, Sánchez se negó a que los aviones de guerra estadounidenses utilizaran España como plataforma de lanzamiento de ataques contra Irán, lo que hizo que Trump amenazara con poner fin al comercio con España.
El miércoles, esas tensiones llegaron a su punto álgido cuando Sánchez pronunció un discurso especial a la nación en el que condenó la campaña contra Irán y reiteró su negativa a participar a pesar de las amenazas de Trump de tomar represalias económicas.
“No vamos a ser cómplices de algo que es malo para el mundo, y que también es contrario a nuestros valores e intereses, simplemente por el miedo a las represalias de alguno”, dijo Sánchez en el discurso televisado.
“Ni siquiera están claros los objetivos de quienes lanzaron el primer ataque”, añadió Sánchez, refiriéndose a Estados Unidos e Israel. » | Por Jason Horowitz | Reportando desde Madrid | 4 de marzo de 2026
Read in English.
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