Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, has climbed eight percent over the past month as concerns grow over potential disruption to supplies amid the ongoing conflict.
While Iran is not a major oil producer due to Western sanctions, its position controlling the Strait of Hormuz is crucial. The narrow shipping corridor accounts for around a fifth of global oil supplies, so missile and drone activity in the area poses a significant risk to deliveries and markets.
US Central Command says more than one thousand Iranian targets have been struck so far in its ongoing operation.
It says those targets include command and control centres, ballistic missile sites, Iranian navy ships and submarines, as well as military communication capabilities. The updated figure comes shortly after the Israeli military released details of its own fresh attacks on Iran today.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino says footballers who cover their mouths during confrontations with rivals should be sent off on the presumption they are being offensive.
He has also suggested reducing the minimum ten game ban for players who show remorse for discrimination, in an effort to encourage a change in attitudes. He said football must stop saying racism is a problem in society and instead prioritise dealing with it within the sport. His comments follow racism reported by Vinicius Junior while playing for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League on 17 February.
More than a hundred Iranians gathered in Leeds city centre to celebrate following the killing of Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
As they danced to music from their homeland, many were draped in Iran’s tricolour flag, while some also waved US and Israeli flags in support of the joint military operation. The event was organised by Morteza Bagheri, who has lived in Britain for 27 years and said he felt a brighter future was possible. Similar gatherings were also held in London and Manchester.
Travellers are facing continued disruption after joint US Israeli strikes against Iran triggered retaliatory missile attacks across the Middle East.
Rocket fire has kept major airports closed, including in Dubai, where the world’s busiest international hub remains shut for a second day. Doha in Qatar, which handled 54 million passengers last year, is also affected. Flights serving Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are experiencing further disruption.
Police are continuing to search for a woman who went missing a month ago. Edna, who is 31, disappeared from the village of Wraysbury.
She is described as black, of small build, with braided hair. When last seen she was wearing a khaki long coat with a fur lined hood, knee high boots and glasses. Thames Valley Police say they are still appealing to the public for help in finding her.
A GP says she could not work full time in the NHS because of the pressure.
Dr Yvonne Girgis Hanna is among a growing number of family doctors choosing to practise privately. She says on days she works in the NHS she feels totally wiped out the next day, describing 30 face to face contacts as well as extra telephone calls and paperwork, leaving no time even for basic breaks.
Iran’s claim that it struck the USS Abraham Lincoln is not true, according to the US military.
In a statement, it said the Lincoln was not hit and that the missiles launched did not even come close. The carrier continues to launch aircraft in support of what it called a relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.
The US military says it has hit an Iranian Jamaran class corvette as attacks on Iranian targets continue.
In an update, it claimed the ship is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier. The statement repeated comments attributed to the president, saying members of Iran’s armed forces, the IRGC and police must lay down their weapons and abandon ship.
Sir Keir Starmer says RAF aircraft are in the sky in the Middle East as part of defensive operations, as Iran strikes back at US targets.
The Prime Minister said the planes are there to protect our people, our interests and our allies. He confirmed the UK was not involved in the strikes and that no UK bases were used to launch them. He also chaired an emergency COBR meeting and, in a joint statement with France and Germany, called for restraint and for Iran to pursue a negotiated solution.
A 50 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a fatal stabbing at Centre MK in Milton Keynes.
Thames Valley Police said officers were called at around 5.10pm on Saturday. Despite life saving efforts, the 52 year old victim died at the scene. The suspect, from Towcester, remains in custody.
With daffodils, crocuses and cherry blossom flourishing, it is beginning to look like spring.
Temperatures have reached almost 19 degrees in parts of the UK, making it the warmest day of the year so far. For meteorologists, spring covers March, April and May, allowing fixed comparisons across the season.
One person has died and seven have been injured after an incident at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Airport, while four others were hurt at Dubai International, reportedly following an overnight Iranian attack.
Many flights in and out of the Middle East have been cancelled after US missile attacks on Iran and counterstrikes targeting American bases in the region. Abu Dhabi Airports said on X the incident resulted in one fatality involving an Asian national and seven injuries, but gave no cause and urged people not to circulate rumours.
A Berkshire town has been named the most economically efficient local economy in the country in a new ranking.
CoworkingCafe analysed five indicators including labour productivity, average weekly hours worked, employment rate, job density and business density. Slough tops the list, with the highest labour productivity in Britain according to the report, along with the nation’s longest average working week.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for decades as supreme leader, has been killed in US Israel strikes on Saturday.
He led the country with what has been described as supreme self confidence, fuelled by paranoia, absolute power and a belief in his own divine destiny. Announcing his death, Donald Trump called him one of the most evil people in history and urged Iranians to take back their country and bring about regime change.
Olivia Dean has been crowned the UK’s new queen of pop, winning four awards as the Brit Awards were held in Manchester for the first time in nearly 50 years.
She beat Lola Young, Dave and Sam Fender to be named best British artist. Dean also won best album for The Art of Loving and song of the year for her number one collaboration with Sam Fender, Rein Me In. Holding back tears, she said the album was about love in a world that feels loveless.
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