‘A minefield’: taoiseach prepares for St Patrick’s Day visit to Washington

• Iran has laid out preconditions for ceasefire negotiations with the United States, including a truce in Lebanon and the release of frozen Iranian assets before substantive talks can proceed. • The Iranian position reflects the broader regional conflict dynamics, with fighting extending beyond US-Iran direct confrontation to proxy conflicts in Lebanon and other Middle Eastern locations. • These conditions complicate already delicate negotiations in Pakistan, as the US and its allies assess whether such demands can be accommodated within broader regional security frameworks.

• Taiwan's opposition leader has met with China's President Xi Jinping in what observers describe as a significant diplomatic engagement focused on reducing cross-strait tensions. • Both the Taiwanese delegation and Chinese leadership have publicly called for peaceful resolution of their longstanding disputes, signaling potential openness to dialogue amid broader global geopolitical instability. • The meeting occurs within the context of increased international focus on regional stability, with major powers seeking to prevent additional conflicts from erupting during the ongoing US-Iran crisis.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized direct negotiations with Lebanese representatives, marking a potential diplomatic breakthrough in the broader Middle Eastern conflict landscape alongside US-Iran ceasefire talks. • The parallel diplomatic tracks suggest efforts to compartmentalize various conflicts within the region and create opportunities for broader de-escalation beyond direct US-Iran confrontation. • These negotiations involve coordination with US authorities, reflecting Washington's strategic interest in achieving regional stability across multiple conflict zones simultaneously.

• Fresh tensions have surfaced just as formal ceasefire negotiations between US and Iranian representatives commence in Pakistan, threatening to derail diplomatic efforts. • The timing of new military incidents and heightened rhetoric suggests both sides remain committed to military posturing even as they engage in peace talks, a pattern common in complex regional conflicts. • Diplomatic observers note that success will require both delegations to compartmentalize military operations from negotiation processes, a significant challenge given recent escalations including the downing of a US fighter jet.

• An Iranian diplomatic delegation has arrived in Pakistan to begin ceasefire talks with US representatives, signaling potential de-escalation efforts amid the ongoing conflict that began February 28, 2026. • The negotiations come as both sides seek to resolve tensions triggered by the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused the largest global oil supply disruption since the 1970s energy crisis. • US Vice President JD Vance has warned Iran not to "play" the US during planned negotiations, indicating the administration's determination to achieve concrete results from the talks.

• A US fighter jet was shot down over Iranian airspace, marking a significant escalation in military confrontations amid ongoing US-Iran hostilities that began on February 28, 2026. • The incident occurred as tensions remain high following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and subsequent Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel and US bases across the region. • The downing of the aircraft raises concerns about potential further military escalations and complicates ongoing ceasefire negotiations between US and Iranian delegations.

• Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions persist post-ceasefire, exacerbating the largest global oil supply crisis since the 1970s amid US-Iran war. • Iran's effective closure followed retaliatory strikes after US-Israeli airstrikes on 28 February 2026 targeting Iranian nuclear sites and leadership. • Ceasefire fails to resolve key stumbling blocks to lasting US-Iran agreement, threatening continued economic impacts on US energy security.

Officials accept that time has run out to pass law after US dropped its support for planThe UK government has been forced to shelve its legislation to hand the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius, after the US dropped its support for the agreement.On Friday, UK government officials acknowledged that they had run out of time to pass legislation within the current parliamentary session, which ends in the coming weeks. Continue reading...

Britain’s standing in the world was never the same after its assault on Egypt in 1956. Now the US risks repeating history in the Middle EastMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump’s addiction to framing every event in the most apocalyptic terms is what allows conservative commentators such as Mark Levin to praise him as “a once-in-a-century president”.But Trump cannot play out his entire presidency on a reckless high wire without eventually falling off – potentially taking America with him into a steep decline into the unknown. Continue reading...

Having received assurances from Singapore over refined fuels, diesel supply will surely be next on the prime minister’s agendaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese isn’t coming back from Singapore with a shipload of diesel in his checked baggage. That doesn’t mean his whistle-stop visit wasn’t a success, or that it won’t be seen in future as a pivotal moment if fuel stocks continue to be choked by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.The government never expected that the quick whip to Singapore, with just one full day on the ground, would elicit a new supply of petrol or diesel. Singapore already supplies 55% of Australia’s unleaded, 22% of jet fuel and 15% of diesel. Continue reading...

Ex-footballer to decorate gnome for annual event after organisers lift ban on the ornaments dating back to 1927 Rare roses and stunning irises are usually among the most coveted items at the Chelsea flower show. But this year, the star attraction might be pink, sequined – and decorated by David Beckham.The former England football captain is co-designing a garden at the May event with King Charles and as part of that effort he has been given a garden gnome to paint. It will be auctioned off for charity. Continue reading...

Engineers link reduced lifespan of roads to shift to heavier cars, some bought to navigate damaged surfacesDrivers who choose SUVs are compounding the pothole problem, experts have warned, as research showed hundreds of thousands of people bought bigger cars to navigate damaged roads.Scientists said the cumulative effect of increasing numbers of heavier vehicles was a contributory factor in Britain’s potholes getting worse. Continue reading...