Australian petrol stations report 25% surge in demand as governments plan for ‘biggest energy crisis in history’

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on March 25, 2026, that President Trump will hit Iran harder if Tehran does not accept military defeat. • The US is closely tracking efforts to secure oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid Iranian threats. • This escalation threat underscores Trump's strategy to force Iran into capitulation, potentially prolonging the conflict without regime change.

• Iranian strikes on US bases in the Middle East prompted thousands of American troops to relocate to hotels and office spaces throughout the region on March 26, 2026. • The attacks represent an existential threat to Gulf states, which urged the UN to intervene amid escalating regional tensions. • This displacement highlights vulnerabilities in US forward bases, forcing operational shifts and increased reliance on civilian infrastructure during ongoing conflict.

Today show host calls 84-year-old mother’s disappearance ‘unbearable’ in first interview since possible kidnappingSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxSavannah Guthrie says she fears her own fame could have been the reason for her mother Nancy’s disappearance, which she has called “unbearable” in her first interview since the possible kidnapping.Guthrie, a main co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today, discussed the possible reasons for the disappearance of Nancy, who is 84 years old and was reported missing on 1 February from her home near Tucson, Arizona, in an interview with Guthrie’s colleague Hoda Kotb. Continue reading...

Remarks come after defense secretary calls for changes to military’s chaplain corps, which had been ‘watered down’The defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, prayed during a religious service at the Pentagon that there be “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy”.The Christian worship service, held on Wednesday before military and civilian workers at the Pentagon, was Hegseth’s first since the Iran war began, the Associated Press reported. Continue reading...

Deposed Venezuelan president and his wife, who both pleaded not guilty, were captured by US military in JanuaryThe deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is again scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday for his “narco-terrorism” case after his capture by US military forces earlier this year.US special forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on 3 January in a controversial pre-dawn raid during an assault on Caracas that reportedly killed 100 people. Continue reading...

Banks, governments and tech providers urged to upgrade security because current systems will soon be obsolete Banks, governments and technology providers need to be prepared for quantum computer hackers capable of breaking most existing encryption systems by 2029, Google has warned.The tech company said in a blogpost that quantum computers would pose a “significant threat to current cryptographic standards” before the end of the decade and urged other companies to follow its lead. Continue reading...

Study into how fertilisation could work in space finds sperm may get disorientated when trying to find an eggSperm in space are likely to get disoriented and lost while struggling to find their way to an egg, a new study has found.When exposed to microgravity in experiments, sperm tumble around like an untethered astronaut, according to Adelaide University researchers. Continue reading...

Laurence Gray charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorist organizations An Arizona licensed gun dealer was charged this month with attempting to provide material support to terrorist organizations after federal agents caught him allegedly selling a series of rifles and guns to two Mexican cartels.The federal charges against the American firearms dealer come amid years of pressure by the Mexican government to stop the flow of weapons into the country. Mexico’s violent and bloody internal conflict, between drug cartels and the Mexican government, has been largely fueled by American weapons smuggled into the country. Continue reading...

Lawmakers consider latest bill that targets trans people for using the bathroom that matches their gender identityIdaho lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it a crime for transgender people to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity – even inside privately owned businesses.At least 19 states, including Idaho, already have laws barring transgender people from using bathrooms and changing rooms that align with their gender in schools and, in some cases, other public places. The LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Movement Advancement Project’s tracking of the laws shows that three other states – Florida, Kansas and Utah – have made it a criminal offense in some circumstances to violate the bathroom laws. Continue reading...

The new album draws from the musician’s early childhood memories of growing up in Liverpool and his relationship with Lennon, with musical styles that span his entire career• Alexis Petridis on single Days We Left Behind: ‘As McCartney-esque as possible’Paul McCartney has announced his 18th solo album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane – its title a reference to the route from Liverpool to the Speke shoreline, the area where the former Beatle spent his young childhood.A press release described the 14-track record as McCartney’s most introspective album yet, a “collection of rare and revealing glimpses into memories never-before shared, along with some newly inspired love songs”, presumably about McCartney’s third wife, Nancy Shevell, whom he married in 2011. The musical styles are said to span his entire career, including “Wings-style rock, Beatles-style harmonies, McCartney-style grooves, understated intimacy, melody-driven storytelling, character songs”. Continue reading...

Crofts helped define the sound of yacht rock with 1970s hits such as Summer Breeze and Diamond GirlDash Crofts, the yacht rock musician who helped craft 70s hits such as Summer Breeze and Diamond Girl as part of duo Seals and Crofts, has died at age 85.The news was announced on social media by the duo’s producer, Louie Shelton. He wrote: “Sad to hear our dear brother and partner in music has passed away today. Sending love and prayers to all his family and many fans. R.I.P. my brother.....Dash Crofts.” A family member confirmed that that Crofts died due to complications following heart surgery. Continue reading...

Terms of reference are to seek fullest disclosure of information and to produce a report by spring 2028UK politics live – latest updatesThe government has announced the formal start of the promised official inquiry into the violent policing at the Orgreave coking plant during the 1984-85 miners’ strike and the discredited prosecutions of 95 men that followed.Chaired by Pete Wilcox, the bishop of Sheffield, the inquiry was announced in July by the then home secretary, Yvette Cooper. The government has since worked on appointing an expert panel to consider the evidence. Continue reading...