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• U.S. Central Command has announced the commencement of new military strikes targeting Iran, escalating tensions between the two nations. • The conflict is impacting global markets, specifically influencing oil prices and maritime security within the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. • Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the U.S. government on X, comparing its foreign policy to "bullying" and "cheating" in the context of its role as a World Cup host.

• The U.S. military has launched a new round of strikes against Iran, as confirmed by U.S. Central Command. • The attacks follow a period of "mixed messaging" from President Trump regarding the intended scope and scale of the military conflict. • These escalations are occurring amidst heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and are impacting global oil prices.

• Prince Harry has commenced a week-long visit to the UK to participate in various charity engagements. • During this trip, the Duke of Sussex is awaiting the court's verdict in a privacy lawsuit filed against the publisher of the Daily Mail. • The case centers on allegations of unlawful privacy intrusions, highlighting the ongoing legal tension between the royal family and the British press.

Result of court case against Associated Newspapers Limited expected this afternoon The Duke of Sussex, who arrived in the UK on Monday, had been hoping to stay at his father’s official residence for one night this week while he visits London.He is also going to Birmingham as he takes on a series of charity engagements including promoting the Invictus Games. Continue reading...

Meeting of 32 member states comes at crucial time for alliance after tensions with US over Iran and GreenlandNato leaders, including the moody US president Donald Trump, are set to meet in Ankara, Turkey today and tomorrow for the latest round of talks on transatlantic defence.As our defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh says, there has been “a remarkable effort behind the scenes at Trump-proofing whatever happens in Ankara” given his tendency to go into angry outbursts directed at the allies.“Trump is expected to bring 1,400 people with him to Turkey, including those responsible for bringing back his toilet waste – a standard protocol to prevent other countries analysing the material for intelligence about his health. That the US is coming in large numbers is seen as a relief, given that Trump has at times flirted with the idea of leaving Nato, including at a summit in 2018.” Continue reading...

• Japan is initiating a massive automation surge, with the company Noetra preparing to deploy 10 million robots across the nation by 2040. • These machines will be integrated into critical sectors, including hospitals, kitchens, and factories, to streamline operations and increase efficiency. • The initiative is a strategic response to Japan's aging population, aiming to utilize robotics to provide essential care for elderly citizens.

Millions gather in streets and officials appear in public at Tehran funeral of Ali Khamenei in show of defiance. Plus, origin of mysterious ‘space balls’ in Australia revealedGood morning.Iran’s week of mass funeral processions ⁠for the former supreme leader Ali Khamenei has seen public calls for the killing of Donald Trump. Khamenei was killed along with other members of his family on February 28, the first day of the US and Israeli war against Iran.Who made the direct call for the killing of Trump? During part of the ceremony, the poet Mohammad Rasouli said: “I swear by your blood; Trump’s murder is our responsibility. Why is the most bastard man in the world still alive? … Why should we not kill the man who killed our imam? It would be a disgrace if we did not.”Where is the new supreme leader? Appointed 10 days after his father’s death, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public or recorded any audio message for three months. His absence was made more conspicuous when his brothers, Mustafa, Massoud and Meysam, stood alongside one another beside their father’s coffin.What did Giménez say? He said: “[TPS] is meant to safeguard those who are either fleeing countries that are failed states and are at risk of going back to them or countries that really can’t handle them right now, as is the case with Venezuela that has suffered a natural disaster.”What did the court decide? The ruling gave the green light to plans to end TPS for more than 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians. TPS allows people to live and work in the US if the Department of Homeland Security deems their home countries unsafe due to war or natural disasters. Continue reading...

Millions join funeral procession in capital of Tehran to mourn Khamenei who was kiled in US-Israel airstrikes in FebruaryGood morning, and welcome to the Middle East live blog.Today marks the start of a mass funeral procession for Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Continue reading...