Keir Starmer leans into his Iran response to resonate with voters

Labour’s sober election pitch puts the prime minister’s handling of the war in the Middle East at its centre

Stock futures are little changed after Dow posts best day since April 2025 following ceasefire deal: Live updates

The latest reading of the personal consumption expenditure price index, the Fed's favored inflation gauge, is due out at 8:30 a.m. ET Thursday morning.

US-Iran ceasefire unlikely to cause major fuel price drop: Hong Kong economists

A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is unlikely to significantly ease fuel prices in the near term without a complete end to the conflict, Hong Kong economists have warned, citing uncertainties in the volatile situation. Economist Simon Lee Siu-po of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Shenzhen Finance Institute said that uncertainties remained, adding that fuel prices were still subject to volatility unless a permanent ceasefire was achieved. “There are lots of variable...

By Fiona Sun

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures pause rally as Iran claims ceasefire broken in under 24 hours

Kyiv calls for Ukraine ceasefire after Iran truce: ‘American decisiveness works’

The war in the Middle East suspended U.S.-led efforts to end the four-year Ukraine war

By AFP

Best books on Iran: 5 reads beyond Persepolis and Reading Lolita in Tehran

By Aishwarya Khosla

World Bank cuts Middle East growth forecast after energy sector turmoil

DUBAI: The World Bank has slashed its 2026 growth forecast for Middle East economies as a consequence of the US-Israel war against Iran, and warned of pervasive risks in a report published on Wednesday. President Donald Tru­mp late on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire in the conflict. Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran would stop counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the waterway. The closure of the strategic strait, and destruction of energy and public infrastructure, had di...

By none@none.com (Reuters)

Seoul shares open lower amid lingering Middle East uncertainties

South Korean stocks opened lower Thursday as investors still doubt whether a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran will proceed amid woes over different versions of the agreement terms. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 50.72 points, or 0.86 percent, to 5,821.62 as of 9:15 a.m. On Wednesday, the main index soared nearly 7 percent after Washington and Tehran agreed to the two-week ceasefire, which sharply drove global crude prices lower. Overnight, tensions in the Middle East

By The Korea Herald

Gold gains as Middle East ceasefire sinks energy prices, easing inflation worries

393 gas stations temporarily close amid fuel price surges – PNP

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday reported that 393 gas stations have temporarily closed due to rising fuel prices caused by the ongoing Middle East war. “As of April 8, 2026, the number of closed stations we have monitored has reached 393,” said PNP spokesperson Police Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said at a

By postie

Petrol still pricey? Here’s why the drop in oil isn’t showing up at the pump in Malaysia yet, says MOF

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said Malaysia’s pump fuel prices have not declined as...

Fuel, energy prices expected to remain despite Hormuz Strait reopening

Prime Minister Rob Jetten cautioned that the impact on energy prices could be felt in households for many months, even after the Middle East ceasefire. “We shouldn’t underestimate this,” he said.

By 87922

Oil rises as investors remain wary US-Iran ceasefire will open supply flow

Oil prices rose on Thursday amid investors' concerns that supply from the key Middle East producing region may not fully resume amid doubts that the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran will hold, and as the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains restricted.

By Abubakar Ibrahim