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Protests over Trump's 'damaging and dangerous' term spark outside US Embassy
An anti-Donald Trump protest has taken place outside the US Embassy in London, England today (April 1).Protestors from the campaign group Fossil Free London gathered outside the embassy to host a demonstration against the president and his administration. Campaigners on the ground say the protest has been carried out over the Trump admin's actions in Iran and the subsequent impact on crude oil prices. A gathering outside of the US Embassy started around 8:15am British Summer Time (3:15am EST), where attendees painted their faces and posed next to a mock-up of a gas station pump. Fake oil was also poured on the heads of some protestors. Two protestors speaking with The Mirror explained the aims of the protest. One, who gave their name as Rainbow, said, "We're here because we're protesting that we're locked into a really damaging and dangerous fossil fuels industry. We need to break away from these.""We need to have a just position to renewables. Oil is essentially killing us - it's killing the planet. We're just really trying to make a symbolic protest at how damaging it is. We're hurtling towards energy catastrophe and we're locked into systems that are damaging for people and energy bills."Fellow activist Rosie added, "We're outside the US Embassy because Trump's illegal war on Iran has led to massive spikes in the cost of our energy here in the UK. "As oil bosses profit massively, BP and Shell alone are set to make five billion dollars from the war in Iran and worse still Trump and Nigel Farage are using this crisis that they fueled and started as an excuse to drill for more fossil fuels.""It means that we should harness the power of the wind all around us on this island, the waves and the sun, because we don't fight imperial violent wars to get energy from the sun. It's all around us.""You look at what has happened since the war in Iran started - a massive spike in our energy prices and with more to come if this war doesn't stop soon."Campaigners from Fossil Free London held up signs saying “Stop Trump tying us into fossil fuels,” “Break free from climate crisis” and “Break free from big oil."
Nobel Prize-winning economist pinpoints major flaw in Trump's 'nervous' Iran war ploy
Donald Trump's plan for the war with Iran could cause even further trouble for taxpayers across the country, according to a Nobel Prize winner. Paul Krugman has warned that the president's current task in Iran is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Crude oil prices reached a staggering $100 a barrel earlier this week, and the veteran economist does not see the price improving any time soon. Even though the United States' own oil exporters profited from the Strait of Hormuz closure, Krugman claims there is no way this will help the average citizen. Writing in his Substack, he explained, "Now, America produces a lot of oil, and the domestic oil industry will be earning large windfall profits even as U.S. consumers suffer. But so what? "We don’t have any mechanism in place to capture and redistribute those windfall gains, so ordinary U.S. families will bear the full brunt of the global oil shock even though America is a net oil exporter.""The Fed could, in principle, try to look through the effects of the Strait crisis on business costs as well as direct effects on consumer prices. But given how nervous everyone is about the risk of 70s-type stagflation, it probably won’t."Krugman went on to suggest the reaction of the Federal Reserve could be a cause for concern. "There’s an additional, technical but important reason to be even more worried about soaring prices for diesel, jet fuel and industrial materials than about gasoline prices," he wrote. "It involves how the Federal Reserve is likely to react."The Fed normally bases its decisions about whether to reduce or increase interest rates on 'core' inflation — inflation excluding food and energy prices. The reason it does this is that food and energy prices are highly volatile and are usually a poor indicator of what inflation will be over the next few years.""So the Fed tries to 'look through' inflation fluctuations driven mainly by the prices of groceries and gasoline. For example, it didn’t raise rates in 2011, when there was a temporary uptick in inflation driven entirely by oil prices."
Trump insiders confirm he's improvising Iran war: 'Making the plan up as they go along'
President Donald Trump's off-the-cuff statements about the Iran war have sowed confusion among foreign leaders and financial markets, and within his own administration.Some of the 79-year-old president's aides and allies confirmed to Axios that Trump has been improvising his plan for the war, saying he likes to keep his options open and spitball ideas for the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation with various audiences, and they said he has vacillated between a major escalation and a swift resolution."Nobody knows in the end what he's really thinking," said one senior adviser."They had a plan for the first week and since then, they are making the plan up as they go along," added a former U.S. official.Some administration officials and outside allies argue the ambiguity is intentional. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who recently spoke with Trump, told Axios: "That's the plan — for you to not have a clue." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment, stating the objective is to remain "unpredictable." An unnamed official characterized the strategy as "12-dimensional" chess, claiming Trump deliberately contradicts himself to obscure his intentions.Current signals suggest Trump may be preparing to withdraw and declare victory within two to three weeks. He has repeatedly discussed U.S. success and potential exit scenarios. However, his private conversations increasingly focus on hawkish advisers like Graham and conservative commentator Mark Levin rather than those cautioning against escalation.The contradictions are apparent in simultaneous actions: Trump discusses exit strategies while simultaneously massing additional forces in the region, including potential invasion capabilities. Officials speculate that if an April 6 deadline passes without a negotiated settlement, Trump may authorize heavy bombing of Iranian infrastructure and nuclear facilities before withdrawing.Regional allies like Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates worry about leaving Iran weakened but unbowed."The Saudis sound like Mark Levin," one Trump adviser said. "They want the U.S. to finish the job by wiping Iran off the globe now. We don't want to."Additional complications include unresolved challenges regarding the Strait of Hormuz and potential ongoing "mowing the grass" operations — periodic strikes conducted after major combat concludes."The president said early on we might have to come back," another administration official said, "and we might have to. If we have to mow the lawn again, the grass won't be nearly as tall next time."Trump is scheduled to address the nation on Iran Wednesday evening, potentially offering the clarity his own advisers and international partners desperately seek.
'It was a test': Trump moves against NATO as members 'weren't there for us'
Donald Trump has suggested he has no interest in continuing with NATO and may even pull the United States out of the intergovernmental organization. The president has done much to anger the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's members this year, strongly implying he would take Greenland by force if necessary. His administration's strikes on Iran last month marked another contentious point for the president and his relationship with NATO, as he called on member nations to back the war. Speaking to The Telegraph, Trump said, “Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way."Trump went on to use the war in Ukraine as an example of where he felt the US had been let down by NATO members and other governments. Trump added, "Beyond not being there, it was actually hard to believe. And I didn’t do a big sale. I just said, ‘Hey’, you know, I didn’t insist too much. I just think it should be automatic."We’ve been there automatically, including Ukraine. Ukraine wasn’t our problem. It was a test, and we were there for them, and we would always have been there for them. They weren’t there for us."The president's comments on NATO follow on from Secretary of State Marco Rubio denouncing the intergovernmental organization. In an interview with Hashem Ahelbarra of Al Jazeera, the Donald Trump appointee criticized the NATO alliance for not backing the US war on Iran, and then stated, “I think it was very disappointing. You have this – and again, look, the President and our country will have to reexamine all of this after this operation is over.""But one of the reasons why NATO is beneficial to the United States is it gives us basing rights for contingencies. It allows us to station troops and aircraft and weapons in parts of the world that we wouldn’t normally have bases, and that includes in much of Europe.”
'Uh oh': Speculation swirls over rare simultaneous addresses from world leaders
Three world leaders have or will be addressing the nation on Wednesday regarding the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, news of which sparked an immediate online frenzy of speculation and fear.“Uh oh,” wrote progressive influencer Hasan Piker Wednesday in a social media post on X to their more than 1.6 million followers.“Uhhhhh guys. What's going on?” wrote another in response to the news, X user “Elections Joe,” a political commentator with more than 20,000 followers.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a “rare national address,” urged Australians early Wednesday morning to switch to public transport and to prepare for difficult times as a result of the ongoing Iran conflict, which has sent oil prices soaring. United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a similar address Wednesday, warning Britons of an impending “crisis.”And the White House revealed on Tuesday that President Donald Trump would be addressing the nation Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET to provide “an important update” on his administration’s war against Iran.“This seems coordinated,” wrote academic and author Sunny Singh in a social media post on X, reacting to the news of three world leaders issuing major addresses on the same day.“This reminds me of March, 2020,” wrote Aidan Simardone, a Canadian immigration lawyer, in a social media post on X, referencing the brief time period leading up to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.And X user “Rational Aussie,” a popular political commentator who’s amassed more than 33,000 followers, speculated that the multi-national address could be an effort to “get ahead of incredibly bad news that will follow shortly.”uh oh https://t.co/P3eMQHikCu— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) April 1, 2026
Asia ramps up use of dirty fuels to cover energy shortfall triggered by Iran war
South Korea will delay the shutdown of coal-fired plants, while the Philippines also plans to boost the output of its coal-burning plantsGovernments across Asia are ramping up their use of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, as they try to cover huge energy shortfalls triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.The move has triggered warnings from climate experts who point to coal’s devastating environmental impact, and say the energy crisis should be a wake up call for governments to invest in renewables, which can offer a more stable supply that is not exposed to price shocks. Continue reading...
Trump's latest threat 'extremely hard to justify' under international law: expert
President Donald Trump's latest threat against the Iranian regime is "extremely hard to justify" under international law, according to one expert. Admiral James G. Stavridis told CNN's Abby Phillip on "The Arena" on Monday that Trump's threat to bomb Iran's water and energy infrastructure if the country does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be a difficult move to defend. Certain parts of the threat seem to align with international law, but attacking civilian infrastructure could extend the war in Iran for years to come, he added. "So striking oil. No, I don't see that as illegal under international law," Stavridis said. "The electric grid is kind of in a gray area. It depends on whether you are striking portions of it that supported military activity, or going after the water supplies, which would be extremely hard to justify under international law."Trump has tried for several weeks to get the Iranian regime to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and so far those efforts have come up short. The waterway is responsible for roughly 20% of global energy trade, and its closure is one reason why gas prices in the U.S. have skyrocketed since the war in Iran began. Stavridis added that striking Iran's water infrastructure could cause a ripple effect in the region. "Leaving aside the legalities ... the practical effect would be batteries released against the Gulf Arabs' desalination plant. So if this thing turns into a water war, it's going to take years for the region to come back," he said.
'I want my vote back!' Disgusted viewers crush MAGA TV network with anti-Trump mail
Conservative viewers unhappy about the war in Iran overwhelmed the pro-MAGA Real America's Voice network with emails opposing President Donald Trump.During the Human Events show on Monday, host Jack Posobiec spent nearly 10 minutes reading mail from people who had voted for Trump.While a minority supported the war in Iran, the vast majority of viewers expressed concerns about Operation Epic Fury."Cannot dispute the fact that the U.S. and Israel have clearly won this operation," a viewer named Chuck said. "However, if there is a regime change that excludes the Ayatollahs and basically returns Iran to pre-1979, it will have been a loss. We can't continue bombing campaigns every two years, wasting tax dollars."Ted, 78, called the war "a necessary step for the gospel to be presented before the rapture."Many commenters noted that Republicans were in danger of losing midterm elections because of the war. Others pointed out that prices were rising.Read some of the remarks from viewers below."Wasting tax dollars.""Diesel prices are sky high.""Halting our likelihood of success in the midterms.""This war is the stupidest thing ever.""A complete betrayal and flip-flop of the no new wars policy.""A trap that will last months, if not years.""Hate this war.""It is destroying MAGA.""The Dems will win the House.""The worst thing Trump has done.""Hurting the very people that Trump has fought for.""Gas is $4 a gallon.""This economy will tank.""Don't feel this was America first.""Very disappointing.""Not what he promised.""Fearful for our nation's future.""Not happy at all.""Trump has not been true to his word.""We're going to lose the House and Senate.""I voted for Trump, and I want my vote back.""The most infuriating one to two months.""Completely at my wits' end.""The opposite of what I voted for""Unnecessary side quest.""The potential to wreck the trump presidency.""Disgusted by this war.""I'm going independent, but will likely never vote again.""Feel like it's useless.""I'm done voting, period.""A straight con job.""War should be a last resort."
'Shell-shocked' CEOs are done staying quiet as Trump torches their bottom lines: report
Donald Trump's Iran war is testing the limits of corporate America's tolerance — and the only thing keeping CEOs from publicly attacking the president is fear of retribution, according to Fortune's Diane Brady reporting from CERAWeek in Houston.But that restraint may be ending. As the economic damage mounts, business leaders are signaling they may finally be willing to risk Trump's wrath and speak out against policies they view as catastrophic for their bottom lines.The stakes are becoming impossible to ignore. Economists warn recession odds are now high. Oil prices have surged more than 50 percent. The war is costing U.S. taxpayers approximately $1 billion a day while destroying 10,000 jobs from the economic shockwave alone.Energy sector CEOs are particularly alarmed. At CERAWeek, leaders from Dow and Chevron warned of dire consequences if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked to shipping. The blockade has forced Asia to scramble for alternative energy sources, while Russia gains little thanks to its own war with Ukraine.Signs of CEO defection are mounting. Chubb CEO Evan Greenberg told Brady that "democracy is so fragile." Citadel's Ken Griffin revealed that he and his CEO peers find the Trump administration's favoritism "extremely distasteful."More than 60 corporate leaders — including CEOs from 3M, Best Buy, Cargill, General Mills, Land O'Lakes, Target, Xcel Energy, and UnitedHealth Group — have already signed a letter of protest against the administration's ICE enforcement actions in Minnesota.One CEO admitted to Brady that they are "shell-shocked" by administration policies but feel constrained by fiduciary duty to avoid putting their companies in Trump's crosshairs by speaking publicly.That calculus could shift dramatically. If the war begins to seriously impact stock prices and corporate profits, business leaders may conclude that the financial damage outweighs the political danger of breaking ranks with the president.
News outlets falsely report Somaliland called for extradition of Ilhan Omar
Reports, based on X post from unofficial account, follow JD Vance’s accusations and threats of finding ‘legal remedies’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxSeveral news outlets have falsely reported that Somaliland’s government called for the extradition of Ilhan Omar, basing their stories on a post from an X account that does not represent the state despite its claims to the contrary.Fox News, the New York Post, Sinclair Broadcast Group’s the National News Desk and the Independent ran stories on the US representative. The reports centred on a post by @RepOfSomaliland in reaction to claims by JD Vance that Omar had committed immigration fraud, which echoed prior allegations against the Somali-born Minnesota Democrat that she has vehemently denied. Continue reading...
Interpol arrest warrant requested in Congo-Brazzaville for Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas
Football federation president on the run with wife and sonConviction in absentia of wide-ranging corruption chargesAuthorities in Congo-Brazzaville have applied to Interpol for an international arrest warrant against Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, the president of the country’s football federation, Fecofoot, after he was convicted of embezzling $1.1m in Fifa funds.Mayolas is on the run with his wife and son after they were all sentenced to life imprisonment this month for embezzling funds provided by world football’s governing body as part of its Covid-19 relief plan in February 2021. As the Guardian revealed last year, that included almost $500,000 earmarked for the Congo women’s team. Continue reading...
Weather tracker: Thunderstorms drench UAE and Saudi Arabia
Abnormally strong jet stream triggers deluge in Middle East, while north Africa braces for 60-80mph gustsAn unusual weather pattern unleashed severe thunderstorms across parts of the Middle East last week, battering countries including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The Arabian peninsula – typically dominated by arid desert climates – received up to 150mm of rain in just a few days.The deluge was caused by an abnormally strong jet stream, which helped a deep area of low pressure to develop north of Saudi Arabia. This, in turn, drew moist tropical air from the Indian Ocean and triggered intense storms. Continue reading...
