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- Oil prices surge after Trump pledges to maintain US military action in Iran
- French mayor removes EU flag, emphasising nationalist sentiments in Carcassonne
- Trump attends Supreme Court hearing on citizenship in unusual silent role
- Poland’s energy ministry calls for flexibility amid EU coordinated response
- Knesset approves death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murder
- Migrants die in Mediterranean as hypothermia claims lives near Lampedusa
- Iran’s president criticises US military presence and historical interventions
- Hungary lifts veto, enabling first €90 billion loan payment to Ukraine
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Oil prices surge after Trump pledges to maintain US military action in Iran
7:00 am
Get you up to speed: Oil prices surge after Trump pledges to maintain US military action in Iran
Donald Trump stated that the United States would continue its attacks on Iran without committing to a specific timeline to end the conflict. Following his announcement, oil prices climbed more than $5, with Brent crude futures rising to $107.49 per barrel.
After Donald Trump’s address, oil prices surged, with Brent crude futures rising by 6.3% to £107.49 per barrel, reflecting investor fears over ongoing conflicts in the region. According to a Reuters/Ipsos survey, 60% of American voters disapproved of the war in Iran, while 66% expressed a desire for a rapid end to US involvement.
Following Donald Trump’s address, oil prices surged over 5% as he stated that the United States would continue its attacks on Iran without committing to a specific timeline to end the war. Trump also indicated that key targets for future actions would include Iran’s electricity generation and oil infrastructure.
Oil prices spike again after Trump threatens to bomb Iran ‘back to the Stone Ages’ | News World
Donald Trump’s prime-time address to the nation sent oil prices surging back above $100 per barrel after he repeated his threat to bomb Iran ‘back to the Stone Ages’.
The US president covered little new ground in his 19-minute speech, declining to set out a concrete plan for ending the war beyond boasting that the job will be finished ‘very fast’.
He swerved other major unresolved issues like access to the Strait of Hormuz – once again telling countries, including many US allies, reliant on Gulf oil to ‘take the lead’ – and the status of Iran’s enriched uranium.
Oil rose, stocks fell and the dollar firmed shortly after the speech, reflecting widespread concern that the conflict is likely to drag on for some time.
Despite regularly mocking Iran’s navy and air force as having been decimated by US and Israeli air raids, Trump said the nation will continue to be hit ‘extremely hard’ for another two or three weeks.
‘We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong,’ he added.
‘In the meantime, discussions are ongoing. Yet if during this period of time, no deal is made, we have our eyes on key targets.’
Those key targets, he said, would be Iran’s electricity generation and oil infrastructure.
Oil jumps over 5% after Trump says US to keep up attacks on Iran
Oil prices climbed more than $5 on Thursday, as President Donald Trump said the United States would keep up attacks on Iran without committing to a specific timeline to end the war, fanning investor fears about sustained disruptions to supply.
Brent crude futures rose $6.33, or 6.3%, to $107.49 per barrel by 0407 GMT.
US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $5.28, or 5.3%, to $105.40 per barrel.
The gains followed an earlier fall of more than $1 in both benchmarks prior to Trump’s televised speech to the nation, after having settled lower in the previous session.
Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, sparking swift retaliation by the Islamic republic which responded with missile attacks across the region. The war has dragged in global powers, upended the world’s energy and transport sectors, and brought chaos to even usually peaceful areas of the volatile region. (Photo by UGC / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT AFP – SOURCE: UGC / UNKNOWN – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS – NO RESALE -” decoding=”sync”/>
Fire erupting at an oil depot in Iran’s capital Tehran (Picture: UGC/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump added that countries that get most of their oil supply from the Gulf region should take the lead in opening the strait.
The UK, France and other US allies have said they are willing to help to keep the waterway open – but only after hostilities have ceased.
‘They can do it easily,’ Trump said. ‘We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on.’
Trump ticked through a timeline of past American involvement in conflicts and noted that the ongoing war in Iran had lasted just 32 days, seeming to appeal for more time to achieve his aims.
‘World War I lasted one year, seven months and five days,’ he said. ‘World War II lasted for three years, eight months and 25 days.’
Trump, who was referring to the time the US was involved in those wars, also added references to Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.
A plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran, Iran (Picture: AP)
Washington, District Of Columbia, USA: In this image made with a long exposure, United States President Donald J Trump addresses the nation to give an update of the war against Iran from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. 01 Apr 2026 Pictured: April 1, 2026, Washington, District Of Columbia, USA: United States President Donald J Trump addresses the nation to give an update of the war against Iran from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Photo credit: ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com [email protected]” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy”/>
Donald Trump addresses the nation to give an update of the war against Iran from the Cross Hall of the White House (Picture: Zuma Press/Mega)
He said US forces had delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield in the past four weeks.
Trump also insisted military action was ‘so powerful, so brilliant’ that ‘one of the most powerful countries’ is ‘really no longer a threat’.
However, air sirens blared across both Doha and Tel Aviv while he spoke, illustrating how the Islamic Republic is still able to wreak havoc across the Middle East, despite taking heavy losses.
Trump has expressed anger that NATO allies have not offered to help open the strait, even threatening to withdraw from the 76-year-old alliance.
But he made no mention of the bloc in his address.
The speech appeared unlikely to move the needle of public sentiment at a time when polling shows many Americans feel the US military has gone too far in Iran and as gas and oil prices remain high.
In a Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted last weekend, 60% of voters said they disapproved of the war, while 35% approved.
Some 66% of respondents said the US should work to end its involvement in the war quickly, even if that meant not achieving the goals set out by the administration.
Trump, meanwhile, has flirted with options both to escalate and de-escalate the conflict and his next moves are unclear, even to some close advisers.
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French mayor removes EU flag, emphasising nationalist sentiments in Carcassonne
6:00 am
French mayor removes EU flag, emphasising nationalist sentiments in Carcassonne
Flag Removal
French citizens are removing the EU flag from public buildings, with Carcassonne’s mayor, Christophe Barthès, expressing support for the action in a viral social media post.
French citizens are removing the EU flag from public buildings, with Carcassonne’s mayor, Christophe Barthès, expressing support for the action in a viral social media post.
Political Shift
Recent actions by National Rally mayors to remove EU flags highlight a rising Eurosceptic sentiment, reflecting broader political trends and the party’s growing influence in French governance.
Recent actions by National Rally mayors to remove EU flags highlight a rising Eurosceptic sentiment, reflecting broader political trends and the party’s growing influence in French governance.
Official remark
“Out with the European flags at the town hall, in with the French flags!” stated Christophe Barthès, the newly-elected mayor of Carcassonne.
“Out with the European flags at the town hall, in with the French flags!” stated Christophe Barthès, the newly-elected mayor of Carcassonne.
Key developments
French citizens are removing the EU flag from local government buildings, led by newly-elected National Rally mayor Christophe Barthès of Carcassonne, stirring anti-EU sentiment in France.
The video showing the flag’s removal, posted on social media, reflects Barthès’s Eurosceptic beliefs, common among the National Rally, though it misrepresents widespread anti-EU activities across France.
Contrary to claims, no French law mandates the display of the EU flag on town halls, as such practices have been based on custom rather than legal obligation.
Are the French removing the EU flag from public buildings and is it illegal?
Published on •Updated
French citizens are tearing down the EU flag from town halls and schools to reclaim their country from Brussels, according to a viral X post that is fuelling a long-running anti-EU narrative depicting the bloc as “tyrannical”.
The post shows a video next to a picture of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In the video we see a man taking down an EU flag that had been flying alongside the French and Occitan flags.
A reverse image search of the video leads us to the X account of Christophe Barthès, the newly-elected mayor of Carcassonne and a member of the far-right National Rally party, who posted the clip to his profile on 29 March.
“Out with the European flags at the town hall, in with the French flags!” he said.
The Carcassonne mayor’s office did not respond to our request for comment as of the time of publishing.
Nevertheless, the video is authentic and reflects Barthès’s Eurosceptic views, which are typical of the National Rally in general. However, it’s misleading to suggest that an anti-EU flag wave has swept through France.
Other newly-elected National Rally mayors have since done the same, such as Carla Muti in Canohès, near Perpignan.
Do town halls legally have to fly the European flag?
The story has also prompted misleading claims about whether flying European flags from public buildings in France is legally required.
Some social media users argue a 2019 law forces town halls in communes with more than 1,500 inhabitants to fly the French and European flags, as well as display France’s national motto (“liberté, égalité, fraternité”) and a portrait of the president.
However, there’s currently no French law requiring town halls to display the European flag. Those that have up until now have done so as a matter of custom rather than any legal obligation.
In fact, the same bill would also force them to fly the French flag, as even this is not legally required at the moment.
As things stand, the famous French tricolour flag only needs to be flown during national ceremonies, when welcoming foreign heads of state or government, or when it needs to be hung at half-mast during times of official mourning, according to France’s Ministry of the Interior.
A government directive specifies that the French flag should take the “place of honour”, meaning the European should be on the right from the building’s perspective and appearing on the left to a viewer standing in the street.
Nevertheless, there is another government directive saying that the EU flag must be flown on Europe Day, 9 May, and a law that says schools have to fly both the European and French flags all the time.
The 2013 “Peillon law” says that the French motto, the France’s tricolour flag and the European flag must be displayed on the facades of public and private secondary schools and educational establishments.
The ‘EU flag’ is actually the flag of Europe as a whole
The removal of the European flag is often seen as a slight against the European Union, but the flag actually finds its origins in the separate Council of Europe.
The pan-European human rights organisation, which counts 46 members compared to the EU’s 27, adopted the blue flag with 12 stars as a symbol to represent the continent in 1955.
As such, while the flag is most commonly associated with and used to represent the EU, it still technically covers a number of countries outside the bloc and the continent as a whole.
Trump attends Supreme Court hearing on citizenship in unusual silent role
5:02 am
Media Lens: Trump attends Supreme Court hearing on citizenship in unusual silent role
Trump attends Supreme Court arguments on citizenship.
President Donald Trump attended Supreme Court arguments on citizenship. His role was noted as a silent observer, as reported in coverage in the latest US news and US and global politics.
What happened
President Donald Trump attended Supreme Court arguments regarding citizenship, taking on the unusual role of a silent observer. This event marks a significant moment in legal proceedings concerning citizenship rights.
The hearing has fostered discussions about Trump’s past policies and their implications for birthright citizenship. Legal experts and commentators are closely analyzing the potential outcomes of these arguments.
Key facts
- Donald Trump attended a Supreme Court hearing regarding citizenship.
- He played an unusual role as a silent observer during the arguments.
- The hearing discussed issues surrounding birthright citizenship.
- The case has significant implications for immigration law in the United States.
Where coverage differs
- Outlet A emphasizes Trump’s role as a silent observer during the Supreme Court arguments, while Outlet B emphasizes the potential regrets he might have regarding this visit.
- Outlet C foregrounds the reactions and implications surrounding Trump’s citizenship arguments rather than his presence at the Supreme Court.
- Outlet D prioritizes the legal challenges and responses from the justices over Trump’s personal involvement in the case.
One story, four angles
The Washington Post – Trump attends Supreme Court hearing in unusual role: Silent observer
Publication: The Washington Post | Primary framing pattern: Political | Tone: Neutral | Intensity: 5/10 | Sentiment: 0 | Legal precision: Medium
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Espresso Shot: This article emphasizes Trump’s passive observation during Supreme Court arguments about citizenship, highlighting his political stature amidst ongoing legal debates. Contributions from several outlets underscore Trump’s critical public persona in legal matters.
Publication emphasis: The article focuses on Trump’s unusual role as merely an observer in this high-profile legal setting.
Framing analysis: The piece foregrounds Trump’s passivity and the implications of his lack of verbal engagement, juxtaposing it against the dynamic legal discussions and external political implications.
Bias: Selection: Highlights Trump’s observer role; Language: Descriptive and factual; Omission: Lack of deeper insight into the implications of his presence.
Assessment: The report conveys the essence of Trump’s role without deeper analysis of potential ramifications.
CNN – Why Trump might regret his historic visit to the Supreme Court
Publication: CNN | Primary framing pattern: Consequence | Tone: Analytical | Intensity: 7/10 | Sentiment: -1 | Legal precision: High
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Espresso Shot: This article analyzes potential consequences of Trump’s presence in court, predicting political fallout from his role. Insights from legal experts create a thoughtful discourse around implications of his actions and historical significance.
Publication emphasis: The report centers on the potential negative repercussions for Trump stemming from his Supreme Court visit.
Framing analysis: The focus is on ramifications for Trump’s future political endeavors, contrasting this with the legal context and historical backdrop, while downplaying speculative elements.
Bias: Selection: Emphasizes risks associated with Trump’s actions; Language: Critical and cautionary; Omission: Limited support for alternative perspectives on potential positive outcomes.
Assessment: The content provides a detailed exploration of implications, showing a clear critical viewpoint regarding Trump’s decisions.
NBC News – Inside Scoop newsletter: Inside the Supreme Court arguments
Publication: NBC News | Primary framing pattern: Legal | Tone: Objective | Intensity: 4/10 | Sentiment: 0 | Legal precision: Very high
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Espresso Shot: This piece provides a detailed look at the legal arguments presented during the Supreme Court hearings, examining the evidentiary elements relevant to Trump’s citizenship agenda. The report is grounded in legal analysis and expert commentary.
Publication emphasis: The article emphasizes the legal reasoning and arguments dissected in the court regarding citizenship laws.
Framing analysis: Focus is on legal frameworks and implications for citizenship law, minimal attention is given to political aspects, making it largely a legal analysis piece.
Bias: Selection: Highlights legal discussions; Language: Focussed and formal; Omission: Few references to political consequences of the legal findings.
Assessment: This report excels in clarity and detail, providing a robust analysis of the legal proceedings without political overtones.
MS NOW – How John Roberts’ retort sums up the case against Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Publication: MS NOW | Primary framing pattern: Moral | Tone: Critical | Intensity: 8/10 | Sentiment: -2 | Legal precision: Medium
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Espresso Shot: This article critiques Trump’s push for limiting birthright citizenship by highlighting Chief Justice Roberts’ key responses during the arguments, presenting them as a moral indicator against Trump’s stance and showcasing potential biases in his policies.
Publication emphasis: The report focuses on the ethical implications of Trump’s citizenship proposals as reflected in Roberts’ questions to the administration’s lawyers.
Framing analysis: Centered on the moral ramifications and legal principles, it contrasts Trump’s attempts with judicial scrutiny and ethical considerations surrounding citizenship rights.
Bias: Selection: Emphasizes moral critiques of Trump’s stance; Language: Strongly critical; Omission: Limited reporting on conservative viewpoints defending the proposals.
Assessment: The article offers a sharp moral critique of Trump’s actions while deriving authority from legal testimonies during the hearing.
Food for thought
The Washington Post presents the strongest legal framing of Trump’s involvement in the Supreme Court, portraying him as a “silent observer,” signaling a passive role amidst active litigation. In contrast, CNN adopts a more escalatory framing, suggesting that Trump might “regret” his Supreme Court visit, indicating potential ramifications from his previous policies. While the Post’s narrative emphasizes legal decorum and neutrality, CNN’s alarmist tone hints at an impending backlash, embedding a sense of tension over Trump’s approach to court challenges. The facts do not change. What changes is where scrutiny lands.
Poland’s energy ministry calls for flexibility amid EU coordinated response
3:00 am
Poland’s energy ministry calls for flexibility amid EU coordinated response
Poland’s Stance
Poland’s Secretary of State at the Energy Ministry, Wojciech Wrochna, has emphasised the need for “flexibility” in energy policy discussions.
Poland’s Secretary of State at the Energy Ministry, Wojciech Wrochna, has emphasised the need for “flexibility” in energy policy discussions.
Coordinated Response
Poland’s call for flexibility in energy policy underscores the European Commission‘s emphasis on the necessity for a unified approach among member states.
Poland’s call for flexibility in energy policy underscores the European Commission‘s emphasis on the necessity for a unified approach among member states.
Official Call
Wojciech Wrochna emphasised the need for “flexibility” in addressing the situation, underscoring that a coordinated response remains essential according to the European Commission.
Wojciech Wrochna emphasised the need for “flexibility” in addressing the situation, underscoring that a coordinated response remains essential according to the European Commission.
Key developments
Poland’s Secretary of State at the Energy Ministry, Wojciech Wrochna, emphasised the need for “flexibility” in energy strategies, highlighting the necessity of adapting to evolving market conditions.
The European Commission confirmed its stance, stating that a coordinated response among member states remains essential to ensure energy security and efficiency across the region.
EU capitals 'should drive response' to the Iran energy shock, Polish official tells EU News
Poland’s Secretary of State at the Energy Ministry, Wojciech Wrochna, has called for “flexibility”, while the European Commission maintains that a coordinated response is necessary.
Knesset approves death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murder
1:00 am
Knesset approves death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murder
Death Penalty Law
The Knesset approved the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israeli citizens on Monday.
The Knesset approved the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israeli citizens on Monday.
Legal Precedent
Approval of the death penalty sets a significant legal precedent in Israel, impacting judicial processes and human rights discussions surrounding capital punishment.
Approval of the death penalty sets a significant legal precedent in Israel, impacting judicial processes and human rights discussions surrounding capital punishment.
Seismic Shift
“The approval of the death penalty for Palestinians reflects a significant change in Israeli law,” stated a Knesset spokesperson following the controversial vote.
“The approval of the death penalty for Palestinians reflects a significant change in Israeli law,” stated a Knesset spokesperson following the controversial vote.
Key developments
On Monday, the Knesset confirmed a historic change in Israeli legislation, approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israeli citizens, marking a significant shift in legal policy.
This decision is set against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the region, with many institutional voices expressing concern over potential ramifications for security and human rights practices.
Watch: Israel's new death penalty law — how it works and why Europe is pushing back
It is a seismic shift in Israeli law. On Monday, the Knesset approved the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israeli citizens. The topic is very serious, and your reporter wants to look beyond the political theatre to the facts.
Migrants die in Mediterranean as hypothermia claims lives near Lampedusa
10:00 pm
Migrants die in Mediterranean as hypothermia claims lives near Lampedusa
Migrant tragedy
At least 20 migrants were rescued after a boat carrying dozens capsized off the coastal city of Bodrum, according to the Turkish Coast Guard Command.
At least 20 migrants were rescued after a boat carrying dozens capsized off the coastal city of Bodrum, according to the Turkish Coast Guard Command.
Migrant Deaths Rise
In 2026, 624 migrants have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean, highlighting the ongoing dangers of the migration route from North Africa.
In 2026, 624 migrants have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean, highlighting the ongoing dangers of the migration route from North Africa.
Mayor’s Statement
“All are believed to have died of hypothermia,” stated Mayor Filippo Mannino regarding the recent migrant fatalities.
“All are believed to have died of hypothermia,” stated Mayor Filippo Mannino regarding the recent migrant fatalities.
Key developments
Mayor Filippo Mannino confirmed that seven other migrants are being treated for hypothermia and hydrocarbon fume intoxication, following a tragic incident believed to involve deaths from cold exposure.
The UN’s International Organisation for Migration reported that 624 migrants have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean this year, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by those attempting to reach Europe.
Dozens killed in separate migrant boat shipwrecks off Italian and Turkish coasts
Published on
Mayor Filippo Mannino said seven other migrants, including two children, were being treated for “hypothermia and intoxication from hydrocarbon fumes.”
“All are believed to have died of hypothermia,” wrote the agency, which cited strong winds, rain and low temperatures in the area.
Lampedusa is a key landing point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa, with many dying trying the dangerous journey.
So far this year, 624 migrants have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean, according to the UN’s International Organisation for Migration.
Lampedusa’s last migrant disaster occurred in August last year, when 27 people died in two shipwrecks off the coast.
According to the interior ministry, 6,117 migrants have landed on Italy’s shores so far this year.
Muğla shipwreck
The Turkish Coast Guard Command said the boat carrying dozens of migrants ignored repeated warnings to stop and attempted to flee at high speed.
The boat began to take on water in the choppy sea and eventually capsized. At least 20 other migrants were rescued.
The sinking occurred off the coastal city of Bodrum, a popular Turkish vacation destination.
Many are unseaworthy, or set out in bad weather, and fatal accidents are common.
Additional sources • AP, AFP
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