A fresh shock from the Middle East has sent energy markets reeling and reopened a debate Europe hoped it had settled.Months after stepping away from Russian fuels, EU capitals now face sharp price jumps and renewed political pressure as supplies tighten.After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the EU moved quickly to cut dependence on Moscow. Oil flows from Russia have almost disappeared for...

The UK has expanded permission for US forces to operate from British bases to strike Iranian missile sites linked to attacks around the Strait of Hormuz.Ministers said the change is intended to protect merchant shipping in the vital waterway and is being carried out under the principle of collective self-defence.Downing Street stressed Britain will not take a direct combat role in any US...

A bitter dispute over repairs to the Druzhba oil pipeline has blocked a vital €90bn EU loan to Kyiv.The row pits Hungary and Slovakia against Ukraine after a Russian strike damaged the Brody pumping station on 27 January and stopped all flows.Satellite images and local reporting show a giant storage tank at Brody — one of Ukraine’s largest — burned for days after the attack. Engineers...

A small French town has found itself in the social media glare after an unusual name clash in its local election.Incumbent mayor Charles Hittler is contesting a runoff against Antoine Renault-Zielinski, a coincidence that has sent the internet into a frenzy.Arcis-sur-Aube, a community of about 2,785 people roughly 160km southeast of Paris, heads to the polls in a municipal run-off this...

The flare-up around Iran is already sending sharp ripples through the UK economy, touching everything from farmers' fuel supplies to homebuyers' mortgage deals.Even though Britain does not import Iranian gas, recent missile strikes have driven up global energy prices fast enough to affect domestic markets.Farmers are rationing red diesel and some mortgage offers have been withdrawn as lenders...

A string of attacks on a major gas field shared by Iran and Qatar has pushed energy markets higher and put fresh strain on the U.S.-Israel partnership.Israeli forces struck facilities in the South Pars field, one of the world’s largest gas reserves, and Iran responded by targeting an energy complex in Qatar.The tit-for-tat exchange prompted a fierce post from US President Donald Trump on his...

Missile attacks on Qatar's key energy hub at Ras Laffan have caused heavy damage to liquefied natural gas and gas-to-liquids facilities, sending gas prices sharply higher and raising concerns about a prolonged hit to global supplies.Ras Laffan is Qatar's main LNG processing complex, handling roughly one-fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas.The site, near the North Field and about 80km...

Ukraine faces a growing risk of depleted missile supplies as the conflict in the Middle East draws down Western stockpiles and manufacturing capacity, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned during talks in London.He argued that an extended confrontation involving the US, Israel and Iran diverts military resources and attention away from Kyiv, while also driving up energy prices that harm Ukraine's...

Piers Morgan abruptly left his own YouTube programme after a heated exchange with social media personality Harrison Sullivan, who showed him a risqué picture of Morgan’s wife.The image reportedly featured Celia Walden relaxing by a pool in a black swimsuit alongside a cheeky sign advertising a 'pool boy' role with no experience required.That visual set off a tense back-and-forth on...

A rare public health alert has been issued after a fast-moving meningitis outbreak in Kent that has so far left two young people dead and prompted targeted vaccinations at local universities.Health authorities say there have been around 20 confirmed or suspected cases linked to an incident that appears to have originated at a nightclub in Canterbury.Officials describe the cluster’s rapid spread...