‘We’ll be doing something with Cuba very soon’, Trump says
NewsFeed “We’ll be doing something with Cuba very soon.” While the US wages an outright military assault on Iran, the US president and his secretary of state also have an eye on Cuba, demanding a change of leadership in Havana. Published On 18 Mar 202618 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Experts discuss ‘Israeli strategy’ in killing of senior Iran official Ali L
NewsFeed ‘Israelis are not looking for a negotiating partner, they’re looking for decimation.’ Ross Harrison joins an Al Jazeera panel discussion on what the US and Israel are seeking with their killing of senior Iranian leaders. Published On 18 Mar 202618 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Drone attacks hit near US embassy in Baghdad
NewsFeed Fires have broken out in Baghdad’s Green Zone after a drone swarm, believed to have been launched by groups aligned with Iran. Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig witnessed the attacks. Published On 18 Mar 202618 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Liverpool vs Galatasaray: UEFA Champions League – teams, start, lineups
Who: Liverpool vs GalatasarayWhat: UEFA Champions League last 16, second legWhere: Anfield in Liverpool, EnglandWhen: Wednesday at 8pm (20:00 GMT)How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream. Liverpool’s English Premier League (EPL) title defence may have been left in tatters this season, but the football club still have a shot at the UEFA Champions League if they can produce another memorable Anfield night. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Turkiye’s Galatasaray narrowly lead 1-0 following the first leg, although given the Reds’ travails this season, a comeback on home soil is far from guaranteed. Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at a huge night for Liverpool and their under-fire manager, Arne Slot. Liverpool’s EPL chase for Champions League spots falters Dominik Szoboszlai believes Liverpool are “running out of time” in their bid to secure Champions League qualification via their Premier League position after yet again dropping points late in a match. The Hungary captain said he understood why many fans left Anfield early – as some did even before Richarlison scored in the 90th minute to snatch a 1-1 Premier League draw for struggling Tottenham on Sunday – but urged them to stand by Slot’s side. Many of those who remained inside booed at the final whistle after reigning Premier League champions Liverpool missed a chance to move ahead of Aston Villa into fourth. They did gain one place and one point over Chelsea, but conceding a goal in the 90th minute or later for the eighth time this season proved costly. Advertisement “It’s a good question. If I knew the answer, I would be the first one to go to the team and say it,” said Szoboszlai when asked why Liverpool continue to drop late points. “A couple of weeks ago, we had a talk between each other saying ‘Guys, we don’t have such a lot of time to do this right so we have to wake up and start to go in a way that we want to play Champions League next season’,” added the Hungary captain, whose first-half free kick gave Liverpool the lead against Spurs. “It’s a little bit boring when I say this, but we still need to find a solution because we are running out of time.” Liverpool fans need a lift from their team Szoboszlai accepted that Liverpool did not offer the crowd much to cheer in the Spurs match after he scored his fourth free kick of the season. But he urged them to see games out, as early departures were noticed by players. “I don’t say they have no right to leave the stadium. They can leave if they want,” he said. “We need them, and they should know this. We are one less without them. “It should be normal that in hard times we stick together more because that’s what we need, we need each other. “We want to make them happy; it’s not that we do it on purpose. Last year, it was enjoyable to watch all the games. But this year, maybe it’s not that enjoyable, for sure, I can imagine. “I don’t think it helps us also that after 80 minutes people start to go home; it doesn’t help us at all. Stick with us.” What happened in the first leg between Liverpool and Galatasaray? Galatasaray’s 1-0 home win was secured via an early header from Mario Lemina in what was a compelling contest with both sides having goals disallowed late on. Despite early pressure from Liverpool, Lemina put the Turkish side ahead after seven minutes, diving to head home after Victor Osimhen nodded a corner back across the goal. The hosts maintained the momentum after the early goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili producing several superb saves in the Liverpool goal. Just after the hour mark, Osimhen tapped the ball into an open net, but Liverpool were spared as Baris Alper Yilmaz had been offside in the build-up. Liverpool found the net in the 70th minute, forcing the ball over the line following a goalmouth scramble. But the effort was ruled out following a VAR review, with the ball seemingly striking Ibrahima Konate’s hand before ricocheting in. Head-to-head This will be the seventh meeting between the sides, with Galatasaray winning three. Liverpool have won only one of the encounters. Advertisement Liverpool team news Liverpool are still without Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo, who are all battling injuries. Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate were all benched for the game against Tottenham, but are expected to return to the side. Galatasaray team news Enes Buyuk is still absent through injury, while Metehan Baltaci, Gokdeniz Gurpuz and Renato Nhaga are all ineligible after being left out of the club’s Champions League squad. Defender Davinson Sanchez is suspended. Predicted Liverpool starting lineup Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike Predicted Galatasaray starting lineup Cakir; Sallai, Singo, Bardakci, Jakobs; Torreira, Lemina; Yilmaz, Sara, Lang; Osimhen Adblock test (Why?)
Why aren’t gold prices rising, despite Iran war uncertainty?
As the war on Iran entered its 18th day on Tuesday, the price of gold, usually considered the safe-haven asset in times of uncertainty, has remained unexpectedly steady. Since the United States and Israel first launched strikes on Iran on February 28, the conflict has escalated across the region, sparking concerns about the knock-on effect for the global economy. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list On March 2, Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced that the Strait of Hormuz – through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas is transported – was “closed”; a move that sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel. Stock prices have also fallen over the past two weeks amid uncertainty over the war on Iran, but gold prices have remained steady. What are gold prices doing? Gold has remained broadly steady at around $5,000 an ounce in recent days. On Tuesday, spot gold was almost flat at $5,001.36 per ounce at 11:00 GMT. Spot gold is the price at which physical gold is bought and sold for immediate delivery. US gold futures for April delivery rose just 0.1 percent to $5,005.20. Is this unexpected? Yes. This lack of movement is surprising, given that gold prices typically shoot up during economic crises as investors look for safe havens to shelter their cash. This is especially true during periods of global conflict. For example, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, gold prices skyrocketed, Remi Bourgeot, economist at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs in Paris and author of analysis platform Epistelem, told Al Jazeera. Advertisement The subsequent sanctions imposed on Russia by Western nations created “a wave of panic” among central banks and “completely changed the dynamic behind gold prices”, with countries like China embarking on a historic buying streak to reduce their dependence on the US dollar, he said. However, with the US-Israeli war on Iran, there has been a different response. Why have gold prices remained flat? Traders may be anticipating that the US Federal Reserve will halt interest rate cuts and perhaps even raise rates in response to rising inflation, James Meadway, a former economic adviser to the United Kingdom’s shadow chancellor and currently council member of the Progressive Economy Forum, told Al Jazeera. “That makes dollar assets more attractive and gold, which pays no interest, less so,” Meadway explained. He added that investors have expected the US to cut interest rates for some time. Another factor is that gold was already performing well at the start of this year. “Gold had risen so much before that it is reacting less now to the war,” Meadway said. Rebecca Christie, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank, echoed this, noting that gold has been trading far above historic levels this year. “There are other factors in play: because the dollar has strengthened, and because gold is traded in dollars, it may be harder for interested investors to push the price up,” Christie said. “Also, a rising dollar provides an alternative safe-haven choice, and higher oil prices probably will lead to higher inflation, which also will make the dollar more attractive.” Is gold still a safe bet? Not at the moment. “It’s not seen as much of a hedge against the uncertainty as it was two years ago,” Bourgeot said. “I think there’s really a great deal of understanding at this point that gold has become a very speculative asset,” he said, adding that typical gold investors, which include central banks, tend to be more risk-averse and may have been spooked by the “volatility” of gold in the current climate. What’s next for gold? Experts say it is difficult to make predictions given the uncertainty in the Middle East. “For now, it seems like the biggest thing holding gold back from rising further is because it has already risen so much,” Christie said. For the price of gold to shift dramatically, Meadway said two things would need to happen. “First would be a clear indication from the Federal Reserve, which will be getting a new, likely more Trump-friendly chair in May, that interest rates may be cut further, despite inflationary pressure,” he said. Advertisement “The second would be a change in perception as to the length of the war; at present, there is still some belief this will be ended fairly quickly, but the longer this drags on, and the more the damage spreads, the more attractive gold will start to appear,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
What the Iran war looks like from the occupied West Bank
Iran missile shrapnel falls on West Bank Palestinians as settler attacks, Israeli raids and restrictions continue. As the Iran war continues, attention is fixed on missiles flying across the region. But in the occupied West Bank, missile shrapnel falls on Palestinian towns while deadly settler attacks, Israeli military raids and strict limits on daily life continue. With the world looking elsewhere, how do Palestinians in the West Bank view the Iran war, and what does life look like on the ground now? In this episode: Nour Odeh (@nour_odeh), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li with Adhil Veettil Sreechand, El Houssein Chouikhat, Tuleen Barakat, and our guest host, David Enders. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili. David Enders and Alex Roldan mixed this episode. The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Catherine Nouhan, Alex Roldan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. Our editorial intern is Tuleen Barakat. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia released from ICE detention
NewsFeed Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia was released from an ICE detention facility in Texas after a year in custody. The 33-year-old from the occupied West Bank was the last person connected to the Columbia University anti-genocide protests still held by US immigration authorities. Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Israel policy looms large over US elections in Illinois amid Iran war
Washington, DC – Pro-Israel groups in the United States are spending millions of dollars in elections to assert their influence over the rising anger towards Israeli policies. A set of primaries in the Midwestern state of Illinois on Tuesday represents an early test for the strength of pro-Israel politics in the US amid the countries’ joint war on Iran. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The Chicago area Democratic primaries, where groups linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) have emerged as some of the largest spenders, come as Israel’s popularity in the US hits a historic low. As AIPAC’s brand becomes increasingly rejected by Democrats, newly formed political action committees (PACs) with generic names that share vendors with the pro-Israel lobby group have been spending heavily against progressives in Illinois. Several so-called dark-money groups that do not have to reveal their funders until after the vote have endorsed the same candidates as AIPAC. According to an investigation by Chicago’s public radio WBEZ, AIPAC and its donors have spent $13.7m on the primaries, including through funds funnelled to shadow PACs. Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for the progressive group Justice Democrats, said AIPAC is using “covert shell” groups because it is aware of the unpopularity of Israel, especially after the “live-streamed genocide” in Gaza. He noted that AIPAC’s election arm is called the United Democracy Project, a name that does not mention Israel. “AIPAC has always relied on voters not knowing the whole story,” Andrabi told Al Jazeera. Advertisement “AIPAC has become such a toxic force in the Democratic Party that voters now, when they see a candidate backed by AIPAC, they reject them simply for that support.” A source close to AIPAC told Jewish Insider this week that the group is focused on defeating six candidates who are critical of Israel across four contests in Illinois. The Kat Abughazaleh race In one of the most closely watched contests, Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old progressive activist with a large online following, is locked in a crowded race for the open seat vacated by retiring Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. Abughazaleh, who has openly called Israel’s war on Gaza a genocide, is running against several candidates for the safe Democratic seat. Her most viable opponents are Daniel Biss, the mayor of the Chicago suburb of Evanston, who is critical of some Israeli policies and backed by the liberal Zionist group J Street, and State Senator Laura Fine, seen as the pro-Israel candidate in the race. An AIPAC-linked group initially attacked Biss to prop up Fine. But fearing another miscalculation, as in the recent race in New Jersey, where attacks on the centrist candidate who is mildly critical of Israel helped an all-out progressive activist win, pro-Israel groups have focused on Abughazaleh in recent days. And in a bizarre twist, a group linked to AIPAC ran an advertisement last week supporting Bushra Amiwala, a long-shot candidate who is fiercely opposed to US aid to Israel, in an apparent effort to siphon off votes from Abughazaleh and possibly Biss. Amiwala was quick to disavow the advertisement. “This is an attempt to smear my name by putting my name next to pro-genocide, pro-war… billionaires,” she said. AIPAC did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment by the time of publication. Andrabi from Justice Democrats said that AIPAC’s tactics show the degree to which the lobbying group has become a “toxic” brand for Democratic voters. Justice Democrats has endorsed Abughazaleh in the race, but Andrabi said that even if Biss wins, it would be a defeat for AIPAC. A recent Public Policy Polling survey suggested that Abughazaleh is a close second to Biss, at 20 percent to 24 percent, respectively, with Fine behind them at 14 percent. In a Democratic primary in a neighbouring district, progressive candidate Junaid Ahmed has also been making inroads and closing the gap with the pro-Israel candidate, former Congresswoman Melissa Bean. While Ahmed has focused his campaign on domestic issues, he has highlighted AIPAC’s interference in the race. Advertisement “It’s dark money vs democracy, and tomorrow we will send AIPAC packing,” Ahmed wrote in a social media post on Monday. ‘AIPAC is losing the long-term battle’ Other competitive races include a primary contest to fill the seat of Representative Robin Kelly, who is now running for the Senate. The race pits Jesse Jackson Jr, son of the late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, against several candidates, including Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, backed by pro-Israel groups, and State Senator Robert Peters, who has been critical of AIPAC. To fill the seat of retiring Democratic Congressman Danny Davis, another crowded contest is taking place on Tuesday. According to Jewish Insider, AIPAC’s priority is to defeat activist Kina Collins in that race. The other candidates include Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and State Representative LaShawn Ford. A primary election will also take place to determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for the Senate, as incumbent Dick Durbin is set to leave Congress at the end of his term. On the Democratic side, where the winner will likely replace Durbin, Congresswoman Kelly, who has also accused Israel of genocide, is facing Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi – both strong Israel supporters. Andrabi said that no matter the results on Tuesday, polls show AIPAC’s shrinking influence. He also accused the pro-Israel lobby group of “moving the goal posts” from electing its favoured candidates to blocking progressive hopefuls. “We want to win all these races without a doubt. But I think it is very clear that AIPAC is losing the long-term battle for the future of this party,” Andrabi told Al Jazeera. Although the majority of Democrats in Congress are pro-Israel, an NBC poll published on Monday suggests that only 17 percent of the party’s voters sympathise more with Israelis than Palestinians. Tuesday’s elections pose an early test to voters’ attitudes towards the war on Iran, whose impact is starting to bite Americans at the petrol pump. While most Democratic candidates have voiced opposition
Top Democrat in US House slams Trump’s ‘reckless war of choice’
NewsFeed “Reckless war of choice.” US House of Representatives Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries criticised Donald Trump for what he called a failure to adequately prepare for the consequences of launching a war on Iran. Published On 17 Mar 202617 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
EU leaders reject military involvement in Strait of Hormuz amid war on Iran
Listen to this article Listen to this article | 4 mins info European leaders have rejected demands by United States President Donald Trump to help ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as foreign ministers from the European Union gathered in Brussels to discuss skyrocketing oil prices during the US-Israeli war on Iran. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday said Berlin had no intention of joining military operations during the conflict. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “We expect from the US and Israel to inform us, to include us into what they’re doing there and to tell us if these goals are achieved,” he told reporters before the meeting in Brussels. “Once we have a clear picture of that, we believe we need to move into the next phase, namely, defining a security architecture for this entire region, together with the neighbouring states,” he said. Wadephul added that NATO had not made any decision on assuming responsibilities in the Strait of Hormuz after Trump on Sunday called for a naval coalition to deploy warships to secure the key Gulf waterway, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments transit. The strait has essentially been shuttered as a result of the war, which has seen the US and Israel launch deadly attacks across Iran since February 28. Iran has retaliated by firing missiles and drones across the wider Middle East, roiling global energy markets. Trump’s call for countries to secure the waterway has been met with pushback from several European countries despite the soaring oil and gas prices. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said on Monday that Greece would not engage in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy was not involved in any naval missions that could be extended to the area. Advertisement Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, however, that Europe should keep an open mind on helping to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait even if the continent did not support the US-Israeli decision to go to war with Iran. “We must face the world as it is, not as we want it to be,” Rasmussen said, adding that the EU must decide on a plan “with a view towards de-escalation”. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom said it was working on a collective plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore freedom of navigation in the Middle East but doing so would not be easy. EU feels Trump’s pressure EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters before the meeting in Brussels that the bloc’s leaders would focus on how the EU could contribute to reopening the waterway. “We first need to discuss what the member states are willing to do in the Strait of Hormuz,” she said. “Of course, the needs to open the Strait of Hormuz are there right now.” Kallas said the strait’s closure, which has sent oil prices to more than $100 a barrel, was benefitting Russia’s war on Ukraine, which is largely funded by Moscow’s energy revenues. Reporting from Brussels, Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen said what was clear is that European leaders are “increasingly feeling the pressure from Trump to help him reopen the Strait of Hormuz”. “There is very little appetite [on the part of EU leaders] for joining the war, especially because they feel left out of the loop,” Vaessen said. “They will be discussing a way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but that doesn’t necessarily mean sending warships.” In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump said NATO faced a “very bad” future if his proposal for a military operation in the strait received no response or a negative one. France has suggested the EU could expand its Aspides mission, a small naval mission established in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea. It currently has an Italian and a Greek ship under its direct command and may also call upon a French ship and another Italian vessel for support. But Germany has been among the EU members to express scepticism of the idea. “What does … Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful US Navy cannot do?” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in Berlin. “This is not our war. We have not started it.” Asked about Trump’s comments on the future of NATO, Pistorius said he did not anticipate the alliance to fall apart over the issue. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)