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Mar 23, 2026 - World

Iranian officials reportedly contradicted President Donald Trump after he claimed that he had fruitful talks with the regime to postpone his 48-hour deadline on bombing power plants.“VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST," Trump wrote on a Monday Truth Social post. "I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD."CNBC reported that an Iranian official told a different story on state TV.“There is been no negotiation and there is no negotiation, and with this kind of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will return to its pre-war conditions nor will there be peace in the energy markets," the official said.Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said that Trump had postponed a "possible war crime.""This isn’t a message to Iran. It’s a panicky message to the markets," he pointed out. "No war escalation until markets close on Friday."

Mar 23, 2026 - World

President delays threat against energy infrastructure after Iran’s threats of retaliation, while Tehran denies any talksMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has extended by five days his deadline to “hit and obliterate” Iran’s power stations and energy infrastructure if Tehran does not allow shipping to move freely through the strait of Hormuz, claiming that the US and Iran have held “very good and productive conversations” on an end to the three-week-old war.There was no immediate official reaction from Tehran to Trump’s announcement, which was made in a post on Truth Social and appeared to avert a potentially massive escalation of the conflict, at least for now. Continue reading...

Mar 23, 2026 - World

More than a few of Donald Trump’s supporters were displeased early Monday morning after the president called off imminent attacks on Iran’s power plants as discussions took place aimed at ending the war.In an all-caps Truth Social announcement, that was reposted moments later to fix multiple typos, the president declared, in part, “I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.”That did not sit well with some MAGA fans who voiced their unhappiness on Truth Social.Retired Air Force veteran Birdnut implored, “Please dont let this drag on like Ukraine. Pauses do not benefit anyone but the enemy.”“Any kind of agreement with the Islamic Republic is a betrayal of the people of Iran. If the Republic survives, it will massacre the people just as it is executing them every day. And be sure that if it survives, it is a wounded snake that will seek revenge on the world as soon as it comes to its senses,”warned Mina45.Viji demanded, “Finish the job.”“Don’t believe a word they say!!!!” wrote patriot4ever45 to which Ceyberdog added, “Don’t trust these people!!!! Only a complete surrender is acceptable…. Have been negotiating for 47 years and they do not abide.”FlyingFox advised, “I wouldn’t believe a word the Iranians have said - any agreement will be broken within hours - blame will then be laid at the feet of Israel and the U.S. The world press will then write another fake news report blaming President Trump. The merry go round starts again! Appeasement doesn’t work with Terrorists! Nothing short of total destruction has any future benefit regrettably!”“Please don't negotiate with the Islamic regime terrorists. Finish the job, Mr. President. clean up those jihadists from the earth. end this dictatorship and let the world and Iranians to breath!” added MiladDev.Misaelmesa pointed out, “That wicked regime will not back down; they are merely stalling for time to regroup. You must press on to the very end, granting no quarter to those damned Satanists.”“If they're [sic] capability of developing a nuclear bomb is not completely halted, then we have lost,” lamented SallySunshine75.

Mar 23, 2026 - World

Hungary’s top opposition leader says the government may have fed Russia inside details from EU meetings, and called it “treason” which should be investigated

Mar 23, 2026 - World

Union says below‑inflation pay rises and insecure work threaten the future of Australia’s public‑interest journalismFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesSign up for Guardian Australia’s free weekly media newsletter hereABC journalists will walk off the job on Wednesday for the first time in 20 years, triggering severe disruption to the public broadcaster’s news services for 24 hours.The protected industrial action involves staff in the journalists’ Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the non-journalists’ Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents staff in technology and control systems. Continue reading...