Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington.

Hegseth says 'ungrateful' Europe should 'thank' Trump

He said the President was “doing the work of the free world”, calling Iran a "direct threat to America, to freedom and to civilisation".

11:22am

1:30

This image from an Airbus Defence and Space's Pléiades Neo satellite shows damage after Iranian attacks targeting Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Israel says it will stop striking Iranian gas field

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that, at the request of President Donald Trump, Israel will hold off on any further attacks on the Iranian gas field.

7:59am

1:30

Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives to testify before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Democrats storm out of briefing on Epstein files

They said they would push to force Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer questions under oath about the case that has plagued the Trump administration.

Thursday 5:30pm

An image of Trump was added to the office windows, with the office renamed as "Trump war minerals HQ".

'Trump war minerals HQ': Greenpeace protest at PM's electorate office

Environmental activists have plastered Christopher Luxon's east Auckland electorate office with Donald Trump's face in opposition to a possible critical minerals deal with the US.

Thursday 11:36am

A boat sails past the oil tanker Nord Star, Panama, on Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela.

US eases Venezuela oil sanctions as Trump seeks to boost world supply

The Treasury issued a broad authorisation allowing Petróleos de Venezuela S.A, or PDVSA, to directly sell Venezuelan oil to US companies and on global markets.

Thursday 7:28am

Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib attends the inauguration ceremony of the 6th term of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran, Iran.

Iran's intelligence chief killed as both sides ratchet up attacks

Iranian state television confirmed the killing of Khatib, who the US sanctioned in 2022 for alleged cyber-related activities against the US and its allies.

Thursday 6:41am

Ali Larijani, center, head of Iran's National Security Council, gestures as Hezbollah supporters throw rice to welcome him outside Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon.

Iranian state media confirms Israel killed two of its top leaders

Both men were key to Iran's violent crackdown on protests in January that challenged the theocracy's 47-year rule.

Wed, Mar 18

US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Pam Bondi subpoenaed to answer questions from Congress about Epstein files

Pam Bondi was ordered to appear for a deposition on April 14 by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after a vote earlier this month that was supported by five Republicans.

Wed, Mar 18

Joseph Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, speaks during the House Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Top US counterterrorism official quits over Trump's Iran war

"Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby," Joe Kent said.

Wed, Mar 18

Emergency crews search the rubble following a strike on a residential building on March 16, 2026 in central Tehran, Iran.

War rages on: Israeli attacks on Lebanon grow amid Iran shipping stranglehold

Israel stepped up bombardments of Iran-backed militants in Lebanon and Iran retaliated with a drone strike that temporarily closed Dubai's airport, a crucial hub for travellers.

Tue, Mar 17

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before he boards Air Force One, Friday, March 13, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews

Analysis: Trump knocked back on political heels two weeks into war

Some of his supporters are questioning the president's war plans and his overall poll numbers are declining.

Mon, Mar 16

Two women from the Iranian Red Crescent Society stand as a thick plume of smoke from a U.S.-Israeli strike on an oil storage facility late Saturday rises in the sky in Tehran, Iran.

Toxic black rain endangers public after attacks on Iran's oil facilities

Residents in Tehran complained last week of burning eyes and difficulty breathing when the dark and oily precipitation fell near the Iranian capital after several fuel oil depots and a refinery were struck.

Mon, Mar 16

A fire and plume of smoke rise after, according to authorities. debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Trump urges allies to send warships to region as Iran vows retaliation

Trump said he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK and others send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz "open and safe".

Sun, Mar 15

Irans's players pose for a team photo before an Asian group A qualifying soccer match against North Korea for the 2026 World Cup.

Iran football team says 'no one can exclude' it from World Cup

Trump wrote in a social media post that the Iranian team was welcome at the World Cup, but that "I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there".

Sat, Mar 14

Iran's Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran.

Trump says US bombed military sites on an island vital to Iran's oil network

US President Donald Trump said US forces had “obliterated” military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island — the primary terminal that handles Iran’s oil exports.

Sat, Mar 14

First Lady Jill Biden checks out the stage before the Democratic National Convention Monday

Jill Biden opens up about Joe Biden dropping 2024 reelection bid in memoir

Jill Biden is breaking her silence about Joe Biden's decision to abruptly end his 2024 presidential reelection bid under pressure from Democrats concerned about his age, health and viability.

Thu, Mar 12

Video provided by US Central Command showed munitions hitting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

US says 16 mine-laying vessels destroyed, Iran vows to block Strait of Hormuz

The concern was that mines could make it impossible for tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which was one of the world's important shipping chokepoints.

Wed, Mar 11

Smoke rise from an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, at sunset in Beirut, Lebanon.

Hegseth says today's strikes will be 'most intense' of Iran war

The war has entered its 11th day with no end in sight as its effects were felt across the region and beyond.

Wed, Mar 11

Flames rise from an oil storage facility south of the capital Tehran as strikes hit the city during the US–Israel military campaign

New strikes hit Tehran as Israel vows 'many surprises' in Iran war

In a post, US President Donald Trump threatened that the Middle Eastern country would be "hit very hard".

Sun, Mar 8

Fuel prices in Auckland on March 7, 2026.

'Week after week' petrol hikes as Iran war sends oil price soaring

Instability around the Strait of Hormuz and soaring crude prices are putting sharp upward pressure on NZ fuel costs, with 91 expected to top $3 a litre within days.

Sat, Mar 7

An FBI seal is displayed on a podium.

Missing Epstein files with uncorroborated Trump claims published

US Justice Department said the files had been "incorrectly coded as duplicative", and therefore were inadvertently not published along with other investigative documents.

Fri, Mar 6

President Donald Trump, joined by FIFA President Gianni Infantino (2nd L), speaks to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (L) during a meeting of the White House

Trump replaces Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

Trump says he’ll make Nome a "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas”, a new security initiative that he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere.

Fri, Mar 6

Iran's Foreign Minister says US will 'bitterly regret' sinking frigate

Iran's Foreign Minister says US will 'bitterly regret' sinking frigate

Conflict was sparked over the weekend when the US and Israel launched a major military operation against Iran which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Thu, Mar 5

US President Donald Trump gestures next to Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a joint press conference at Chequers near Aylesbury, England.

How Trump's ire with Starmer over Iran may rattle US-UK relationship

The so-called "special relationship" was tested this week when Trump called Britain "uncooperative" and slammed Starmer as “not Winston Churchill” after he initially rebuffed a US request to use UK bases for attacks on Iran.

Thu, Mar 5

Bill and Hillary Clinton's deposition videos.

Republicans question Clintons on Epstein - and also UFOs, pizzagate conspiracy

The closed-door depositions showed how lawmakers at times seemed not able to resist the spectacle of questioning a couple who for decades led the Democrats.

Wed, Mar 4