World - Sunday, March 22, 2026

France’s far right hoped for major gains in Sunday’s municipal elections, a key bellwether moment before a presidential election next year. Its results were mixed.

Labor under pressure over fuel crisis as federal parliament returns. Follow updates live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The pollies have been asked this morning whether people should consider working from home to save fuel, as conflict escalates in the Middle East. Tehran has said it will “ irreversibly destroy ” essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US follows through on Donald Trump ’s threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless the strait of Hormuz is fully opened within two days. This is like Covid style restrictions I think that are potentially being floated. I would not support that in any way, and I don’t think businesses would do so either … If people can work from home and they want to and it works for their employers, fine, I think that’s terrific, but it doesn’t help small businesses. It certainly doesn’t help the truckers and the fishers and the farmers and the manufacturers and the miners that are relying on fuel supply. Continue reading...

Paris and Marseille are held by the Socialists in local elections which saw the nationalist right win in Nice and certain towns.

Iran dismissed President Trump’s ultimatum to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying it would consider electric plants and water facilities “legitimate targets” if its electrical grid were struck.

Statement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards comes after the US threatened to target energy infrastructure Several blasts could be heard from Jerusalem on Sunday, AFP journalists said, after the Israeli military warned of incoming missile fire from Iran towards central Israel. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of casualties. Continue reading...

The violence began after 18-year-old settler Yehuda Sherman was killed after reportedly being hit by a vehicle driven by a Palestinian while on his quad bike.

Tehran’s response to Trump’s threat signals a potentially dangerous escalation as both sides menace sites relied on by millions Middle East crisis live – latest updates Tehran has said it will “irreversibly destroy” essential infrastructure across the Middle East, including vital water systems, if the US follows through on Donald Trump’s threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless the strait of Hormuz is fully opened within two days. As Iranian missiles struck two southern Israeli cities overnight , injuring dozens of people, and Tehran deployed long-range missiles for the first time, the developments signalled a dangerous potential escalation of the war, now in its fourth week, with both sides threatening facilities relied on by millions of people. Continue reading...

The far-right party had first-round successes in several cities, but so did the far left. Sunday’s second round may clarify who has real momentum.

City hall veteran beats rightwinger Rachida Dati, while Marseille’s leftist incumbent defeats far-right opponent The Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire has been elected mayor of Paris, roundly beating the former rightwing minister Rachida Dati. He instantly took a victory bike ride with future councillors on Sunday night to show that the city would continue its pro-cycling and environmental policies. Continue reading...

Israeli forces have been instructed to destroy the crossings over the Litani river that were being used by Hezbollah to send reinforcements.