International News 11 March 2026
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Gold Climbs on Softer Dollar and Cooling Inflation Fears
Gold prices rose on Tuesday (March 10, 2026), supported by a weaker U.S. dollar and lower energy costs after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that the conflict in the Middle East could end soon. The easing of geopolitical tensions reduced concerns over a potential surge in inflation driven by the war. A pause in inflationary pressure could also lessen the likelihood of central banks raising interest rates, which tends to benefit non-yielding assets like gold. According to Reuters, spot gold increased 0.8% to US$5,179.52 per ounce as of 02:33 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for April delivery climbed 1.7% to US$5,188.70. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar weakened by 0.4%, making dollar-priced bullion cheaper for holders of other currencies.
Rising Iran Tensions Prompt Australia to Send Surveillance Aircraft and Missiles to the UAE
The Australian government announced plans to deploy military surveillance aircraft to the Middle East and send missiles to the United Arab Emirates as part of its defense support for Gulf countries. However, Canberra emphasized that it will not deploy ground troops to Iran. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that Australia’s military assistance is purely defensive and aimed at helping Gulf states protect themselves from what he described as unprovoked attacks by Iran. He stressed that Australia is not seeking to escalate the conflict, adding that the move is also intended to safeguard Australian citizens in the region and support a close ally, the United Arab Emirates.
Trump Warns US Will Strike Iran 20 Times Harder if Strait of Hormuz Is Blocked
Former U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States would respond with far greater force if Iran attempted to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post on Monday (March 9, 2026), Trump stated that Washington would not tolerate any interference with one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes. He emphasized that if Iran were to halt oil flows through the strait, the U.S. would retaliate with attacks “twenty times stronger” than any strikes Iran has experienced so far. Trump also said the U.S. could target vulnerable facilities across Iran, potentially crippling the country’s ability to rebuild. Despite the warning, he added that such a scenario is not expected to happen, while stressing that Washington remains prepared to take decisive action if necessary.