ASIA (Bloomberg): Countries including the US, UK and China evacuated embassy staff in the Middle East and issued travel advisories amid concerns about a regional conflict, as President Donald Trump sounded downbeat about diplomatic talks meant to avert airstrikes on Iran. The UK, China, India and others have also advised citizens or diplomats to leave some parts of the Middle East. The UK also said it’s temporarily withdrawing diplomatic staff from Iran. Trump on Friday downplayed concerns about the likelihood that oil prices will spike if he attacks Iran, saying, "I’m concerned about people’s lives. Even with the US saying the door to further diplomacy remains open, Trump continues to gather forces in the Middle East.

Source: The Star March 02, 2026 17:19 UTC