Investors turn to digital gold as markets stay volatile
Dubai: A growing number of investors are shifting toward tokenised gold, drawn by the ability to trade, transfer and manage exposure in real time during periods of heightened market stress. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The move has gathered pace through 2026, partic»»»
Prolonged conflict in Middle East putting squeeze on Turkey’s tourism industry
With Turkey’s tourism industry preparing for the 2026 season under the shadow of war, industry representatives are warning of mounting cost and price pressures. Concerns are also mounting because European travellers are in»»»
Turkish central bank revives FX swaps with local lenders as war pressures hit reserves
Turkey’s central bank on March 31 launched three FX swap auctions worth $10bn with local lenders, according to media reports. A $5bn one-week auction was announced as value-today (same day or T+0 settlement), while a $2.5b»»»
Turkish central bank revives FX swaps with local lenders as war pressures hit reserves
Turkey’s central bank on March 31 launched three FX swap auctions worth $10bn with local lenders, according to media reports. A $5bn one-week auction was announced as value-today (same day or T+0 settlement), while a $2.5b»»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
Prolonged conflict in Middle East putting squeeze on Turkey’s tourism industry
With Turkey’s tourism industry preparing for the 2026 season under the shadow of war, industry representatives are warning of mounting cost and price pressures. Concerns are also mounting because European travellers are in»»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
Haiti gang kills dozens in Artibonite massacre as death toll disputed
A coordinated gang assault on rural communities in Haiti's Artibonite region over the weekend left scores dead and thousands displaced, with rights groups putting the death toll as high as 70 while authorities confirmed only 16 fatalities, laying bare the chronic dysfunction plaguing the country's »»»
Viva capitalism, says Fidel's grandson, pouring drinks in Havana
Sandro Castro, grandson of late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, has publicly slammed Cuba's president and questioned the island's socialist economic model, in a rare display of dissent from within the ruling family as the Trump administration ratchets up pressure on Havana and a de facto US oil »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
China and Pakistan issue five-point peace plan for Gulf and Middle East
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met in Beijing on March 31 and issued a joint five-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. »»»
US Polar LNG eyes equipment of sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG 2 project
US-based Polar LNG is seeking approval to purchase discounted equipment from sanctioned Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project, owned by gas major Novatek (NVTK), to support an LNG plant in Alaska, according to Reuters citing company CEO Joel Riddle. »»»
Israeli army says 'struck senior Hezbollah commander' in Beirut
The Israeli army said Wednesday it had "struck a senior commander" and another "terrorist" from Hezbollah in Beirut. "A short while ago, in two separate strikes in the Beirut area, the IDF struck a senior Hezbollah commander and an additional senior terrorist," the Israeli Defence Forces said, addi»»»
NASA starts countdown for first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years
NASA kicked off its two-day countdown Monday for its first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, aiming for a historic launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday evening. The Artemis 2 flight, featuring four astronauts — including the first woman, a person of colour and a non-Amer»»»
Press Review - 'Dumb judges': Trump heckles Supreme Court ahead of pivotal birthright case
PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, March 31: Donald Trump fumes at the Supreme Court as its judges prepare to hear arguments in a constitutional case over his 2025 executive order on birthright citizenship. Also, the Financial Times alleges that Pete Hegseth sought to make investments in defence companie»»»
King Charles III to make state visit to the US in April despite calls to cancel over Iran war
The UK's King Charles III will visit the US and Bermuda in April, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday, as critics called for the trip to be cancelled due to concerns over the US's ongoing war with Iran. King Charles III will visit the United States in late April, Buckingham Palace announce»»»
Focus - Canada's Ontario bets on greenhouse farming to boost food sovereignty
In the face of growing competition with Donald Trump's United States and the ongoing trade war, Canada is betting big on greenhouse agriculture. In Ontario, the heart of national agricultural research and innovation, tomatoes and cucumbers are just some of the produce grown safe from bad weather an»»»
US Supreme Court rules against ban on 'conversion therapy' for LGBTQ minors
The US Supreme Court ruled Tuesday against a Colorado state law banning "conversion therapy" for LGBTQ minors, siding with a Christian therapist who challenged it on the grounds of free speech. At issue is the constitutionality of a 2019 Colorado law that prohibits licensed practitioners from condu»»»
Gaza's evacuated premature babies return to devastated strip
Eleven children born prematurely, who were later evacuated to Egypt during the war, have returned to Gaza. The children were moved in the first weeks of the conflict&nbs»»»
As US, Israel and Iran continue fighting, question is how to end 'a war of attrition'
US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran's Kharg Island and power grid, were it not to agree to a deal the US sent to Iranian leaders to end the war. This was later followed by fresh strikes from the US and Israel, which Iran responded to by targeting Gulf nations. FRANCE 24's Reza Saya»»»
Vital desalination plant in the Gulf become war targets
US president Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran's desalination plants if talks to end the war do not advance. Desalination plants across the Gulf region have become target during the one-month old war»»»
Replay: Pete Hegseth gives press conference on Iran war
Rewatch as US State Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine address the war in Iran, as Washington presses Tehran to accept a deal to end the war.»»»
Perspective - 'Cultural heritage belongs to all of humanity': Iranian archaeologist Sepideh Maziar
A leading Iranian archaeologist has told FRANCE 24 that the destruction of Iranian archeological sites is destroying part of human history. Sepideh Maziar is a senior researcher and lecturer at Goethe University Frankfurt and a founding member of the Society for Iranian Archaeology. Along with her »»»
With Iran, US 'trying to put the best face on a mission they did not anticipate'
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on March 31 that talks on ending the Iran war are making progress - despite the conflict giving no sign of stopping, and US troops building up in the region. FRANCE 24's Douglas Herbert »»»
Middle East war impacts world tourism as travelers consider trip choices
The ongoing war in the Middle East is already having an impact on tourism around the world. Airlines from the region have been severely impacted, and holiday makers»»»
EU says Israel's plans to introduce death penalty law for Palestinians 'very concerning'
The EU said on Tuesday that Israel's plans to legalise the death penalty for Palestinians found guilty of killing Israelis are "very concerning" and "a clear step backwards". Israel's decision to pass a law making death by hanging a default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military c»»»
Israel to destroy all houses in South Lebanon buffer-zone
Israel will destroy all homes in Lebanese villages near the border and 600,000 people who fled the south will not be allowed home until northern Israel is secure. It vows to inflict Gaza-like d»»»
How Trump’s dream of seizing enriched uranium from Iran could end in catastrophe
US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a military mission to seize Iranian uranium that has been enriched to 60 percent. But while some might view such a plan as offering a quick win, others warn that it could be "one of the most risky and difficult operations the US military has under»»»
Iran desalination plant in the Strait of Hormuz out of service following strikes
One of the desalination plants on Iran's Qeshm Island has been out of service since being hit by an air strike earlier in the month, an official from the Health&nbs»»»
Israel to occupy swaths of south Lebanon and destroy houses near border
Israel's defence minister has vowed his army will block residents from returning to southern Lebanon after the war and will be destroying all homes in villages along the border, in which he implied would be a Gaza-like scale of destruction as seen in Rafah and Beit Hanoun. More than 1200 people hav»»»
The Debate - Can Lebanon keep it together? Government faces Israeli invasion, standoff with Hezbollah
The Lebanese have seen it all, from civil war to the 2019 protests demanding an end to revolving door politics, from the 2020 port of Beirut explosion that exposed the tragic consequences of nepotism to Israel’s 2024 operation to neutralize longtime foe Hezbollah. Now Israel’s ground forces are bac»»»
Gulf allies privately make the case to Trump to keep fighting until Iran is decisively defeated
Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are urging Trump to continue prosecuting the war against Iran, arguing that Tehran hasn't been weakened enough by the bombing campaign, according to U.S., Gulf and Israeli officials. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Dr H. A. Hellyer, S»»»
Europe pushes back on US military operations as concerns over Iran war mount
France and Italy have joined Spain in pushing back on U.S.-Israeli military operations, sources said on Tuesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump singled out NATO allies in Europe as unhelpful in the month-long war, highlighting divisions. The decisions came against a backdrop of tensions between Was»»»
US journalist kidnapped in Baghdad by suspected Iranian-backed armed group
A woman US journalist who was kidnapped in Iraq's capital city by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, US officials said on Tuesday. Advocacy groups identified the missing woman as Shelly Kittleson, a freelance journalist based in Rome who has covered several wars in the Middle East..»»»
Three explosions heard across Beirut: AFP journalists
Three explosions rocked Beirut's southern suburbs early Wednesday, AFP journalists reported. An AFP correspondent saw a column of smoke rising from the Jnah district after three large explosions were heard across the city and saw ambulances headed towards the site. Local media footage showed severa»»»
Senegal signs law doubling penalty for same-sex relations to 10 years in jail
Senegal on Tuesday signed into law legislation doubling the penalty for same-sex relations to up to 10 years in jail. The new law also includes criminal penalties for those found guilty of promoting or financing same-sex relationships. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed into»»»
Eye on Africa - Nigeria's gasoline pump prices rise by 65%, highest in Africa
In tonight's edition: Nigerians are feeling the consequences of the war in the Middle East at the pump, with petrol prices soaring. Also, DR Congo's armed forces begin a disarmament push against the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. And in South Africa, a mine owner has re»»»