Five Options Under Consideration to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Luke Broadwater, Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt* Washington: As the United States presses ahead with its military campaign against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the war’s most pivotal battlefield. In response to US and Israeli airstrikes, Iran has largely blockaded the strait, snarling oil»»»
Public flock to museums on second day of Eid Al Fitr
Doha, Qatar: Citizens and residents flocked to museums across the country on the second day of Eid Al-Fitr, welcoming the reopening of cultural institutions under Qatar Museums after a brief closure. Following the closure of museums, doors swung open yesterday, welcoming visitors back to world-clas»»»
Families turn to malls amid restricted outdoor Eid celebrations
Doha, Qatar: The second day of Eid al-Fitr in Qatar this year saw a noticeable shift in how families chose to celebrate, with malls across Qatar becoming the main hubs of activity. Ongoing regional tensions led to tighter safety measures and a general preference for indoor gatherings, limiting the »»»
Sidra Medicine ensures uninterrupted services
Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, continues to play a vital role in Qatar’s national healthcare system, maintaining uninterrupted services for women and children during the current situation. As the country’s main tertiary pediatric hospital, the institution has reaffirmed »»»
Israeli Provocations Aim to Draw Damascus into Regional Escalation
Damascus is treading carefully to avoid being pulled into the region’s escalating tensions, but Syrian-Israeli friction has resurfaced after Israel struck Syrian army sites and military infrastructure, claiming it was acting to “protect Druze citizens in Sweida.” The attacks drew condemnations from»»»
Qatar advances food self-sufficiency with strong growth in local production
Doha, Qatar: Qatar has recorded significant progress in strengthening its food security and achieving higher levels of self-sufficiency, driven by sustained investments in local agricultural production and strategic partnerships across sectors. According to recent achievements highlighted by Minist»»»
Qatar’s e-commerce grows amid festive shopping surge
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s e-commerce sector is gaining momentum as consumers increasingly turn to digital platforms for convenience and competitive pricing, even as traditional mall shopping continues to draw strong crowds across the country. Speaking to The Peninsula, experts say online shopping has ex»»»
Heavy rains in Oman: Death toll rises to four, search continues for missing
Two individuals have been recovered by the Search and Rescue Sector in the Wilayat of Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate. Search operations continue for another missing person, bringing the total fatalities from the ongoing heavy rainfall to four, Oman News Agency reports. On Saturday night, rescu»»»
Egypt Says it Will Pay $1.3 Billion in Arrears to Oil Companies by June
Egypt will settle $1.3 billion in arrears to international oil companies by June, the petroleum ministry said on Saturday, accelerating its previous timetable for repayments. Egypt had accumulated about $6.1 billion in arrears to foreign oil companies by June 30, 2024 due to a prolonged foreign cur»»»
Attacks in Baghdad Breach Fragile Militia Truce
A wave of coordinated attacks struck Baghdad in a sharp escalation of Iraq’s security tensions, pointing to a shift in armed factions’ tactics and signaling that an undeclared truce may have effectively collapsed, with the US’s “Victory Base” being among the targets. The attacks began with a strike»»»
Japan May Join Mine Clearance Mission in Strait of Hormuz - Foreign Minister
TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japan may participate in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Sunday. "Japan's mine-clearance technology is one of the best in the world, so – while this remains purely hypothetical – if a ceasef»»»
Defiant Bulgaria Leader Ninova Pledges Economic Relief Measures, Targets Rising Prices
Korneliya Ninova, leader of the Defiant Bulgaria National Movement party, during a visit to Kyustendil on Saturday, said, “We stand firmly, consistently, and unwaveringly against the existing model of governance represented by GERB and MRF.” “I have fought this model for ten years and I will not gi»»»
America's Official Mammal, the Bison, Gets Bronze Tribute for Country's 250th Birthday
The national mammal of the United States is getting in on America's 250th birthday celebration. Three bison statues cast in bronze have taken up a permanent display outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington. The pieces — which are larger than real-life bison — made »»»
China's Premier Vows to Expand Global 'Trade Pie'
China's number two leader Li Qiang said Sunday that his country was willing to help expand the global "trade pie" by further opening up, state media reported, while he slammed unilateralism from certain countries. Many of China's key trading partners have increasingly called on Beijing to reduce it»»»
Law firm wins Dh1.165 million case against company in Dubai
Dubai: A Dubai civil court has ordered a company to pay Dh1.165 million to a law firm in unpaid legal fees, along with 5 per cent annual interest from the date of filing the case until full settlement, and to bear court fees and expenses. The ruling followed a dispute between the two parties after »»»
Putin's Envoy Dmitriev Sees Fuel Crisis in EU, UK in 2-3 Weeks
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for supplying oil and liquefied natural gas from the Persian Gulf to the global market, has been effectively halted. As a result, fuel prices are rising in most countries. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) CEO Kirill Dmitriev, who is also the s»»»
EU Urges Reduced Gas-storage Target
The European Commission on Saturday urged EU member countries to lower their target for filling natural gas storage in the coming months, to alleviate price pressures caused by the war in the Middle East. EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen sent a letter asking to "consider reducing your filling t»»»
Refiners in India, Elsewhere in Asia Look to Buy Iranian Oil after US Waives Sanctions
Indian refiners plan to resume buying Iranian oil while refiners elsewhere in Asia are examining such a move after Washington temporarily removed sanctions to alleviate an energy crunch caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran, traders said on Saturday. Three Indian refining sources said they will buy »»»
Israel Bombs Central Tehran; Trump Gives Iran 48 Hours to Open Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump warned the US will “obliterate” power plants in Iran if the Iranian Republic doesn’t fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, while Iranian missiles struck two communities not far from Israel’s main nuclear research center late Saturday, leaving buildings shattered an»»»
UK Navy Nuclear Sub Moves Into Iran Strike Range – Report
HMS Anson, fitted with Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of ≈ 1,609 km and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes, is believed to be taking up position in the waters of the northern Arabian Sea, reports the Daily Mail. Lieutenant General Nick Perry, running overseas missions from Permane»»»
Travel update: Kuwait Airways to resume Cairo flights via Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Airways (KA) announced Saturday that it will resume scheduled flights to and from Cairo via Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia starting Thursday, March 26. According to KUNA, Kuwait Airways will operate four weekly flights on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Transit visas and special»»»
Trump threatens Iran: 48-hour ultimatum on Strait of Hormuz
Iranian missiles struck two communities in southern Israel late Saturday, injuring dozens and damaging buildings near the country’s main nuclear research centre. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump warned the US will “obliterate” Iranian power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Horm»»»
Sri Lanka raises fuel prices by 25 percent amid soaring oil prices
Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by 25 percent on Sunday, the second increase in two weeks, as the country prepared for more impact from the war in the Middle East. Regular petrol was increased to 398 rupees ($1.30) per litre, up from 317 rupees, while diesel, the fuel commonly used for public transpor»»»
IAEA Says Received No Reports of Damage to Nuclear Center in Southern Israel
There have been no reports of damage to the nuclear research center in the city of Dimona in southern Israel, with no abnormal radiation levels recorded in the area of the facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said. "The IAEA is aware of reports of an incident in the city of Dim»»»
US judge strikes down Pentagon press limits as unconstitutional
A US judge on Friday ruled that the Pentagon’s controversial media access policy violated constitutional protections, restoring journalists’ credentials after major outlets refused to comply. The decision marks a significant victory for press freedom, underscoring the public’s right to diverse repo»»»
Trump threatens to send ICE agents to airports amid TSA funding impasse
President Donald Trump on Saturday warned he may deploy ICE agents to US airports if Congress fails to fund airport security. The move comes as TSA staff face a second missed paycheck in a 36-day partial government shutdown, raising fears of travel disruption. Critics question ICE’s suitability for»»»
Iranian missile struck town housing nuclear facility: Iran war shows 'no signs of abating'
The iran war is showing "no signs of abating" following a missile strike by Tehran on Dimona, a town in southern Israel housing a nuclear facility, FRANCE 24’s Douglas Herbert said in an analysis. There appears to be no "exit tunnel" in sight with Iran seemingly as determined as ever to retali»»»
Spotlight - The view from Professor Dominic Tierney, author of The Right Way to Lose a War
Dominic Tierney, the author of The Right Way to Lose a war, published in 2015, looking at US conflicts from Korea, to Vietnam, Iraq, to Afghanistan and the lessons taken from them. Dominic is professor of political science at Swarthmore College and a senior fellow at the foreign policy reserach ins»»»
Saudi Arabia Declares 5 Iranian Embassy Employees Personae Non Gratae - Foreign Ministry
Saudi Arabia has declared five employees of the Iranian Embassy in Riyadh, including the military attache, personae non gratae, demanding they leave the kingdom within 24 hours, due to attacks on its territory, according to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry published on Saturday. "The Kin»»»
Trump Threatens to Destroy Iran's Power Plants If Tehran Doesn't Open Strait of Hormuz
If Iran doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the United States will destroy the Islamic Republic's power plants, starting with the largest, declared US President Donald Trump. "If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in t»»»
Rain, thunderstorms and strong winds expected across UAE this week
Abu Dhabi: Unsettled weather conditions are expected to continue across the UAE today and over the coming days, with forecasts pointing to cloud formation, rainfall in scattered areas, strong winds and possible thunderstorms as a low-pressure system affects the country. According to the National Ce»»»
India lifts domestic airfare caps, giving relief to airlines
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced it will withdraw temporary fare caps on domestic flights starting Monday, March 23. The decision ends the price-control regime introduced several months ago to manage volatility in the aviation sector. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading t»»»
Western silence allows Israel to get away with killing journalists
On March 19, RT war correspondent Steve Sweeney and his cameraman Ali Rida Sbeity were injured by an Israeli strike meters from where they stood in southern Lebanon. Sweeney was on camera reporting on recent Israeli attacks on southern Lebanese towns and infrastructure when he heard the sound of an»»»
Turkey’s diesel tax buffer evaporates amid booming oil prices and refinery margins
Price hikes on diesel in Turkey are now being directly reflected in sales prices as the special consumption tax (OTV) on diesel prices was set at zero as of March 20, according to a statement from the country’s revenue administration (GIB). »»»
Turkey’s diesel tax buffer evaporates amid booming oil prices and refinery margins
Price hikes on diesel in Turkey are now being directly reflected in sales prices as the special consumption tax (OTV) on diesel prices was set at zero as of March 20, according to a statement from the country’s revenue administration (GIB). »»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
War will deepen Iran’s water crisis
An Israeli missile fell a few hundred metres from the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the South Pars missile strike on March 18, threatening not only a nuclear disaster on the order of Chernobyl but cutting off the entire region from its fresh drinking water supplies. However, even if Bushehr is»»»
Renewables supply nearly half of EU electricity in 2025
Almost half (47%) of the European Union’s electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2025, according to new data from Eurostat, which will provide a significant buffer at a time when the fossil fuel markets have been plunged into chaos by the start of Operation Epic Fury. »»»
Kazakhstan no longer paying even lip service to democracy, say analysts
Much of the commentary on Kazakhstan’s adoption of a new constitution in a referendum last week is nothing short of scathing. Serik Beysembaev, writing for Carnegie, concludes that if the observer “peels away the rhetoric”»»»
Renewables supply nearly half of EU electricity in 2025
Almost half (47%) of the European Union’s electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2025, according to new data from Eurostat, which will provide a significant buffer at a time when the fossil fuel markets have been plunged into chaos by the start of Operation Epic Fury. »»»