POZNAN, Poland (AP): A generation ago, Poland rationed sugar and flour while its citizens were paid one-tenth what West Germans earned. Today its economy has edged past Switzerland to become the world’s 20th largest with over $1 trillion in annual output. It’s a historic leap from the post-Communis»»»

Hungary is set to sign a deal with neighboring Slovakia on building a new bilateral oil pipeline, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has announced. Budapest and Bratislava have been caught in an escalating feud with Ukraine and the EU over Russian oil deliveries being blocked by Kiev. The row centers»»»

The leaders of five Western countries said in a joint statement Monday that a large-scale Israeli ground operation in Lebanon "must be averted." "A significant Israeli ground offensive would have devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict," said the joint statemen»»»

Doha: The State of Qatar has said that Iran must take "a clear decision" to stop attacks on the countries of the region, rejecting suggestions that investigations or joint teams are needed to address the issue. Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' weekly media briefing, Advisor to the Prime»»»

Capitals, March 16 (SANA) – Several European countries have signaled they will not participate in military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, amid growing tensions in the region and calls by the United States to form a coalition to secure shipping through the strategic waterway. Greece announced i»»»

The Albanian Parliament is expected to approve a resolution declaring the Islamic Republic of Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. The draft cites international evidence of Iran’s support for armed non-state groups and destabilizing activities in the Middle East. The resolution also highlights cybera»»»

Capitals, March 16 (SANA) – China’s growing demand for energy is increasingly influencing global oil and gas supply routes, as Beijing moves to diversify imports and reduce reliance on vulnerable maritime chokepoints amid rising geopolitical tensions. Security concerns in the Middle East—particular»»»

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Monday that an Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon was an "error" which would "further exacerbate the already highly tense humanitarian situation" in the country. "We urgently call on our Israeli friends: Do not take this path -- it would be an error," Merz s»»»

Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday said the war in the Middle East started by US-Israeli strikes on Iran was "not a matter for NATO" and Germany would not be taking part in it. "It has been clear at all times that this war is not a matter for NATO," Merz said, adding that the US and Israel "did no»»»

Top airline CEOs have urged the US Congress to end the government shutdown that has left airport workers without pay, warning travellers could face more delays. American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue are among the airlines that have written to lawmakers to demand funding is restored to the»»»

Throughout his two terms in office, Donald Trump hasn't been shy to criticise – even to attack – Washington's Nato allies. But his latest suggestion – that failing to secure the Strait of Hormuz would be "very bad for the future of Nato" – implies an understanding of the alliance's purpose that has»»»

There is “a real threat” that Poland could leave the EU, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said, after the country’s president vetoed a bill that would have allowed Warsaw to tap billions in defense loans from the bloc. President Karol Nawrocki last week vetoed legislation that would have let Warsaw d»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Navy launched about 10% of its ready-to-fire Tomahawk missile arsenal during the first three days of the military operation against Iran, The National Interest magazine reported on Monday. This represents roughly 400 missiles, a significant expenditure that exceeds the»»»

The XXI International Jazz_Bishkek_Spring Festival will be held on April 24-25. Organizers told 24.kg news agency. According to them, this is the most anticipated calendar event of the spring. «The festival’s motto is «Music Without Borders». Our mission is to build bridges of friendship and unders»»»

London: British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer said on Monday that the United Kingdom is working with its allies to develop a practical plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that any such operation must command broad international consensus and will not take place under the framework of NATO»»»

Zhusubali Toromamatov, Trade Representative at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan in China, met with Li Yuping, Deputy Director of the Chengdu Bureau of Commerce. The parties discussed expanding trade and economic cooperation. The Ministry of Economy’s press service reported. The ma»»»

The Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan, Damir Osmonov, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Kyrgyz Republic, Kim Kwang-jae, at the Ministry of Health. According to the press center, during the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and pr»»»

A new study has highlighted the gaps in civil and criminal protection for the victims of domestic violence in Bulgaria. It also showed that domestic violence in Bulgaria is predominantly gender-based and targets women. The analysis looked into the practices and challenges in combating violence agai»»»

BELGRADE - Serbia's January external goods trade totalled 4.89 bln euros, which is a 11.0 pct decline y-o-y, according to figures released by the national statistical office. Goods exports were worth 2.36 bln euros, dropping by 5.7 pct y-o-y, while imports totalled 2.53 bln euros, declining by 15.4»»»

Cabinet Chairman Adylbek Kasymaliev held a regular staff meeting. The agenda included the results of socioeconomic development for January — February 2026, budget execution, new 100-day reforms, and preparations for spring field work. According to preliminary data, Kyrgyzstan’s GDP for the two mont»»»

Italy’s energy giant, Eni, announced today that it has made two new gas discoveries in Libya totalling more than 1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) – thanks to an exploration campaign initiated in the past months. Two adjacent geological structures, Bahr Essalam South 2 (BESS 2) and Bahr Essalam South 3 (»»»

The OECD’s economic survey of Romania projects that GDP growth will reach 1.0% this year, before rising to 2.2% next year, following 0.7% growth last year. Inflation is expected to remain high, at 6.6% in 2026, before falling to 3.0% in 2027, as the impact of previous fiscal measures fades. “Romani»»»

Germany and the United Kingdom have pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s call for NATO to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz during the escalating war with Iran, stressing that the conflict is not a mission for the alliance. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s spokesman said Monday that the»»»

Spain will not take part in any military mission in the Strait of Hormuz because it considers the US-Israeli war on Iran to be illegal, Madrid's defense and foreign affairs ministers said on Monday. The leftist coalition government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has criticized the offensive an»»»

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK is working with allies on a "viable, collective plan" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It comes after President Trump urged Britain and other countries to send warships to the Gulf to help protect the shipping channel, which is vital for global oil sup»»»

Bulgaria recorded 80,884 crimes in 2025, including 70,075 offences against individuals and property and 10,809 economic crimes, according to a written reply by Interior Minister Emil Dechev to a question from Ivaylo Shotev MP of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria. The data show a 4% decrease»»»

Fears of a global energy crisis rose Monday as the war in the Middle East raged on, with more U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Iranian capital and Israel's bombardment of Lebanon. An Iranian drone strike temporarily shut Dubai's airport, a crucial global travel hub, underscoring the threats to the world»»»

Germany is enormously concerned by the developments in Lebanon, said a government spokesperson in Berlin on Monday, and warned that ‌a major Israeli ‌ground offensive ‌would ⁠significantly worsen the ⁠already tense humanitarian situation in the region. "A glance at this part ⁠of the war ‌zone ‌fill»»»

A recent survey by the Sova Harris Agency, conducted between March 7 and 12, 2026 and commissioned by Bulgarian media Trud, indicates a potential surge in voter turnout for Bulgaria’s upcoming parliamentary elections, reversing the downward trend seen in previous years. If the vote were held today,»»»

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (QCC) and the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom welcomed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which condemned in the strongest term»»»

HEADLINES Monday’s print media highlight rising living costs, political developments and economic trends. 24 Chasa leads with a report that food prices are expected to increase ahead of Easter, warning of a more expensive traditional holiday salad followed by broader price pressures in food and tra»»»

Doha, Qatar: Following successful pilot projects and increasing international interest in the growth potential of its domestic alternative energy market, Qatar is forecasted to be one of the leaders in the adoption of batteries in the MENA region. Increasing battery storage capabilities is a strate»»»

This photo, taken Monday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in central Seoul as the South Korean won fell to a 17-year low against the U.S. dollar amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Photo by Yonhap The South Korean currency fell to a 17-year low against the U.S. dollar Monday as global »»»

Russia is capable of replacing the volumes of food products previously supplied by Iran to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, and can also offer solutions in the fields of energy and agrochemistry. Anatoly Tikhonov, Director of the Center for Agribusiness and Food Security at the Presidential»»»

Lianhuashan's slopes have been kept snow-covered by ageing European snow cannons for more than 20 years, but the Beijing resort added its first Chinese snowmaker this ski season. The snow gun, made by Beijing-based Carving Ski, costs about a third less than Western brands such as Italian giant Tech»»»

Bulgaria’s tourism sector is expected to remain resilient despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to Rumen Draganov, director of the Institute for Analysis and Evaluation in Tourism. Speaking to BGNES, Draganov noted that Bulgarian tourism has historically withstood fluctuations »»»

The US-Israeli war on Iran opened with massive strikes on urban centers, the assassination of the country’s supreme leader and his family, and the brutal slaying of more than 160 children at a girls’ elementary school in Minab. As more information about the bombing has come to light, discussion has»»»

The cinema might feel like a relic to some – a moment from before films were available at the press of a button at home – but those interested in cinemas never turn their back on an afternoon spent sitting in complete darkness with total strangers in front of a booming big screen. According to METR»»»

On March 16, 1802, the U.S. Congress authorized the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. 1 of 5 | President George W. Bush watches the graduates throw up their hats at Michie Stadium for the 2006 Graduation Ceremony of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., on May »»»

Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Crude shot up in the opening minutes after the U»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has reaffirmed its full readiness and continuous field response to maintain essential services and support community needs, as part of its ongoing commitment to delivering services with the highest standards of quality and efficiency. The ministry, in a pos»»»

Romania’s industrial production (chart) contracted by 4.0% y/y in January, driven mainly by a 6.4% y/y drop in manufacturing output, according to data published by the statistics office INS. The decline in manufacturing was partly offset by stronger activity in the utilities sector, where output in»»»

President Donald Trump urged NATO partners and China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical conduit for crude that Iran has effectively closed, as major economic players began releasing oil reserves on Monday to ward off supply disruptions. Global oil prices have surged by 40 to 50 perce»»»

As Iranian Shahed drones continue to strike targets across the Middle East amidst the raging war with Israel and the US that has stretched regional air defences to their limits, Ukraine has quietly emerged as an unlikely but highly relevant source of expertise. President Volodymyr Zelensky has anno»»»

Britain is not prepared to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, despite US President Donald Trump’s call for allies to join a naval effort, The Telegraph reported. UK ministers said they are still considering other options, including mine-hunting drones, but have not committed naval v»»»

AMMAN — The Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman) revealed that the maritime transport sector in the Arab region attracted 146 foreign projects with a total investment value of nearly $4 billion over the past 23 years.In its fourth sectoral report for 2025 on maritime tra»»»

Iran is taking steps to prevent anti-establishment protests, with checkpoints appearing across the streets of the capital, internet access restricted, and mass text warnings sent to residents. In Tehran, people have been telling the BBC about new security checkpoints around the city, where they say»»»

The first reports appeared on foreign screens, beyond the reach of most Iranians. On 28 February Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were "signs that the tyrant is no more," suggesting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in a joint US-Israeli strike. Iranians watching sta»»»

For Ukraine the financial frontline is perhaps the unseen battlefield in the war with Russia. Keeping the economy on a level footing isn't just about today, but central to the future that they've spent four years fighting for. "We don't want to be just a poor neighbour [to the EU]," says Ukraine's »»»

Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), a leading insurer in Qatar and the MENA region, held its Annual General Assembly (AGM) and Extraordinary General Assembly (EGM) meetings on March 12, 2026, virtually via Microsoft Teams. The meetings were chaired by Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bi»»»