As of March 17, 2026, oil markets remain extremely volatile amid the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict disrupting the Strait of Hormuz – the vital artery for ~20% of global oil flows. WTI Crude surged to $95.80 (+2.46%), Brent hit $102.90 (+2.66%), while UAE’s flagship Murban dropped 6.68% to $106»»»

AMMAN — Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) ranked 51st in the list of the 100 most powerful companies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for 2026, up from 71st place, according to the annual ranking of "Forbes Middle East" magazine.The market capitalisation of Phosphate reaches $1»»»

AMMAN — The Worker Center Association has announced on Monday the official reopening of its facility within the Al Hassan Industrial Estate (HIE) in Irbid, marking a "strategic" return to full social and recreational programming dedicated to the Kingdom’s garment sector workforce.

The center serve»»»

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Energy ministers from the EU's 27 nations huddled in Brussels Monday to discuss how to help families and businesses as the Iran war sends energy prices soaring.The meeting laid the groundwork for a Thursday summit of EU leaders that will seek to address the issue — though the bl»»»

A verdict is expected soon in the landmark trial against Google and Meta in Los Angeles. At the heart of the case are repeated accusations that online platforms deliberately fuel social media addiction, especially among young users. The ruling could set a legal precedent and potentially impact thou»»»

US President Donald Trump on Monday criticised US allies on Monday for a lack of enthusiasm in helping unblock the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing war against Iran. US and Israeli strikes on Iran have jolted global energy markets, sending oil prices higher and raising gasoline costs for US c»»»

Cuba suffered another nationwide power outage on Monday after its electrical grid collapsed, the third major blackout in four months. The shutdown underscores the island’s worsening energy crisis, with ageing infrastructure, fuel shortages and economic turmoil leaving millions of people facing prol»»»

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Abdullah Mohtadi, secretary-general of the Iranian Kurdish opposition Komala party, said Kurds "can play a very significant role in making a breakthrough" in Iran. He pointed to "serious signs of weakness" among security forces in Kurdish regions of Iran and said "te»»»

Israel's devastating war with Hezbollah has compounded the suffering of ordinary Lebanese who were already grappling with an economy on the brink of collapse. FRANCE 24's reporter travelled to Sidon, a coastal city south of Beirut, to visit the once-bustling alleys of the old souk&nb»»»

Hezbollah’s entry into the war against Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes on its Iranian ally, has triggered a massive displacement of civilians across Lebanon. With many shelters at capacity and rental prices skyrocketing, many now find themselves sleeping in the streets »»»

Yasmen Almashan spent years fighting to find out what happened to her brothers, who were among the more than 180,000 Syrians who went missing under the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Now, during Women’s Week at the UN, she is back – only this time she has an official public role in Syria’s transitional»»»

US President Donald Trump has demanded seven countries send ships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure toe crucial passagepoint for global oil flows. He threatened that refusal to help would mean a 'very bad' future for NATO. But US allies refuse to be dragged into the ongoing war in the Middle East. »»»

In the UAE a drone strike sparked a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport, disrupting travel, while a missile killed a civilian in their car in Abu Dhabi, and another drone ignited a fire in an area housing oil infrastructure. Iran is continuing to press its campaign against countries that host US forc»»»

Reporting from Doha in Qatar for FRANCE 24, Hoda Abdel-Hamid explains that Iran has been able to keep striking Gulf countries, despite claims made by US President Donald Trump that its arsenal had been decimated, because most of its weapons may be underground and the country has decentralised its m»»»

In recent days, social media has been abuzz with rumours claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was killed in an Iranian missile strike. The rumour appears to have originated from a screenshot of a recent press conference, after users claimed it was a deepfake generated by art»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The death toll from Pakistan's attack on Afghanistan has reached 400, with another 250 people being injured, the Tolo News portal reported on Tuesday, citing Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman of the Afghan government. On Monday evening, the news portal reported that explosio»»»

After he was handed a statuette for best actor at the Academy Awards, Michael B Jordan received another golden prize - a cheeseburger. The actor, who won for his performance in the vampire-blues film Sinners, stopped by fast food chain In-N-Out Burger after the Hollywood ceremony. Still dressed in »»»

As French voters head to the polls for municipal elections, would-be mayors are presenting their programmes for the next six years. Yet with multiple pressures weighing on these local representatives, many step down before the end of their terms. Resignations among mayors are currently at an all-ti»»»

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is on trial once again as he appeals his conviction in the Libyan funding case. Although a guilty verdict is unlikely to change what his base thinks of him, it would undeniably taint his legacy. The trial also sends out a clear message to the political elite »»»

Beijing said on Monday it had “lodged representations” with Washington and urged the United States to “correct its erroneous ways” after new US trade probes launched last week. China’s commerce ministry called on Washington to meet Beijing halfway and resolve disputes through dialogue, as negotiato»»»

A tanker was struck by an “unknown projectile” while at anchor in the Gulf of Oman, prompting a fresh warning to vessels operating close to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Also Read: US 'fully prepared' to escort commercial vessels in Strait of Hormuz: White»»»

Speaking at a campaign rally in Kaposvár, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reviewed the government’s achievements since 2010 and outlined the stakes of the upcoming election. According to PM Orbán, the vote will determine whether Hungary continues building a work-based economy and defending its national»»»

Construction output volume, based on raw data was 11.4% lower than a year earlier, according to working day adjusted data decreased by 9.6% in January 2026. Among the main construction groups the construction of buildings lessened by 9.6%, that of civil engineering by 14.5%. Based on seasonally and»»»

The volume of industrial production declined by 2.5%, while based on working-day adjusted data it increased year-on-year by 0.3% in January 2026. A production setback occurred in the great majority of the manufacturing subsections. According to seasonally and working-day adjusted data industrial ou»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, March 16: French papers analyse the first round of the country's municipal elections. Next: Cubans protest amid worsening economic conditions. Also: The New York Times tells the story of a difficult recovery after an act of violence. Finally, researchers look into the delayed»»»

1/9Visitors walk through vibrant rows of tulips as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden opens to the public for the annual Tulip Show 2026 in Srinagar.ANI2/9Millions of tulips bloom across the sprawling garden in Srinagar, turning the Kashmir Valley into a spectacular sea of colours.ANI3/9Jammu »»»

Kyrgyzstan is set to launch a unified emergency response service based on the 112 system, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. According to the ministry, the new mechanism is expected to speed up the transmission of information about incidents and reduce response times for emergency servi»»»

It started quietly, with a handful of posts on tech forums and Reddit explaining why and how you should uninstall and unsubscribe from ChatGPT. Now the campaign #QuitGPT has more than 4 million participants worldwide, and the numbers are still climbing. FRANCE 24 tech journalist Charlotte Lam »»»

Sri Lanka has designated every Wednesday a public holiday to conserve fuel as the country confronts the risk of supply shortages following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, BBC reported. »»»

Beijing has massed up to 2,000 fishing vessels in coordinated formations near Taiwan, raising concerns over blockade rehearsals, AFP reports. Satellite tracking data showed large groups of Chinese vessels assembling in geometric patterns in the East China Sea, sometimes holding position for about 3»»»

Sri Lanka has designated every Wednesday a public holiday to conserve fuel as the country confronts the risk of supply shortages following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, BBC reported. »»»

As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»

As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»

Sri Lanka has designated every Wednesday a public holiday to conserve fuel as the country confronts the risk of supply shortages following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, BBC reported. »»»

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman said on March 17 that about 400 people have died after an airstrike allegedly carried out by Pakistan destroyed a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul, Hindustan Times reported. A»»»

Sri Lanka has designated every Wednesday a public holiday to conserve fuel as the country confronts the risk of supply shortages following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, BBC reported. »»»

Beijing has massed up to 2,000 fishing vessels in coordinated formations near Taiwan, raising concerns over blockade rehearsals, AFP reports. Satellite tracking data showed large groups of Chinese vessels assembling in geometric patterns in the East China Sea, sometimes holding position for about 3»»»

Sri Lanka has designated every Wednesday a public holiday to conserve fuel as the country confronts the risk of supply shortages following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, BBC reported. »»»

As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»

Beijing has massed up to 2,000 fishing vessels in coordinated formations near Taiwan, raising concerns over blockade rehearsals, AFP reports. Satellite tracking data showed large groups of Chinese vessels assembling in geometric patterns in the East China Sea, sometimes holding position for about 3»»»

Beijing has massed up to 2,000 fishing vessels in coordinated formations near Taiwan, raising concerns over blockade rehearsals, AFP reports. Satellite tracking data showed large groups of Chinese vessels assembling in geometric patterns in the East China Sea, sometimes holding position for about 3»»»

As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»

Sri Lanka has designated every Wednesday a public holiday to conserve fuel as the country confronts the risk of supply shortages following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, BBC reported. »»»

As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»

Cuba's national electricity system suffered a complete collapse on March 16, state utility Unión Eléctrica announced, plunging the entire island into darkness as the country grapples with an acute fuel shortage. The utilit»»»

President Donald Trump has said that Washington could reach an agreement with Cuba imminently, a few days after Havana's leader publicly confirmed for the first time that the two governments are holding discussions. "Cuba »»»

Ecuador and the United States have signed a reciprocal trade agreement, eliminating a 15% tariff surcharge on more than half of Ecuador's non-oil exports after 10 months of negotiations. The agreement was signed at the off»»»

President Donald Trump has said that Washington could reach an agreement with Cuba imminently, a few days after Havana's leader publicly confirmed for the first time that the two governments are holding discussions. "Cuba »»»

Ecuador and the United States have signed a reciprocal trade agreement, eliminating a 15% tariff surcharge on more than half of Ecuador's non-oil exports after 10 months of negotiations. The agreement was signed at the off»»»