Cuba-wide blackout ignites anti-government anger
Hannah HummelA US fuel embargo has pushed Cuba's fragile energy system to the brink. A nationwide blackout plunged millions into darkness — and prompted President Trump to suggest he could "take" the island. https://p.dw.com/p/5AZljAdvertisementCuba is facing its worst crisis in years. As fuel shor»»»
Look: Florida cat gets surgery after swallowing 26 hair ties - UPI.com
View this post on Instagram A post shared by HelpingAnimalsLive&Overcome (@halonokillrescue) March 17 (UPI) -- A Florida animal rescue said a 6-year-old cat underwent surgery for an intestinal blockage, and veterinarians ended up removing 26 hair ties. The HALO No-Kill Rescue Shelter in Sebastian s»»»
Iran war: Why gold prices are not soaring
BusinessGlobal issuesIran war: Why gold prices are not soaringDirk KaufmannGold is typically seen as a safe haven, especially in times of war and other crises. Notwithstanding the ongoing war in Iran, the price is steady. What's driving the stability? https://p.dw.com/p/5AULKGold is likely to remai»»»
Who holds the biggest strategic oil reserves?
BusinessGlobal issuesWho holds the biggest strategic oil reserves?Nik MartinIran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed dozens of countries to tap their emergency oil stockpiles. But what exactly are strategic reserves, and who holds the world's biggest crisis-ready supplies? https»»»
Watch: 'Cheetozard' auction results in a Guinness World Record - UPI.com
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Goldin (@goldinco) March 16 (UPI) -- Guinness World Records said the auction of Cheetozard -- a Flamin' Hot Cheeto shaped liked the Pokémon Charizard -- resulted in a new record. The record-keeping organization said Goldin Auctions' March 2025 sale of Ch»»»
What does the Iran war mean for the US defense sector?
BusinessUnited States of AmericaWhat does the Iran war mean for the US defense sector?Arthur SullivanUS defense companies are being called on to ramp up production to meet fresh demand from the war in Iran. It opens up an existing rift between them and the Trump administration. https://p.dw.com/p/5»»»
US tariffs force Colombia to find new export markets
Markus BöhnischColombia is becoming a rising economic force in South America, yet new US tariffs have strained its traditionally close ties with Washington. The Valle del Cauca region is showing how businesses are adapting. https://p.dw.com/p/5ASV8AdvertisementColombia's top export, coffee, is gene»»»
World Shares Are Mixed and US Futures Slip as Brent Hovers Above $100 a Barrel
Shares were mixed in Europe and Asia on Tuesday after a drop in oil prices helped send the US stock market to its best day since the war in Iran began. The reprieve in prices for crude was short-lived, with Brent crude climbing nearly 4% early Tuesday to $104.13 a barrel. US benchmark crude also cl»»»
Trump snubs Beijing, will not travel to China
US President Donald Trump now plans to postpone a scheduled visit to China later this month, by at least a month owing to the ongoing war in Iran, BBC reports. The White House confirmed that the original dates for the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, set between March 31 and April 2, will»»»
Trump snubs Beijing, will not travel to China
US President Donald Trump now plans to postpone a scheduled visit to China later this month, by at least a month owing to the ongoing war in Iran, BBC reports. The White House confirmed that the original dates for the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, set between March 31 and April 2, will»»»
Phosphate ranked 51st on Forbes' list of 'Most Powerful Companies in MENA'
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»»»
Worker welfare centre reopens at HIE to boost employee support
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»»»
Iraq to start oil exports via Türkiye's Port of Ceyhan after Strait of Hormuz closure
AMMAN — Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani said on Monday that the country will begin pumping crude oil directly from the Kirkuk oil fields to Türkiye's port of Ceyhan, bypassing the Kurdistan Region.He said in a statement that Iraq previously exported around 3.4 million barrels per day through »»»
EU talks energy as oil price soars
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»»»
Who did the Oscars 2026 reward and honour?
The politically charged action comedy “One Battle After Another” just managed to outmuscle Ryan Coogler’s musically driven vampire thriller “Sinners." in the 2026 Oscars Ceremony. But Michael B. »»»
Focus - Families of US victims seek justice in landmark social media addiction trial
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»»»
Trump laments US allies' lack of 'enthusiasm' to help secure Strait of Hormuz
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»»»
Trump administration threatens media over negative coverage of Middle East war
Donald Trump's broadcast regulator has issued a warning to top news channels in the United States, threatening to cancel the spectrum permits of broadcasters pushing what he called "hoaxes and news distortions". The criticism was echo»»»
Cuba hit by massive islandwide blackout as power grid crisis deepens
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»»»
Perspective - 'Terrible feeling of déjà vu' as Israel launches ground incursion into Lebanon
A leading Lebanese academic has spoken of his feelings of déjà vu as Israel admits it has launched what it calls a limited ground operation in the south of Lebanon. Karim Emile Bitar is professor at Saint Joseph University of Beirut and at Sciences Po University in Paris. He says that from experien»»»
Possibility of long war source of concern Israeli military leaders
Conflict across the Middle East continues to rage, and Israel is fighting a war on several fronts all at once, but for how long? Since it attacked Iran, Israel has endured regular strikes, forcing widespread air raid al»»»
Russia is 'country that benefits most the longer Middle East war continues'
Donald Trump is putting pressure on European countries to keep Strait of Hormuz open. But as Europe refuses to get dragged into the war in the Middle East, it also doesn't want to jeopardise Ukraine, which benefits from the US in different ways. FRANCE 24's Angela Diffley looks at how the two confl»»»
Tête à tête - 'Kurds can play a significant role in a breakthrough in Iran,' Iranian Kurdish leader says
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»»»
‘War is expensive’: As bombs pummel Lebanon, an ancient souk falls silent
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»»»
‘Sleeping in our car is the only option’: Displaced Lebanese face skyrocketing rents
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 »»»
Justice for Syria’s disappeared: When survivors take charge
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»»»
The Debate - Strait talk on Hormuz: Insults, chaos, shadow of Iraq, keep Trump's allies at bay?
Day 17 of the war in the Middle East and as the missiles and the drones keep falling, the US President has done a U turn on needing help from his friends and allies. Trump is calling now for a coalition to keep open the Strait of Hormuz. The US strikes on Iran's Kharg Island on Friday 13th sent a m»»»
Replay: Trump says US dismantled Iran's defense as Middle East war continues
Rewatch as US President Donald Trump gives an update on the war against Iran.»»»
US allies 'know how to deal with Trump' amidst threats over Strait of Hormuz
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. »»»
Missiles and drone attacks across the UAE as Iran presses on with air campaign in Gulf
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»»»
Iran's underground arsenal, decentralised military key to press on with strikes on Gulf states
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»»»
'Near universal refusal' - European leaders reject Trump's demand for Strait of Hormuz mission
NATO allies and other Western nations pushed back Monday on US President Donald Trump's demand that military alliance members help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical conduit for crude oil Iran has effectively closed. FRANCE 24's Dave Keating reports from Brussels»»»
Israeli campaign in Lebanon seeks to 'degrade' Hezbollah’s rocket, drone and missile capabilities
As Israel expands its military operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Dr. Raz ZIMMT, Director of the Iran and Shiite Axis program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). According to Dr ZIMMT, Israel’s objectives are based on a more l»»»
Truth or Fake - Social media abuzz with viral rumours of Benjamin Netanyahu's death
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»»»
China overlooks Trump's demands for Hormuz strait, calls for all sides to de-escalate
China on Monday called on all sides to halt military operations in the Strait of Hormuz to avoid further escalation. The remarks came after US President Donald Trump urged China and six other countries to send warships to secure the vital shipping route. Beijing however made no mention of military »»»
What to know from the first round of France's municipal elections
In France's municipal elections the far right National Rally is gaining momentum, and France Unbowed has made a breakthrough. Both parties treated the municipal elections as a test-run for the presidential race and emerged strengthened from the first round. T»»»
Former president Sarkozy appeals conviction in Libyan funding case
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy returned to court on March 16 for an appeal hearing in Paris over his conviction linked to the alleged illegal campaign financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by Libya. The case led him to spend 20 days in prison in 202»»»
France in focus - Why French mayors are throwing in the towel
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»»»
Sarkozy's high-stakes appeal in Libyan funding case opens in Paris
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is back in court to appeal criminal charges that he sought financing for his 2007 campaign from former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi»»»
Negotiations in full swing in French cities over mayoral vote
Following the first of two rounds of municipal elections on March 15, the race for many of France's bigger cities including Paris and Marseille looks set to be tight. Politicians are now moving to make cross-party alliances against they key opp»»»
Sarkozy trial 'test to French judicial system' when faced with political pressure
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 »»»
'Hard to draw conclusions for presidential election' from French municipal vote
The race for Paris mayor looked uncertain on March 16 as a right-wing former minister hoping to wrest control of the French capital from the left claimed she had gained key support for the second round of the mayoral polls. The French elections is l»»»
France seeing a 're-polarization and reorganization' of the two poles, left and right
Genie Godula is pleased to welcome Paul Smith, Head of Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham. In his view, one of the most significant developments is the continued use of proportional list systems across communes of all sizes, from Paris to the smallest rural municipalities. What is pol»»»
China urges US to correct 'erroneous ways' over trade probes ahead of Paris talks
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»»»
Sri Lanka and Thailand bring in fuel-rationing measures amidst Middle East war
As oil prices continue to rise and supply is disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East, the Sri Lankan government has announced fuel-rationing measures, effective immediately. Thailand has seen a rush to the pumps ca»»»
Press Review - Are 'immature men' to blame for decreasing birth rates in the UK?
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»»»
Tech 24 - #QuitGPT: Can an AI boycott really change big tech?
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 declares weekly fuel holiday
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. »»»
China mobilises 2,000 vessels as Taiwan ramps up defences
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 declares weekly fuel holiday
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. »»»