IDF launches 'limited operation' in Lebanon as 'buffer zone expands significantly'
The Israeli military said on March 16 it had begun what it described as "limited ground operations" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.The announcement echoes similar statement»»»
Answering Trump's call for help in Middle East 'political suicide' for allies
President Donald Trump urged NATO partners and China to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz as it remains closed due to the ongoing war in the Middle East triggered by the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. FRANCE 24's Olive»»»
'One Battle After Another' dominates Oscars
Hollywood, United States: "One Battle After Another" triumphed at the Oscars on Sunday, winning six awards, including the coveted best picture statuette, besting "Sinners" in a thrilling finale to one of the most competitive awards seasons in recent years. Director Paul Thomas Anderson personally w»»»
Joint statement of GCC and UK Foreign Ministers on Iranian attacks against GCC states
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»»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.4163
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.4163 dinars for one euro on Monday, which is a slight change relative to Friday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative to t»»»
Hezbollah clashes with Israeli forces trying to enter south Lebanon
Hezbollah said it targeted overnight Israeli troops in Khiam, Odaisseh and al-Taybeh. It also targeted troops and bases in the occupied Golan and north of Kfar Yuval in the Galilee Panhandle of northern Israel. The Israeli army had said it sent additional ground troops into Lebanon for what it call»»»
Air China to resume direct flights to N. Korea on March 30
Beijing: Air China will resume direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang from March 30, according to tour agencies and the state-owned carrier's website, after train services between the two capitals resumed last week. China is North Korea's largest trading partner and a vital source of diplomat»»»
Media Review: March 16
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»»»
Trump claims Iran victory but warns Nato on Hormuz security
Dubai: Just a week ago, US President Donald Trump suggested Britain did not need to send ships to the Middle East, saying the United States had already “won” the war with Iran. Now the tone appears to have shifted. Trump is urging allies — including Nato partners, Britain and even China — to help r»»»
Vazrazhdane Leader: Government's Decision about Compensation Over Expensive Fuels Is Inadequate
The government’s decision regarding compensation over expensive fuels is inadequate, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov told a a press conference in Varna on Monday. According to him, a solution should not involve taking money from the budget, because that would mean that all Bulgarians would h»»»
France bolsters military presence in Middle East, prepares for postwar talks
France's government is bolstering the country's military presence in the Middle East, dispatching its aircraft carrier and other warships, while President Emmanuel Macron engages with key players in the conflict, including Iran, in a bid to position Paris for future diplomatic talks. Macron said th»»»
Brussels wants ‘our sons to die for Ukraine’ – Orban
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Brussels of dragging the EU into a direct war with Russia through potential troop deployments to Ukraine. Speaking at the ‘Peace March’ in Budapest on Sunday, which drew tens of thousands of supporters, Orban said Brussels had taken “the war upon it»»»
NATO nation says it will not host nukes
Norway will not host nuclear weapons on its territory, as it bases its security on NATO strategic deterrence, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has said. Sweden’s and Denmark’s top defense officials have said their nations would be open to such a deployment, however. During a press conference alongsi»»»
Shura Council lauds society's cohesion , steadfastness in face of Iranian blatant aggression
Doha, Qatar: The Shura Council, during its regular weekly session, held at its headquarters in the Tamim Bin Hamad Hall today, under the chairmanship of HE Speaker of the Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, commended the steadfastness and cohesion of Qatari society in facing the "blatant Iranian»»»
Israel announces 'limited and targeted ground operations' in Lebanon - UPI.com
Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon found dozens of rockets at a Hezbollah site in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces said Monday. Photo courtesy of Israel Defense Forces/X March 16 (UPI) -- The Israeli military announced Monday that soldiers were conducting "limited and targeted »»»
Shura Council lauds society's cohesion, steadfastness in face of Iranian blatant aggression
DOHA: The Shura Council, during its regular weekly session, held at its headquarters in the Tamim Bin Hamad Hall, under the chairmanship of Speaker HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, commended the steadfastness and cohesion of Qatari society in facing the "blatant Iranian aggression" to which the St»»»
Netanyahu mocks social media rumors about his death
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published a short video on Sunday making light of rumors on social media that he was dead. "I'm dead for coffee," he said sarcastically on his official X account as he received a steaming cup at a cafe outside Jerusalem, employing a colloquial Hebrew expres»»»
Japan not currently mulling maritime ops despite Trump pressure over Hormuz
Tokyo: Japan said Monday it was not currently thinking about ordering maritime security operations, after US President Donald Trump called for other countries to send warships to help protect the Strait of Hormuz. "In the current Iran situation, we are not at the moment considering issuing a mariti»»»
Lebanon condemns Hezbollah over UNIFIL attacks as Israel expands ground incursion
Lebanon's foreign ministry condemned Hezbollah on March 16 for allegedly opening fire on UNIFIL peacekeepers in three separate incidents, while Israel positions itself for large-scale ground operations in southern Lebanon. »»»
Lebanon condemns Hezbollah over UNIFIL attacks as Israel expands ground incursion
Lebanon's foreign ministry condemned Hezbollah on March 16 for allegedly opening fire on UNIFIL peacekeepers in three separate incidents, while Israel positions itself for large-scale ground operations in southern Lebanon. »»»
flydubai gradually restoring flights after disruptions at Dubai Airport
Dubai: flydubai will gradually resume flight operations with a reduced schedule, following a temporary suspension that disrupted several services. The airline said that some scheduled flights have been affected by the earlier halt in operations, and passengers will be notified if their flights are »»»
S. Korean currency slips to fresh 17-yr low against U.S. dollar amid Iran crisis - UPI.com
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 »»»
War uncertainty lifts dollar as investors seek safety
Damascus, March 16 (SANA) Rising tensions in the Middle East have boosted the U.S. dollar as investors shift away from riskier assets toward safer, more liquid holdings. The currency has gained about 2.5 percent, driven by growing geopolitical uncertainty and concerns that fighting could disrupt ke»»»
Nicolas Sarkozy back in court over alleged Libyan funding for 2007 presidential campaign
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy returns to court on Monday to challenge his conviction over allegations he sought campaign funding from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya for his 2007 election. Sarkozy, who denies wrongdoing, briefly served time last year. The Paris appeals court retrial will run unti»»»
Apartment transactions down 18.6% in Bucharest in first two months of 2026
These figures follow a 2025 in which the total transaction volume in the Bucharest–Ilfov metropolitan area had already dropped 8.5% compared to 2024, to 55,297 units, while prices for new units rose by approximately 20%, reaching an average of €2,500/sqm. “What we are seeing in the market now is th»»»
Oman Air cancels flights to 9 cities, including Dubai, Doha
Dubai: Flights operated by Oman's national carrier to several destinations will remain suspended until March 31, as ongoing regional airspace closures continue to disrupt operations. Oman Air said on Monday that while most of its network is operating normally, some routes remain temporarily affecte»»»
MOI announces evacuation guidelines for workplace
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior, MOI, has given precautionary evacuation guidelines manual for workplace during emergency and exceptional situations. The Ministry in a post on social media warned that when evacuation alert is issued, employees must evacuate the danger location immediately, mo»»»
Buzz, Unease as UK Crowds Watch US Bombers Head to War
Hidden behind a tall hedgerow in the English countryside, Charlie Cumming stood at the fence of an air force base, camera raised towards a US B-1 Lancer bomber parked nearby. He was one of hundreds of curious onlookers who flocked to the airfield at RAF Fairford in the southwestern county of Glouce»»»
TikTok and Meta risked safety to win algorithm arms race, whistleblowers say
Social media giants made decisions which allowed more harmful content on people's feeds, after internal research into their algorithms showed how outrage fuelled engagement, whistleblowers told the BBC. More than a dozen whistleblowers and insiders have laid bare how the companies took risks with s»»»
India pushes diplomacy to reopen Hormuz Strait as Trump urges naval escort
Direct talks with Iran have proven the most effective way to restart shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Indian official said, even as calls grow for a multinational naval effort to secure the critical waterway amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The comments came after Donald »»»
Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' in south Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Monday it had begun what it described as "limited ground operations" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. "In recent days, IDF troops from the 91st division have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, aimed »»»
LIVE UPDATES: Trump pressures NATO, China over securing Hormuz
Doha, Qatar: 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 4»»»
Agra Asigurari launches a new policy for the vegetable sector
Agra Asigurari, the national leader in agricultural insurance, announces the launch of a new insurance product dedicated to field-grown vegetable crops, designed to offer farmers additional financial protection against climate risks, particularly hail. This initiative comes at a time of significant»»»
Trump pressures NATO, China over Iran's closure of key waterway
Tehran: 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 »»»
Experts urge caution on Trump call for Hormuz deployment - UPI.com
The Dae Jo Yeong, a 4,400-ton South Korean destroyer, departs a naval base for the Gulf of Aden; in Busan, South Korea. File. Photo YONHAP / EPA March 15 (Asia Today) -- South Korean experts said Sunday that any response to U.S. President Donald Trump's call for allied naval deployments to the Stra»»»
Analyst: Romania has taken almost no real measures against the rising fuel prices crisis
Romania has taken almost no real measures against the crisis generated by rising fuel prices, although it has the highest diesel fuel prices and the second highest gasoline prices in relation to the local purchasing power, according to chairman of the Smart Energy Association (AEI) Dumitru Chisalit»»»
LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Tensions Mount After Strikes on Iran – Day 17
The Middle East remains on edge as the conflict triggered by the February 28 US–Israeli strikes on Iran enters its 17th day. The attacks, which targeted multiple Iranian sites and killed senior Iranian officials, sparked a major regional escalation and a wave of retaliatory missile and drone operat»»»
On This Day, March 16: Congress establishes West Point - UPI.com
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 »»»
Drone strike temporarily suspends flights at Dubai International Airport - UPI.com
March 16 (UPI) -- Dubai officials temporarily suspended all flights at the city's international airport Monday morning, as the United Arab Emirates was defending itself against a barrage of Iranian drone and missile strikes. A drone fired by Iran caused a fire to erupt from a fuel tank in the vicin»»»
One killed after missile falls on civilian car in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi authorities have confirmed they are responding to an incident following reports of a missile falling on a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahyah district. The attack resulted in one fatality, identified as a Palestinian national. Also ReadAlso Read: Dubai International Airport gradually resume»»»
Israel Army Says Begun 'Limited Targeted Ground Operations' against Hezbollah in South Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Monday it had begun what it described as "limited ground operations" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The military said in a statement that in recent days, Israeli army “troops from the 91st division have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key He»»»
Hormuz mine war? 10-year-old report warned US lacks enough mine-clearing power vs Iran
In naval warfare, few weapons are as effective — or as disruptive — as marine mines. Of the 20 US Navy ships that have been severely damaged or sunk by adversary action since September 1945, 15 were "mine" victims. The US has also used as both offensive and defensive weapons: when the US Navy emplo»»»
Fidesz and Tisza flex muscles, mobilise hundreds of thousands in last big rallies before election
Hungary’s two leading political blocs, Fidesz and the Tisza Party, held mass rallies on March 15 in a prominent display of power, widely seen as a measure of their capacity to rally voters ahead of the April 12 elections. Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowed to keep Hungary "an island of security and »»»
Orbán: “We will preserve Hungary as an island of peace and security even in a turbulent world”
At Hungary’s March 15 national commemoration, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a speech centered on the country’s security, sovereignty, and the coming election. According to the prime minister, Europe is entering a dangerous period as Brussels prepares for deeper involvement in the war in Ukr»»»
Why France is Bolstering Military Presence in the Middle East, as Macron Prepares for Postwar Talks
France's government is bolstering the country's military presence in the Middle East, dispatching its aircraft carrier and other warships, while President Emmanuel Macron engages with key players in the conflict, including Iran, in a bid to position Paris for future diplomatic talks. Macron said th»»»
Peso hits record low against UAE dirham as oil shock rattles currency
Dubai: The Philippine peso fell to a record low against the UAE dirham on Monday morning, reflecting mounting pressure on emerging market currencies amid volatile energy markets and growing global uncertainty. (Check live forex rates here) Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balanc»»»
Romanian-American Director Natalie Musteata wins Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film
The 2026 Academy Awards delivered a rare moment in the history of the Academy when the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film was awarded in a tie, with both The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva receiving the prize. For Romanian audiences, the news carries particular significance: one of the»»»
Iran Accuses Israel of Ecocide That Will Scar Generations
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi demands that Israel be "punished for its war crimes" against the Islamic Republic. The bombings of fuel depots in Tehran by Israeli authorities “violate international law and constitute ecocide,” he posted on X. Araghchi warned the attacks could leave lasting»»»
Trump Pressures NATO, China over Iran's Closure of Key Waterway
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»»»
How Ukraine's drone defence model can help Gulf states
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»»»