By Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Eric Schmitt The deployment of about 2,500 Marines to the Middle East represents a new phase in the two-week-old war in Iran, as Iranian forces increase their attacks on the Strait of Hormuz. The unit, officially known as the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, according to t»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Doha Equestrian Tour wrapped up its three-day local show jumping competitions at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab on Saturday night, showcasing top-level performances from more than 120 riders and 240 horses. Total prize money for the tour exceeded QR490,000. The tour opened with th»»»

Doha, Qatar: France has reaffirmed its strong strategic partnership with Qatar, highlighting deep diplomatic ties, and the defence dimension of the partnership has taken on heightened importance as the region navigates a complex geopolitical situation. In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula y»»»

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning parliamentary group will table an amendment that would require the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) to cover the cost of electricity meter accuracy tests amid complaints about high electricity bills since the start of the year,»»»

Doha, Qatar: Estithmar Holding has paid the third semi-annual coupon of its Qatari Riyal-denominated Sukuk (first tranche), at an annual profit rate of 8.75%. The first tranche, part of the company’s broader Sukuk program valued at QR3.4bn and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Sec»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has maintained a robust stockpile of essential food and consumer goods to ensure market stability. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has affirmed that sufficient stock is available in the country to ensure the availability of goods and prevent monopolistic practices. T»»»

Doha, Qatar: AlRayan Bank successfully held the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of Shareholders yesterday. At the AGM, the shareholders endorsed the financial statements for the fiscal year ended at 31 December 2025 that reflect a Net Profit after Tax of QR1350m. H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Qas»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn after landing in Marine One on Sunday, in Washington, D.C. The President is returning to the White House after spending the weekend at his private club, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo March 16 (UPI) -»»»

The leadership of the Kyrgyz Football Union reviewed the progress of construction of a new 5,000-seat stadium in Talas. The site was visited during a working trip by the Kyrgyz Football Union’s Vice President Dastanbek Konokbaev, Secretary General Mederbek Sydykov, and presidential adviser Aman Kas»»»

THIS WEEK offers a weekly snapshot of the key developments in Brussels and across Europe over the next seven days, published every Monday morning. EU leaders are meeting on Thursday (19 March) for a busy and timely European Council in Brussels, where support for Ukraine, energy security, Middle Eas»»»

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»»»

Dubai: Flights operated by Air India Express to and from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah will continue as scheduled despite disruptions affecting services to Dubai. “Air India Express' ad-hoc flight operations to and from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah will continue as announced.” St»»»

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»»»

Hollywood, United States: Hollywood's best and brightest stars on Sunday hit the red carpet for the 98th Academy Awards, the movie industry's biggest night. Here are some of the top looks: Spring hues Pops of spring color were a welcome sight on the red carpet. Jessie Buckley at the 98th Oscars at »»»

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced parliamentary elections, Tengrinews.kz reported, citing Akorda. A large-scale campaign has been conducted. «We have a lot of work ahead. Parliamentary elections will be held this summer, and we must conduct them unitedly, as a single country. I»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Dubai: Flights operated by Air India and Air India Express to and from Dubai International Airport have been cancelled for the day following the airport's temporary suspension of all flight operations. The airline said the cancellations come after Dubai International Airport temporarily suspended a»»»

It's Hollywood's biggest night. The 98th Academy Awards featured emotional speeches, comical relief and a bevy of backstage fun. While movie magic plays a role in the show itself (the ceremony, after all, is actually hosted at the Dolby Theatre in a shopping centre), there is a lot you don't see on»»»

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»»»

AMMAN — The Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) continued to strengthen its role as a global leader in sustainability and digital transformation in 2025, with significant initiatives aimed at improving market transparency and fostering long-term responsible investment.In 2025, ASE chaired the Sustainability»»»

An exhibition by artist Bakhramjon Temirov «Melody of Spring» has been opened in Bishkek. The exhibition is housed in the Oak Park Gallery, organizers announced. The artist presented new paintings, created over the course of his career. These include portraits, landscapes, and still lives, all pain»»»

Kyrgyz fighter Myktybek Orolbai has entered the top three in Ultimate Fighting Championship history for the highest number of takedowns in a single fight. During his bout against American fighter Chris Curtis at UFC Fight Night 269 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, the Kyrgyz athlete set a welte»»»

US authorities have deported an Ethiopian national after immigration investigators determined that his online activity supported the FANO, an armed militia fighting against Ethiopia’s government forces. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, said Solomon Bogale posted messages calling for vio»»»

Cubans took to the streets in the city of Moron on Saturday to protest worsening economic conditions since the US oil blockade. The island, known for harsh government repression, rarely sees protests. Authorities said five people were arrested in what it called vandalism acts. The NGO Justicia11, w»»»

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»»»

US President Donald Trump's call to world powers to send their warships to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint received tepid responses on Sunday as Gulf Arab states reported new missile and drone attacks. Iran's foreign minister denied Trump's claim that Tehran wan»»»

President Donald Trump has threatened to get the Strait of Hormuz open "one way or another" and has called on a number of countries including France, the United Kingdom and China to send ships to the area to overcome Iran's blockade on the vital trade artery. It comes as global oil supplies are sky»»»

What role does human intelligence gathering have to play in the war in Iran? In a conflict defined by sophisticated weaponry, secret agents operating on the ground across the Middle East are still crucial to Western efforts to combat Iranian forces.»»»

Overnight strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least four people, Lebanese state media and the government said on Sunday. Israel is fighting a second front in the war in the Middle East in southern Lebanon, against Hezbollah, alongside the air campaign against Iran it launched with the United Stat»»»

A cloud of orange-tinted, thick dust spread across the Gaza Strip on Saturday as first responders told Palestinians to stay home, especially those with respiratory illness. People were also urged to secure their tents to prevent them from being blown away. Israel’s war with Hamas has left most of G»»»

Missiles intercepted in Qatar; two drones causing damage at an airbase near a major US military site in Kuwait; an oil facility hit and ports threatened in the UAE... Gulf countries continue to pay the price of war every day, more than two weeks after the start of Operation Epic Fury launched by th»»»

In the third week of war, who is leading the country? And to what extent have those still in place been destabilised and weakened by the US and Israeli strikes on the country? A veil of mystery surrounds a man who remains out of sight: Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Another figure, Ali»»»

President Donald Trump has threatened to get the Strait of Hormuz opened "one way or another" and has called on a number of countries including France, the United Kingdom and China to send ships to the area to overcome Iran's blockade on the vital trade artery. It comes as global oil supplies are s»»»

As the conflict in the Middle East continues to take a significant toll on the world's oil supply, Nigeria's foreign minister has invited the Gulf countries and oil producers to look at Nigeria as a partner in supplying the global market. Story by Clémence Waller and Gabrielle Nadler.»»»

Israel's military said it began a broad wave of strikes on western Iran on Sunday. As the war progresses into the third week, further retaliatory strikes from Iran are likely to occur. So far, Iran has launched strikes across nine countries in the Gulf region. Most of these attacks have been interc»»»

In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced by war, just over a year since the last conflict uprooted over a million Lebanese from their homes. Israeli strikes have killed 826 people, including 106 children and 65 women, since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel r»»»

France 24’s Gavin Lee speaks with Amir Amiri and Parisa Karimi, two Iranian musicians who now live in canada. They discuss the difficulties and hopes of being refugees and artists from a war-torn country. Produced by Théophile Vareille, Alessandro Xenos and Guillaume Mercier Interview prepared by G»»»

The oil market is experiencing extreme volatility on March 16, 2026, driven by the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The war has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and forced production cuts across the Gulf, even as US President Donald Trump appealed for help from Nato allies and »»»

Socialist candidate Emmanuel Grégoire surged ahead of former culture minister Rachida Dati in the first round of voting for Paris mayor on Sunday as the left bids to extend its 25 years at the helm. But in the capital as in other cities across France, a strong showing by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's F»»»

France holds municipal elections on Sunday – including for the mayor of Paris – less than a year before the 2027 presidential vote, with some candidates looking to use the polls as a springboard for higher office. The votes will be held in two rounds on consecutive Sundays, with the secon»»»

Voters are going to the polls Sunday in the first round of municipal elections to choose leadership teams across France, from small villages to the biggest cities — a test for political parties' electoral machines before next year's presidential election for the successor to President Emmanuel Macr»»»

Voters are going to the polls Sunday in the first round of municipal elections to choose leadership teams across France, from small villages to the biggest cities — a test for political parties' electoral machines before next year's presidential election for the successor to President Emmanuel Macr»»»

French voters cast ballots in municipal elections marred by low turnout on Sunday, in the last major test of the public mood ahead of next year’s all-important presidential election. The run-up to the vote was largely overshadowed by the Iran war and its fallout, notably th»»»

Candidates for the far-right National Rally posted strong results in the first round of France’s municipal elections on Sunday, winning several races outright and polling neck-and-neck with the incumbent left in Marseille, in the last major test of the French public mood ah»»»