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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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: 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»»»

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan Erlist Akunbekov visited two dairy enterprises — Belaya Reka and Umut & Co — in Issyk-Ata district of Chui region. The working visit was carried out as part of an assignmen»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

US President Donald Trump warned that NATO could face a “very bad” future if US allies fail to assist Washington in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to an interview with The Financial Times. “It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure t»»»

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»»»

President Donald Trump said the United States is discussing cooperation with other countries on “policing” the Strait of Hormuz, speaking aboard Air Force One. “We are talking to other countries about working with us on the policing of the Strait. And I think we're getting good response,” Trump sai»»»

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»»»

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»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron said on ​Sunday he had asked Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkianto put an immediate end to attacks against ​countries ‌in the Middle East whether ⁠directly or through proxies, including in Lebanon and Iraq.  Read our blog to see how the day's events unfold»»»

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»»»

From deadly strikes in Iran and Lebanon, to trouble in the Strait of Hormuz and a statue of US President Donald Trump with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a pose from the movie "Titanic", FRANCE 24 takes a look at some of the week's most striking images.  »»»

Russian cross-country skier Anastasia Bagiyan has won gold in the 20 km individual start race for visually impaired athletes at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, becoming a three-time champion at the Games in Italy. The 24-year-old earlier won the sprint and the 10 km classical race. This year’s Games a»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

North Korea on Sunday tested nuclear-capable multiple rocket launchers that Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong Un said should make the country's enemies feel a sense of "uneasiness". The tests came one day after South Korea detected 10 ballistic missiles launched from North Korea.  North Korea t»»»

Combined Russian missile and drone strikes in several Ukrainian regions killed six people, according to offcials. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the ⁠Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Mykolaiv regions were targeted in an attack that included around 430 drones and 68 missiles, most of which were do»»»

Ukraine is recovering from a wave of Russian strikes that killed six people and wounded dozens across multiple regions on Saturday. Authorities say residential buildings, educational institutions, businesses and critical infrastructure were hit – particularly in Kyiv where about 30 sites were damag»»»

Pope Leo XIV, seen here on May 18, 2025, called for a cease-fire Sunday in the war in Iran. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI | License Photo March 16 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV called for a cease-fire in the Middle East on Sunday, issuing his strongest and most direct demand to date for an end to the »»»

The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz is underway, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Whoever wins will control half of China’s flow of oil. One unstated objective of Washington’s fore»»»

In the central city of Morón, Cuba, simmering anger over soaring food prices and relentless power cuts has erupted into violence as a band of protesters stormed a provincial Communist Party building, setting it ablaze in the process. Furniture was torn from the offices as fires were set late on Mar»»»

The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz is underway, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Whoever wins will control half of China’s flow of oil. One unstated objective of Washington’s fore»»»

The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz is underway, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Whoever wins will control half of China’s flow of oil. One unstated objective of Washington’s fore»»»

The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz is underway, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Whoever wins will control half of China’s flow of oil. One unstated objective of Washington’s fore»»»

Israel is preparing plans for a large-scale ground offensive into southern Lebanon aimed at pushing the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah away from the border and dismantling its military infrastructure, according to US and Israeli officials cited by Axios and The Times of Israel. »»»

Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan told the Associated Press (AP) on March 14 that while there is no serious initiative to resume peace negotiations between the warring US and Iran, he believes Tehran is open to back-channel talks. »»»

The widening US-led war with Iran is rapidly consuming expensive American air defence munitions that Ukraine relies on to shield its cities from Russian missile strikes, raising concerns among European allies that Kyiv could face critical shortages in the months ahead, reported Politico. »»»

The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz is underway, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Whoever wins will control half of China’s flow of oil. One unstated objective of Washington’s fore»»»

The widening US-led war with Iran is rapidly consuming expensive American air defence munitions that Ukraine relies on to shield its cities from Russian missile strikes, raising concerns among European allies that Kyiv could face critical shortages in the months ahead, reported Politico. »»»

Israel is preparing plans for a large-scale ground offensive into southern Lebanon aimed at pushing the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah away from the border and dismantling its military infrastructure, according to US and Israeli officials cited by Axios and The Times of Israel. »»»

The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz is underway, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Whoever wins will control half of China’s flow of oil. One unstated objective of Washington’s fore»»»

Israel is preparing plans for a large-scale ground offensive into southern Lebanon aimed at pushing the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah away from the border and dismantling its military infrastructure, according to US and Israeli officials cited by Axios and The Times of Israel. »»»

The widening US-led war with Iran is rapidly consuming expensive American air defence munitions that Ukraine relies on to shield its cities from Russian missile strikes, raising concerns among European allies that Kyiv could face critical shortages in the months ahead, reported Politico. »»»

The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz is underway, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Whoever wins will control half of China’s flow of oil. One unstated objective of Washington’s fore»»»