Bishkek prepares for Nooruz: Festive events to be held across city - | 24.KG
Festive events dedicated to the spring holiday Nooruz will take place in all districts of Bishkek on March 21, the City Hall’s press service reported. The City Hall invites everyone to join the celebrations to mark the spring equinox, enjoy music, games, workshops, and traditional treats, and exper»»»
Israel Launches New Strikes on Tehran and Lebanon as Iran Hits Back and Fires on Gulf Neighbors
Residents of Dubai and Doha, Qatar, awoke to the sound of explosions Tuesday as air defenses worked to intercept new waves of incoming Iranian fire, and Israel launched new strikes on Iran and Lebanon, as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of abating. Dubai, a major transit hub for internat»»»
Drone, Rocket Attack Targets US Embassy in Baghdad
A drone and rocket attack targeted the US embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday, while a strike killed four people at a house reportedly hosting Iranian advisors, security officials said, pulling Iraq deeper into the Middle East war. An AFP journalist reported seeing black smoke rising after an explosio»»»
Pakistani national killed by falling debris in Abu Dhabi
Doha, Qatar: Officials in Abu Dhabi responded to an incident in the Bani Yas area after shrapnel fell following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in the death of an individual stated an official statement from the emirate. The victim was a Pakista»»»
Secretary of State Marco Rubio designates Iranian-American Kamran Hekmati wrongfully detained by Iran - UPI.com
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio speak during a roundtable in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 6. On Monday, Rubio designated Iranian-American Kamran Hekmati as wrongfully detained by Iran. File Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Pho»»»
Kyrgyzstan monitors wildlife using satellite technology - | 24.KG
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan continues to implement modern technologies for monitoring and preserving biodiversity. The use of high-tech equipment allows for the study of wild animals without interfering with their natural environment. Accordin»»»
EV charging breakthrough: 97% in 9 minutes, 258 ultra-fast stalls
While Western oil majors and think tanks are still “studying” if EVs have a future, Shell teamed up with BYD in Shenzhen and built something insane. This isn’t a few plugs behind a supermarket. It's a 2.5 km-from-airport super-hub with 258 ultra-fast chargers, rooftop solar pumping out 300,000 kWh/»»»
Syria's National Dialogue promises fall flat
More than a year ago, Syria’s National Dialogue process was presented as a cornerstone of the country’s political transition after the fall of the Assad regime. It was supposed to help rebuild the state and restore a measure of political consensus after more than a decade of war. Officials promised»»»
Could the US-Iran war spark World War III?
Is the world on the brink of a global conflagration? The US-Israel attack on Iran has sparked panic in some quarters. A Telegraph headline on 7 March feared “how Britain could get sucked into World War III,” while Richard Shirreff, a former deputy supreme allied commander of NATO, has warned that t»»»
Baisalov calls for peace in the Middle East and action against religious hatred - | 24.KG
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Edil Baisalov spoke at a high-level UN event marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the Cabinet’s press service reported. He noted that Kyrgyzstan is a secular and multi-confessional state, where Islamic heritage is combined w»»»
British Airways keeps adjusted UAE flight schedules in place amid review
Dubai: British Airways has extended its temporary reduction in flights across the Middle East, citing continued uncertainty in regional airspace. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The airline had already cancelled services to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel »»»
Deadline for Candidate Lists in April 19 Parliamentary Elections Expires Tuesday
The deadline for parties, coalitions and initiative committees to submit proposals to the constituency election commissions for the registration of candidate lists in the April 19 early parliamentary elections expires at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the election timetable. Tuesday is also the»»»
Lake and surrounding area near Dordoi market to be improved in Bishkek - | 24.KG
Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev held a meeting on March 16 with Askar Salymbekov, president of the Dordoi Association, to discuss improvements to Dordoi market area, with a particular focus on the nearby lake and surrounding territory. The press service of the City Hall reported. According to the»»»
Pakistani national killed in Abu Dhabi after UAE intercepts Iranian threats
Abu Dhabi: Authorities in Abu Dhabi responded to an incident in the Bani Yas area after shrapnel fell following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in the death of a Pakistani national, according to an official statement. Emergency teams were deploy»»»
Epizootic situation in Kyrgyzstan remains stable - | 24.KG
The epizootic situation in Kyrgyzstan remains stable. Dairkul Satkynov, chief specialist at the Department for Control of Anti-Epizootic Measures under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, said on Birinchi Radio. According to him, the veterinary service promptly rec»»»
Iranian Kurdish camps in Iraq wait in the wings
Dressed in military fatigues, with a personal weapon slung at her side, Afsana Rahimi greeted us with poise and calm assurance at the main gate of Topzawa camp, a settlement for Iranian Kurds north-east of Mosul, a big and ethnically diverse city in northern Iraq. Her short hair was neatly drawn ba»»»
Kyrgyzstan and GIZ sign agreement to develop green skills in Central Asia - | 24.KG
The Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic signed an agreement with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to implement the regional project «Green Skills for Green Economy in Central Asia.» The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Labor, Soci»»»
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»»»
US General 'Too Drunk' — Fell Three Times in Kiev, Lost Secret Maps — DoD Report
Then-Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Aguto, now retired, was supposed to oversee US military support to Ukraine but was too busy drinking, a Pentagon inspector general report revealed. After heavy drinking in Kiev, Aguto FELL three times: slammed into a wall in his hotel room fell again overnight, hitting h»»»
Military Officials Present Trump With Options for Ending War With Iran - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Military officials have presented US President Donald Trump with options for ending the conflict with Iran should the American leader decide to do so, the NBC News broadcaster reported, citing sources. Daily war planning includes options for both winding down the conflict and esc»»»
Oil prices rocket as tankers continue to face risks in Hormuz Strait
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»»»
Kyrgyzstan and BiExpo to hold Ala-Too Trade & Industry Expo 2026 - | 24.KG
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan and exhibition company BiExpo have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. According to the ministry, the document is aimed at developing exhibition and fair activities, supporting domestic businesses, and promoting Kyrgyz products in international mar»»»
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 »»»
Death Toll From Pakistan's Attack on Afghanistan Reaches 400, Another 250 Injured- Reports
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»»»
And the burger goes to... Michael B Jordan marks Oscars win at In-N-Out
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 »»»