Readiness of Air, Missile Defence Systems of Eastern Flank Countries Increased - Minister Zapryanov
NATO’s missile defence has been placed on the highest level of alert, and the readiness of air and missile defence systems across the Eastern Flank has been increased, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told reporters on Tuesday. He was speaking during a ceremony marking the 75th anniversa»»»
AKCEL Holding, XRange to develop Dh1B Golf Entertainment venues in UAE
AKCEL Holding, a Dubai-based diversified conglomerate, has signed a strategic development agreement with XRange Golf Entertainment to develop a network of next-generation golf entertainment venues across the UAE, in a project valued at more than Dh1 billion. The initiative will introduce technology»»»
Iran’s Larijani, the Man Whose Power Grew During Mideast War
When Israeli and US strikes killed Ali Khamenei at the start of the Middle East war, Iran's security chief Ali Larijani became even more powerful than he had been for decades. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Larijani had been killed, though Iran's authorities have not con»»»
Media Review: March 17
POLITICS Capital: The Progressive Bulgaria coalition, associated with former president Rumen Radev, announced the leaders of its parliamentary candidate lists one day before the registration deadline for the upcoming elections, confirming expectations that many nominees would come from his former c»»»
Yuan Versus the Dollar: Will Hormuz Tensions Reshape the Global Monetary Order?
As geopolitical tensions escalate around the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has floated a proposal to link the passage of energy shipments to payments in currencies other than the US dollar. The move appears designed to pressure global power centers. While it stops short of a declared currency war, it high»»»
A new Dubai hub could change how medicines move across the GCC
Dubai: Logistics firm Aramex announced Tuesday it has opened its first dedicated regional healthcare and pharmaceutical hub at the Dubai South Free Zone. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The announcement comes after the warehouse received certification from the UAE Mini»»»
Kuwait says 16 people arrested over Hezbollah links
Kuwaiti security forces arrested 16 people suspected to have links with Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group allied with Iran, the state-run Kuwait News Agency reported. The interior ministry said in a statement late Monday that the 14 Kuwaiti and two Lebanese suspects sought to “create chaos, and »»»
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»»»
Ivan Demerdzhiev: Progressive Bulgaria Stands for Principles, Not Political Games
Ivan Demerdzhiev, former Minister of Internal Affairs and member of the "Progressive Bulgaria" coalition, emphasized in an interview on BNT that his group is driven by principles rather than political maneuvering. He stated that strategies are meant for “players,” but the coalition sees itself as a»»»
Hamas meets Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for first time – Reuters
Hamas has held its first talks with the newly established US‑led Board of Peace, as the postwar Gaza reconstruction plan comes under strain from the Iran war and continued Israeli strikes on the enclave, Reuters has reported. The Board of Peace – an international body formally established in mid‑Ja»»»
Iran school strike responsibility not ‘important issue’ – ex-CENTCOM commander (VIDEO)
Questions over who bears responsibility for the killing of over 160 schoolgirls in an airstrike in Iran are irrelevant, former CENTCOM commander Admiral William Fallon has suggested in a heated exchange with Afshin Rattansi on Going Underground. The February 28 strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh eleme»»»
BR Analysis | Romania’s startup ecosystem gauging future of EU-US investment ties
Amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a widening capital gap, EU leadership has unveiled a multi-pronged offensive to reclaim technological and financial independence, which could impact the future of startup investments in Romania. By Ovidiu Posirca The urgency is underscored by a stark fundin»»»
Social Work Often Goes Unnoticed, but Without It Society Would Fall Apart - Parliamentary Social Policy Committee Chair
Social work often goes unnoticed, but without it society would fall apart, Denitsa Sacheva, Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Policy, said in a Facebook post marking World Social Work Day. “Today is a day for those who stay when everyone else leaves. For those who do not ask»»»
Defense chief says received no official U.S. request on sending warships to Middle East - UPI.com
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back attends a plenary session of the parliamentary defense committee in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo by Yonhap The defense ministry has not received any official request from the United States to deploy warships to the Middle East, Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Tuesday following U»»»
Iraq in Talks with Iran to Safeguard Oil Tanker Traffic Through Hormuz
Iraq's oil minister said Baghdad is talking to Iran about allowing some of the country's oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the state news agency reported on Tuesday, as Iraq seeks to ease disruptions to crude exports following recent attacks on tankers in its own waters. Iraq is als»»»
Trump's confidence is undimmed - but every Iran option comes with risk
In the third week of the joint US-Israeli war against Iran, Donald Trump faces decisions that could define the rest of his presidency. But if the American commander-in-chief is grappling with a war of choice that seems in danger of spiralling in ways he can't control, those concerns are not playing»»»
The 'fog of war': UAE experts on why you can’t focus and how to protect your brain
The other day, an acquaintance repeatedly got my name wrong in a phone call. I didn’t register it, the first few times. I just hmmed as we continued to discussing a pitch. It only dawned after she suddenly apologised, “Have I been calling you by a different name all this time?” “I think so. But it’»»»
Philippines: Massive cut in airport fees, faster fuel 'surcharge' reviews to slash airfare costs — what to know
Manila: In a bold move to shield Filipino travelers from soaring jet fuel prices triggered by ongoing Middle East tensions, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed key government agencies to slash aviation-related charges and speed up airfare adjustments. On Tuesday, the Philippine C»»»
Iran warns Romania not to allow the U.S. to use its bases for military operations
Iran warned Romania on Monday that they could answer politically and legally after allowing the US to use bases on its territory for operations against Iran, says Iran International.Teheran urges all countries not to get involved in the war, stated the spokesperson of the Iranian Minister for forei»»»
War Disrupts Education in Lebanon, Deepening Inequality Among Students
Lebanon’s education system is struggling to survive an unprecedented crisis as war forces hundreds of thousands from their homes. Many schools have been converted into shelters for displaced families, with classrooms transformed into sleeping quarters, while others attempt to continue teaching amid»»»
Gold Firms as Investors Assess Middle East Fallout ahead of Policy Decisions
Gold prices edged higher on Tuesday, buoyed by easing fears of prolonged disruptions to oil shipments, while investors assessed the economic impact of the Middle East conflict ahead of a slew of central bank policy decisions this week. Spot gold was up 0.2% at $5,013.71 per ounce as of 0644 GMT. US»»»
MoI issues precautionary evacuation guidelines for workplaces
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has urged employers and employees across Qatar to strictly follow precautionary evacuation guidelines in workplaces, emphasising that adherence to these protocols saves lives and strengthens overall public safety. In a series of public notices shared on i»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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 »»»
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»»»
Orbán: What belongs to Hungarians must remain with Hungarians
Speaking at a campaign rally in Kaposvár, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reviewed the government’s achievements since 2010 and outlined the stakes of the upcoming election. According to PM Orbán, the vote will determine whether Hungary continues building a work-based economy and defending its national»»»
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 »»»
Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan looks tempting, but would be ill-advised
As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»
Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan looks tempting, but would be ill-advised
As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»
Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan looks tempting, but would be ill-advised
As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»
Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan looks tempting, but would be ill-advised
As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»
Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan looks tempting, but would be ill-advised
As global attention fixates on the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, global energy prices and Iran’s de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic calculus in East Asia has shifted in ways that are increasingly worrying to Taiwan. »»»
Iran targets US businesses in the Gulf
As the war in the Gulf expands so does the type of target. In the initial barrages Iranians targeted key military assets like the four THAAD air defence missile radar stations and fighters parked on the tarmac of US bases. However, as the war moves into its third week, now the IRGC have declared th»»»
The Iranian revolution has been reversed
In the first video US President Donald Trump released following the start of operation epic fury he calls on the Iranian people to rise up in what he called a “once in a generation opportunity” to take back control of their own country. »»»
Discounts on Russia’s Urals blend oil fall to zero
Russia is poised to reap a major financial windfall from rising global oil prices due to the war in the Gulf, after the discounts on the Urals blend of oil fell to zero in the last week Robin Brooks, senior fellow at the B»»»
Iran targets US businesses in the Gulf
As the war in the Gulf expands so does the type of target. In the initial barrages Iranians targeted key military assets like the four THAAD air defence missile radar stations and fighters parked on the tarmac of US bases. However, as the war moves into its third week, now the IRGC have declared th»»»
The Iranian revolution has been reversed
In the first video US President Donald Trump released following the start of operation epic fury he calls on the Iranian people to rise up in what he called a “once in a generation opportunity” to take back control of their own country. »»»
Iran targets US businesses in the Gulf
As the war in the Gulf expands so does the type of target. In the initial barrages Iranians targeted key military assets like the four THAAD air defence missile radar stations and fighters parked on the tarmac of US bases. However, as the war moves into its third week, now the IRGC have declared th»»»
Discounts on Russia’s Urals blend oil fall to zero
Russia is poised to reap a major financial windfall from rising global oil prices due to the war in the Gulf, after the discounts on the Urals blend of oil fell to zero in the last week Robin Brooks, senior fellow at the B»»»