Airlines Suffer Losses Estimated at $53Bln Due to Middle East Conflict
On February 28, the United States and Israel began striking targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes on Israeli territory, as well as on US military targets in the Middle East. The damage caused by US and Israeli aggressi»»»
Ready to help keep Hormuz open? Who said what
European powers and Japan have changed their posture on the ongoing Middle East war, by prioritising energy security and avoiding being dragged by the US into the on-going war with Iran. Recent developments show the allies are preparing to act even without full US leadership. Some countries, such a»»»
Central Election Commission: Women at 30.1% of April Election Candidates
Women make up 30.1% of candidates for parliament in the April 19 elections, Central Election Commission Deputy Chair Rositsa Mateva said on Saturday. Their share is up 1.7 percentage points from the October 2024 vote. There will be 62 more women candidates for parliament in the upcoming elections t»»»
World Forest Day marked with praise and barbs
Greece marked World Forest Day with a mix of praise and pointed criticism over the state of the country’s forestry service. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing a ceremony at the Goulandris Foundation on Friday, highlighted recent hiring efforts – 278 new employees recruited, with 330 mor»»»
Citizens and residents mark Eid with resilience and unity amid regional crisis
Doha, Qatar: Eid celebrations across Qatar are unfolding in a spirit of resilience and unity, as citizens and residents come together to observe the festive occasion despite the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions. Eid prayers, held indoors yesterday at designated venues such as the Education Cit»»»
What you need to know about the Philippines’ 2-month toll relief amid fuel price surge
Dubai: The Philippines is introducing a temporary toll discount for public transport and freight services starting March 23 to offer a breathing space to the transportation sector, who is currently under pressure from rising fuel prices, amid the situation in the Middle East. In a statement, Philip»»»
Sharaa Says Working to Steer Syria Clear of Any Conflict
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stressed on Friday that he was working on steering the country clear of the war in the Middle East. “We are taking steps very carefully and working on keeping Syria out of any conflict,” he said after Eid al-Fitr prayers in Damascus. “We must remember that Syria had»»»
President Iotova to Visit Kyustendil for Spring Festival
President Iliana Iotova will visit Kyustendil for the city’s official holiday, the Kyustendil Spring Festival, the President’s press secretariat said on Saturday. She will be welcomed by Mayor Ognyan Atanasov outside the Kyustendil Municipality building and will greet residents and visitors during »»»
11 dead in South Korea car plant fire
Seoul: Rescuers combed the charred wreckage of a South Korean car parts factory for missing people after a fire killed at least 11 and injured dozens more, authorities told AFP on Saturday. Fire crews were initially unable to enter the factory in the central city of Daejeon due to the risk of the b»»»
11 dead in South Korea car plant fire
Rescuers combed the charred wreckage of a South Korean car parts factory for missing people after a fire killed at least 11 and injured dozens more, authorities told AFP on Saturday. Fire crews were initially unable to enter the factory in the central city of Daejeon due to the risk of the building»»»
EDB notes Kyrgyzstan’s progress in sustainable development - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan ranks 47th in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index and 78th in the Energy Transition Index (ETI), an index published annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF). These data are presented in a report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) in the section covering the energy sector »»»
Middle East crude surges toward $150 as global oil prices stage rebound
Dubai: Global oil prices rose again on Saturday, reflecting mounting geopolitical pressure on supply flows. Middle East crude led the move with a sharp spike. Murban crude, a key benchmark exported from the UAE, jumped 18% to $146.40 per barrel. That followed a 6% surge a day earlier, when prices h»»»
Philippine Airlines cancels Dubai, Doha flights until April 30: What affected passengers can do
Dubai: Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has temporarily suspended its flights between Manila and major Middle East destinations, such as Dubai and Doha, until April 30 amid the ongoing tensions in the region. In its latest advisory, PAL has noted that the suspension is a “precautionary measur»»»
Meteorological department warns of thunderstorms and strong winds
DOHA: The Meteorology Department has warned of expected thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds along the coast, and of thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds and high waves offshore. It is forecast that the weather along the coast, until 6pm, will be partly cloudy to cloudy with suspended dus»»»
Iran's Foreign Minister Says Tehran Will Not Agree to Ceasefire With US, Israel
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East. Iran will not agree to a ceasefire with the United States and Is»»»
Arab Nations Condemn Israeli Strikes on Syria
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned on Saturday Israel's strikes on Syrian army camps as "aggression", joining other Arab nations and Türkiye in calling on the international community to intervene. Israel's military said on Friday it had struck southern Syria in response to what it called att»»»
Jury finds Elon Musk misled investors during Twitter purchase
San Francisco: A jury has found Elon Musk liable for defrauding investors by deliberately driving down Twitter's stock price in the tumultuous months leading up to his 2022 acquisition of the social media company for $44 billion. But it absolved him of some fraud allegations, finding that he did no»»»
President Sadyr Japarov to celebrate Nooruz in Naryn region - | 24.KG
Head of State Sadyr Japarov will arrive in Naryn region today on a one-day working visit, his press service announced. As part of the visit, the president will take part in ceremonial events dedicated to Nooruz, an ancient holiday symbolizing the spring renewal, unity of the people, and the continu»»»
Air pollution in Bishkek as of March 21: Capital is in 10th place - | 24.KG
Bishkek is ranked tenth in the World Air Quality ranking of the world’s largest cities as of 11 a.m. According to the website, the air quality index (AQI) in the capital is 121 and rated as «unhealthy for sensitive groups.» Information is available in real time. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is divid»»»
Trump Hints at Wind-Down of War as US Sends More Troops and Iran Threatens Tourism Sites
US President Donald Trump said he was considering “winding down” military operations in the Middle East even as the United States is sending three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 additional Marines to the region. Trump’s post Friday on social media followed an Iranian threat to atta»»»
Far from war, global fuel frustrations mount
LAGOS — Far from the Middle East war, fallout from oil disruptions is reverberating across the world, unsettling lives from Lagos to Manila as people adjust to fuel price hikes and gas shortages.Benchmark oil prices are hovering around $100, a surge of around 40 to 50 per cent since the war against»»»
US public opinion is decisively shifting against Israel
For decades, American support for Israel was one of the most durable constants in US foreign policy, to such an extent that successive administrations, whether Democratic or Republican, hardly needed to debate it. That truism no longer holds. A Gallup poll conducted between 2-16 February confirmed »»»
The global economy is paying the price for Epic Fury
Three weeks after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the world has entered an exceptionally dangerous phase. The confrontation has expanded far beyond the bounds of a conventional military conflict. It has developed into a multi-layered war in which military fronts converge with immense ec»»»
Why modern-day wars can easily go regional
The world is now passing through an era of ‘strategic unravelling’, and its proportions are catastrophic. Conflicts no longer remain confined to their immediate geographies. With grim persistence, they expand into regional wars. Their prevalence stems from the breakdown of the post-1945 internation»»»
Chuck Norris, US action movie star whose toughness inspired endless memes, dies at 86
From one studio to another, Chuck Norris turned discipline into legend – a martial arts champion who became the iron-jawed face of "Walker, Texas Ranger" and a larger-than-life cultural myth. He died Thursday at 86. Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in “Wal»»»
No, Iran didn't publish a 'list' of 11 American cities to target
A video claiming that Iran published a list of 11 American cities it plans to target has gone viral since it was first posted on Instagram on March 3. We found the origin of this list, and it turns out that it has nothing to do with Iran. Instagram user truecrimewithbella posted a video on Ma»»»
Unstable weather in UAE: Rain prompts authorities to step up emergency measures
The UAE is bracing for heavy rain and gusty winds as unstable weather moves across the country. This morning, rainfall has affected Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other areas, with convective clouds forming over scattered regions and fresh to strong winds causing blowing dust and reduced visibility between »»»
Reporters - The West Bank, up against the wall: Illegal Palestinian workers face exploitation and danger
Our reporters in the Middle East went to meet Palestinians who are desperately trying to reach Israel to find work there. Before the October 7 attacks, 120,000 Palestinian workers held permits allowing them to enter Israel legally. Today, only a handful of permits are »»»
French jihadist sentenced to life in jail over IS group genocide of Iraq's Yazidis
A court in France has sentenced jihadist Sabri Essid for his part in "the genocide perpetrated by the Islamic State group" against Iraq's Yazidi minority, in the first French trial of its kind. Essid is presumed to have been killed in 2018, but without proof of his death he was tried and convicted »»»
Despite decapitation, Iran’s regime endures: Does Hormuz blockade give Tehran the upper hand?
William Hilderbrandt is pleased to welcome Paul Taylor, Senior Visiting Fellow in the Europe in the World Programme and a member of the Defence/Security EUrope project. He is also a freelance columnist for The Guardian. Amid the Strait of Hormuz blockade, Mr. Taylor argues that even overwhelming fo»»»
Myth of liberation: As war rages, trapped Iranians 'curse' the regime, the Americans & the Israelis
Haxie Meyers-Belkin is pleased to welcome Borzou Daragahi, award-winning international correspondent and investigative reporter. As Iran marks Nowruz, the Persian New Year, war intrudes into civilian spaces. The psychological terrain is marked less by overt anger than by fatigue, resignation, and a»»»
Tête à tête - 'Trump could be ready to stop the war at almost any moment,' ex-adviser John Bolton says
In an interview with FRANCE 24, former US national security adviser John Bolton said US President Donald Trump "could be ready to stop the war at almost any moment". Bolton also said he remains mystified by Trump's reversal on regime change in Iran and warned that the Iranian opposition is not rece»»»
Spotlight - A spiralling energy crisis: Strikes on gas, oil sites have sent prices soaring again
An analysis of the spiralling energy crisis with Mohamad Al-Sabban, energy economist and longtime advisor to the Saudi Government.»»»
Eye on Africa - Senegal not losing AFCON title without a fight
In tonight's programme: Senegal says it's not losing its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title without a fight. But first, a joint statement is issued by DR Congo and Rwanda, where both nations have agreed to take steps to advance last year's stalled peace accord. And in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, a gr»»»
Mojtaba Khamenei says Iran dealt its enemies a 'dizzying blow' in written message
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Friday said Iran had struck a “dizzying blow” in its war with Israel and the United States in a written message marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, even as blasts rocked the capital Tehran. Israel accused the Islamic republic of targeting Jerusalem’s holiest sit»»»
Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor Nicholas Brendon dies aged 54
US actor Nicholas Brendon, renowned for his starring role in the cult TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died aged 54. Brendon's family confirmed in a statement on social media "he passed in his sleep of natural causes". His family added: "He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to »»»
Daiso Japan expands UAE presence with new store in Al jurf, Ajman
Daiso Japan has announced the opening of its new store in Al Jurf, Ajman, located next to Homes R Us. This marks the brand’s second store in Ajman, bringing its total network to 52 stores across the UAE. The new store offers a wide range of affordable and innovative products, with over 800 new item»»»
Weather alert: Thunderstorms and heavy rain sweep across UAE
Rain sweeps across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other parts of the UAE as a low-pressure system moves through, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reports. Gusty winds are stirring dust and reducing visibility in some areas. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a weather update for Satu»»»
Spotlight - Hungary's Orbán blocks €90 billion loan, threatening vital EU support for Ukraine
Mark Owen is pleased to welcome Dr Hanna Shelest, Director of Security Studies and Global Outreach Programmes at Ukrainian Prism and editor-in-chief at UA: Ukraine Analytica. According to Dr Shelest, Ukrainian forces demonstrate that with adaptive strategy, technological innovation and ti»»»
Talking Europe - Europe's housing crisis: Is the EU plan up to the job?
MEPs recently approved a key report on housing, with the stated aim of securing decent, sustainable and affordable housing. They are responding to an EU-wide crisis in which property prices jumped by 15.5 percent between 2021 and 2024, according to Eurostat. That has frozen out millions of people l»»»
Focus - With its wind farms, Danish island of Samsø shows path forward during energy crisis
The US-Israeli war against Iran has once again underlined the vulnerability of the world's oil and gas supplies. Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up oil prices and threatened global economic stability. This comes at a time when wind farms and solar panels are providing »»»
Earthquake hits Kyrgyzstan on the day of Orozo Ait - | 24.KG
An earthquake with a magnitude of approximately 3 hit Kyrgyzstan on the day of Orozo Ait, the Seismology Institute of the National Academy of Sciences reported. According to the report, the tremors were recorded on March 20 at 6.52 p.m. The earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Kyrgyz Republic:»»»
Construction of modern waste processing plant to resume in Osh city - | 24.KG
Mayor of Osh city Zhanarbek Akayev met with Dai Daoguo, CEO of Junxin Huanbao KG Invest, a company that applies advanced environmental technologies from the People’s Republic of China. The Osh City Hall reported. During the meeting, the mayor of the southern capital emphasized the need to accelerat»»»
US Ready to Help Other Countries Guard Strait of Hormuz If Asked — Trump
US President Donald Trump said the United States is ready to assist other countries in guarding the Strait of Hormuz if asked. "If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts," Trump wrote on Truth Social. WorldUS Unlikely to Withdraw From Iran Anytime Soon Because of Hormuz Strait »»»
Business - Gas prices soar as energy infrastructure is attacked in the Gulf
Natural gas prices soared as attacks intensified on energy infrastructure in the Middle East. The Ras Laffan plant in Qatar has sustained "significant damage", according to its operators, which could take years to fully repair. That will have a significant impact on global supplies, »»»
Democracy fading as autocractic rulers gain ground – Statista
Released on March 19, the latest Freedom in the World 2026 report finds that global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year in 2025, with more countries experiencing a deterioration in political rights and civil liberties than improvements, Statista reports. »»»
Israeli-US strike destroys 16 civilian cargo boats at Bandar Lengeh commercial dock
An Israeli-US airstrike hit the commercial dock at Bandar Lengeh on Iran's southern coast, destroying at least 16 cargo boats belonging to local residents, the town's governor said, Tasnim reported on March 20. The boats, »»»
Israeli strike kills three in rural village in Iran's East Azerbaijan province
Three people were killed and three wounded in an Israeli-US strike on the village of Dizaj Amir Madar in Osku district, East Azerbaijan province, on March 20, ILNA reported, citing the local governor. Governor Mohammad Baq»»»