German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, right, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attend a joint press conference during their meeting at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin on Monday, where they announced a goal of 80% of Syrian refugees who fled the country during its 14-year-long civil war to return h»»»

MADRID: Spain closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the Iran war, officials said Monday, in another step by Europe’s loudest critic of U.S. and Israeli military actions in the monthlong conflict. The country earlier said that the U.S. couldn't use jointly operated military bases in the war»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced confidence Monday that Iran's Islamic republic would eventually fall, though he again said that was not the objective of the US-Israeli war on the country. "I think this regime will collapse internally. But at the moment, right now, what we're doing »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC Quds Force Chief Tells Israelis to Get Used to “New Regional Order” 31-03-2026 01:54 AM Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Cor»»»

Iran's top diplomat urged Saudi Arabia late on Monday to evict US forces from its territory, reiterating that its attacks in the region only targeted its enemies. "Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X. "Our operati»»»

ABU DHABI: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed the UAE's strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist plot foiled in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The plot involved a cell linked to the banned Hezbollah terrorist organisation, whi»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Geographical Considerations of Resistance Movement on Ground: When It Fights Fiercely or Backs Off Tactically? 30-03-2026 23:28 PM Geograph»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s Executive Council has approved a set of economic and social initiatives aimed at supporting businesses, improving workforce conditions, and refining how economic performance is measured. The decisions cover financial relief measures, updated GDP methodology, trade facilitation, and l»»»

Dubai: UAE motorists head into April’s fuel price announcement after a year of falling pump costs, a recent rebound, and renewed global volatility that could shape the next move. Over the past 12 months, UAE fuel prices have clearly dropped, with steady monthly declines through 2025 reflecting soft»»»

The war in the Middle East is seen as a “stress test” confirming Europe’s energy transition strategy, according to industry leaders at the EuroPower conference. Executives from Energa and Tauron argued that shifting to renewables increases resilience and reduces dependence on geopolitical shocks. O»»»

While Iran has pledged that a resolution to the war in Lebanon will be included in any potential deal on ending the US-Iran war, respite can't come soon enough to Lebanese on the ground who are being pummelled day and night by Israel's brutal war machine. At the moment, it remains unclear where Leb»»»

The US has amassed over 50,000 troops in the Middle East — roughly 10,000 more than usual, the New York Times reports. Would it be enough for a ground operation in Iran? "A true ground assault would see a far more powerful troop mobilization and build-up in the area," Matthew Crosston, professor of»»»

Dubai: Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has introduced a series of support measures, allowing lenders to offer payment deferrals, easing reserve requirements and providing unlimited repo liquidity as Gulf policymakers respond to the fallout from the Iran war, now in its fifth week. According to Bloomberg, »»»

The visit of Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov to Kyiv resulted in the signing of a long-term security agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine, set to last at least ten years. The document, negotiated over an extended period, outlines cooperation across multiple areas, with a strong focus on defen»»»

Bulgaria's Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, has welcomed his Slovak counterpart, General Daniel Zmeko, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria at Eftimov’s invitation, the Defence Ministry said. During their bilateral meeting, the two military leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, in»»»

London, March 30 (SANA) – Global aluminum prices rose on Monday after attacks targeting two of the world’s largest aluminum smelters in the Gulf, which Iran said it carried out. According to France 24, aluminum prices increased by 4.22 percent, reaching $3,435 per ton, after earlier gains of about »»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday voiced hope for working with elements within Iran's government, saying the United States privately had received positive messages. Rubio said there were internal "fractures" inside the country and that the United States hopes figures with "power to delive»»»

Iran hanged two men on Monday for membership of a banned opposition group, with rights groups describing them as political prisoners and expressing fear of a surge in executions aimed at cowing the population during the Middle East war. Akbar Daneshvarkar, 60, and Mohammad Taghavi-Sangdehi, 59, wer»»»

United Nations peacekeepers, who for decades have served as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, have seen three of their comrades killed and several others wounded since the latest war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah. Here is an overview of the UN force in south Lebanon, whose mandate expires»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a trilateral meeting in Jeddah on Monday with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as regional tensions intensified following the ongoing military escalation linked to the US-Israel war on Iran. Durin»»»

A ballistic missile fired from Iran entered Turkish airspace on Monday and was shot down by NATO defenses, Ankara said, in the fourth such incident reported since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. There was no immediate comment from ‌Tehran which has ‌denied specifically targeting its neighb»»»

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) won't join a potential US ground operation in Iran, Israel's Channel 12 reports. Why is that? Lack of Capacity "Israel lacks the capacity, sufficient troops, and military equipment to deploy its forces," Israeli security expert Dr. Simon Tsipis tells Sputnik. Israel »»»

Iran on Monday defied Lebanon's expulsion order for its ambassador by saying he would stay, further increasing tensions in a country in the crosshairs of the latest fighting between the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Israel. Lebanon had declared Ambassador Mohammad Reza Sheibani “persona non grata" i»»»

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, including desalination plants that supply drinking water, if a deal to end the war is not reached “shortly.” Iran meanwhile struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuw»»»

The Suez Canal — one of the most critical trade routes on Earth — was effectively shut down for eight years, from 1967 to 1975. It wasn’t an accident. It was war. At the outbreak of the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt deliberately blocked the canal by sinking ships and laying mines, turning the waterw»»»

Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles speaks during a briefing breakfast organized by the New Defense and Space Forum in Madrid, Spain, on February 20. She confirmed Spain's decision to close its airspace to the U.S. military on Monday. File Photo by J.J. Guillen/EPA March 30 (UPI) -- Spain »»»

Paris, France: G7 economy and financial ministers Monday said they stood ready to take "all necessary measures" to ensure the stability of the energy market as they tackled the economic consequences of war in the Middle East. "We stand ready to take all necessary measures in close coordination with»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed with the foreign ministers of Persian Gulf countries the escalation in the region, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. "An in-depth exchange of views was held in a collective format regarding the unprecedented escalation o»»»

Invading Iran’s Kharg Island would be anything but a cakewalk for the US military, since Iranian forces have invested considerable time and resources into preparing a warm welcome for anyone foolish enough to attack this strategic oil hub. Air DefensesThe island features a multilayered air defense »»»

By Wade SheridanCatholics celebrate Palm Sunday in Jerusalem on Sunday. The Israeli Home Front Command canceled the traditional Palm Sunday procession that takes place on Mount of Olives because of the ongoing United States and Israeli war with Iran. Catholic Palestinians gather on Palm Sunday for »»»

As the conflict widens and a diplomatic exit remains elusive, Gulf nations are struggling to interpret Washington's contradictory stance on potential military escalation, Hannan Hussain of Initiate Futures says. The recent quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad—bringing together Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,»»»

A ballistic missile launched from Iran entered Turkish airspace before being shot down by NATO air and missile defenses deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye's defense ministry said on Monday, Reuters reported. The incident marked the fourth such incident since the start of the US-Israeli »»»

Sharjah/ Abu Dhabi/ Ras Al Khaimah: Hundreds of kindergarten student across the UAE began schooling online on Monday as Indian and Pakistani schools in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the northern emirates opened the 2026–27 academic year remotely, a week later than originally planned. The delayed start vi»»»

BusinessGermanyGerman public sector tries to reduce reliance on US techKlaus DeuseZenDis, the German Center for Digital Sovereignty, has created an alternative to US software for public sector agencies in Germany, which are increasingly vulnerable to blackmail under the 2018 US CLOUD act. https://p»»»

BusinessCanadaAir Canada CEO to retire after English-only condolence furorMark Hallam with AFP, APAir Canada has announced that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire later this year. This follows public criticism of his failure to voice condolences in French as well as English after two pilots were kill»»»

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer says a proposed rule to allow alternative assets in 401(k) plans will better reflect the current investment landscape. Under the rule, assets like cryptocurrency, real estate and private-market assets could be considered for investment into 401(k) retirement plan»»»

Spain has closed its airspace to US planes involved in the Iran war, the defense minister said Monday, marking another step in the government's opposition to US and Israeli involvement in the conflict in the Middle East. The country had already said that the US couldn't use jointly operated militar»»»

Iran has sent a "clear message" to Washington: if the negotiated solution does not include a cessation of the Israeli war on Lebanon and the commencement of negotiations, Tehran will treat the United States and Israel separately, a media report said. "In other words, it will adhere to the ceasefire»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Strait of Hormuz will reopen either with Iran's approval or through a US-backed international military coalition, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday. "The strait will reopen either with Iran's consent or through an international military coalition including »»»

French police on Monday arrested two more people over an apparent bid to set off a homemade explosive device outside a Bank of America branch in Paris, bringing the total in custody to five, prosecutors said. The arrests follow an incident early Saturday morning when police arrested a first suspect»»»

Wall Street stocks opened higher Monday after US President Donald Trump claimed progress in talks with Iran, even as he threatened to destroy key oil facilities on Kharg Island and to decimate the country's power infrastructure. International benchmark Brent North Sea crude was up 2.2 percent to $1»»»

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Monday that Israel is "committed to making the Litani River the new security border at the end of this war." This line "will remove the threat and restore the sense of security, and allow children in the north to grow up without fear," h»»»

Sirens sounded at dawn near Israel's main nuclear research center, a part of the country that has been targeted repeatedly in recent days. Israel's military also said it had taken out two drones launched from Yemen, where the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels entered the war on Saturday with their first»»»

1 of 2 | President Donald Trump claims that talks of a peace deal continue with Iran. Meanwhile he deployed 3,500 additional U.S. troops to the Middle East over the weekend. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo March 30 (UPI) -- The price of Brent crude oil topped $116 per barrel on Monday a»»»

The Turkish Central Bank's total reserves fell by a hefty $22 billion last week to $155.5 billion, bringing their declines since the start of the Iran war to $55 billion, bankers said, Reuters reported. They said the central bank sold $18 billion in foreign exchange last week, meaning its total for»»»

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday pledged to work with Germany to enable more Syrians to return home and rebuild their country after its devastating civil war, as he made a historic visit to Berlin. Europe's top economy is home to the largest Syrian diaspora in the European Union at more t»»»

Bulgarian National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan will participate in the Second Bucha Summit in Ukraine on March 31, the Assembly's press service said on Monday. The meeting, organized by the Verkhovna Rada (the parliament) of Ukraine, will be attended by speakers and leadership members of national »»»

Lebanese judge Tarek Bitar has completed his investigation into the 2020 Beirut port blast, a years-long case that involves possible charges against dozens of people, a judicial official told AFP on Monday. Since 2023, the investigation into the massive Beirut port explosion, which killed more than»»»

US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House upon his return to Washington, DC from Florida on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo March 30 (UPI) -- U.S. President Trump said he wanted to take control of Iran's oil and was weighing a military ass»»»

Heavy rain and storms have killed at least 45 people over the past few days across Afghanistan and Pakistan, disaster officials in both countries said Monday. Rain sweeping across Afghanistan since Thursday has caused floods and landslides in multiple provinces. "Twenty-eight people were martyred, »»»