Germany, Spain, Italy, and France—along with non-NATO members Japan and South Korea—are hesitant to participate in the US-led maritime operation in the Strait of Hormuz “due to the uncertainty on the battlefield,” says Hasan Selim Ozertem, a Turkish-based political analyst interviewed by Sputnik. T»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Joseph Kent on Tuesday announced his decision to step down as director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) because of his disapproval of the US military operation against Iran. "After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the »»»

A federal judge on Monday blocked the US government from making sweeping changes to childhood immunisations, in a blow to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr's agenda. Since taking office a year ago, Kennedy has sought to change and loosen vaccine regulations, including slashing the number of reco»»»

Israel says Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, and the head of the paramilitary Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani, have been killed in Israeli air strikes. "Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated last night and have joined Khamenei, the head of the annihilation programme, along w»»»

Dubai: Flights across the UAE resumed almost immediately after a brief airspace closure earlier in the day, as authorities moved swiftly to restore operations following heightened regional tensions. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app - it's completely free. Click h»»»

The IV World Social Work Day Forum took place here on Tuesday for World Social Work Day, bringing together representatives of the social system, state institutions, municipalities, civic organizations, and companies providing social services to discuss the significance of social work and opportunit»»»

"The priorities that remain are the second reading of the budget extension bill, as well as laws on which the fourth and fifth payments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan depend," National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan told journalists here on Tuesday. She said that the legislature will»»»

Specialists at Tyumen Medical University created a VR program for post-stroke rehabilitation. A new virtual reality program for rehabilitating patients after an ischemic stroke has been developed by specialists at Tyumen State Medical University in Russia. Using this program together with a robotic»»»

Hezbollah on Tuesday denied it had any members in Kuwait a day after the Gulf country announced the arrest of 14 Kuwaitis and two Lebanese nationals allegedly affiliated with the group over a "sabotage plot". "Hezbollah categorically denies the allegations and accusations issued by the Kuwaiti inte»»»

“The priorities that remain are the second reading of the extension budget bill, as well as laws under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan concerning the fourth and fifth payments,” National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan told journalists on Tuesday. She said that Parliament will last meet on T»»»

Children's book author Kouri Richins was found guilty of murdering her husband, Eric Richins. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo March 17 (UPI) -- Kouri Darden Richins, the Utah woman who published a children's book about grief, has been found guilty of his murder. Richins, 35, was foun»»»

Discussion around the admission of third-country workers to the Bulgarian labor market has intensified, often with emotions running high. To make informed decisions, however, it is necessary to rely on data rather than rhetoric. Understanding the approximate size of this workforce provides a founda»»»

India has begun sourcing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from multiple global channels, including the United States, as it moves to diversify supplies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The government on Tuesday said there is no disruption in domestic availability, with supplies remaini»»»

Youssef Assaf was in a Lebanese Red Cross ambulance when it was targeted by an Israeli strike near Tyre, in southern Lebanon. The 35-year-old paramedic died of his wounds two days later. "I was called around 10:30 pm and told that he was wounded and in the hospital," his wife, Jeanne d'Arc Boutros,»»»

When war forces people to flee their homes, the world rightly focuses on human suffering. Evacuation flights, border crossings, and displaced families dominate the headlines. Yet amid this chaos, another tragedy unfolds quietly and painfully: pets are being abandoned. These loyal companions, who on»»»

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched its massive 58th wave of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israeli positions and United States military bases, according to an official military statement. The barrage, conducted within the framework of “Operation True Promise 4,” »»»

A significant and unusually early heatwave is building across the south-western US this week, bringing temperatures more typical of early summer than mid-March. In Phoenix, Arizona, the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts temperatures could exceed 100F (38C) as soon as Wednesday, the earliest »»»

Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov reaffirmed Bulgaria’s continued support for Ukraine during a working meeting with Ukrainian Ambassador Olesya Ilashchuk. He stated that Bulgaria remains a reliable partner, committed to backing Ukraine’s cause and to efforts aimed at achieving a lasting and just »»»

With airstrikes rocking Beirut and Israeli troops trying to advance against Hezbollah, Lebanon's government has broken a taboo by proposing the first direct talks with Israel in decades. But Lebanese officials say they want the fighting to end first — and it might be too late for that. Hezbollah's »»»

Amman: Jordan's Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Yarub Qudah said on Tuesday that the Kingdom's wheat reserves are sufficient to cover consumption for 5.5 months, with an additional four-month supply already contracted and en route. Speaking during a meeting of the Parliamentary Economy and I»»»

US President Donald Trump has said he expects to have the “honor” of “taking Cuba in some form,” claiming he could do “anything I want” with the Caribbean nation. Trump made the remarks on Monday in the Oval Office despite ongoing talks between Washington and Havana as the island grapples with a de»»»

The Graf Ignatievo Third Air Base marked on Tuesday the 75th anniversary of its predecessor, the 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment, with a ceremonial formation, a flight programme featuring MiG-29, F-16 and L-39, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to pilots killed in the line of duty. Careta»»»

The Afghan government said on Tuesday that about 400 people were killed in a Pakistani air strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in the capital, Kabul, in the deadliest attack in the recent violence between the two neighbours. Hundreds more were said to have been wounded at the facility, which was»»»

The 28th 300-strong Cheonghae Unit departs for the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy off Somalia aboard the 4,400-ton ship. Photo by YONHAP / EPA March 16 (Asia Today) -- Military experts say South Korea would need a layered anti-drone defense system if the Cheonghae Unit is deployed near the Strait of»»»

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Goldin (@goldinco) March 16 (UPI) -- Guinness World Records said the auction of Cheetozard -- a Flamin' Hot Cheeto shaped liked the Pokémon Charizard -- resulted in a new record. The record-keeping organization said Goldin Auctions' March 2025 sale of Ch»»»

In a very informative session, titled “How can we grow the Egyptian economy now”, the American University in Cairo, hosted Dr. Noha Bakr, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Political Science, AUC, and Mr. Aly Wali, Senior Director of Logic Management Consultant to address the key potentials of developi»»»

Kyrgyzstan’s initiative to develop and standardize honey production has been identified as a key project for advancing industrial cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Daniil Ibraev, member of the Presidium of the EAEU Business Council and President of the Kyrgyz Union of Industria»»»

Ohana Development, a leading UAE real estate developer renowned for its luxury projects, has recorded Dh6 billion in sales within 72 hours for Manchester City Yas Residences by Ohana, a gated waterfront community located along Yas Canal in Abu Dhabi, setting a new sales record in the emirate’s real»»»

Dubai: Israel’s military has announced it had killed General Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force, though Iranian state media did not immediately confirm the death. Israel’s defence minister also said Tuesday that the military killed top Iranian secu»»»

BusinessUnited States of AmericaWhat does the Iran war mean for the US defense sector?Arthur SullivanUS defense companies are being called on to ramp up production to meet fresh demand from the war in Iran. It opens up an existing rift between them and the Trump administration. https://p.dw.com/p/5»»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran's oil exports are proceeding without disruption amid the conflict with the United States and Israel, Ismail Hosseini, spokesman for the Iranian Parliament Commission on Energy, said on Tuesday. "Oil exports are proceeding smoothly. If the opponents have eyes on Kharg Island,»»»

The first batch of the 1,059 COBRA II 4×4 armoured vehicles ordered by Romania is already in operational service with Land Forces units. The 276 vehicles were received, and now being transferred from the 84th Maintenance and Reception Centre in Bucharest, and being distributed to operational units »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar's Ministry of Defense announced that the armed forces successfully intercepted a second wave of missile attack targeting the country. Loud interception sounds were heard over the skies of Doha. This was the second such interception, following an earlier one confirmed by the Minis»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s air defence systems intercepted 10 Iranian ballistic missiles and 45 drones today, March 17, according to the Ministry of Defence. The ministry said the interceptions form part of ongoing operations to counter what it described as continuing attacks targeting the country. Since»»»

The escalating war with Iran is pushing parts of the world into energy triage, forcing governments to choose where to cut demand or absorb costs, while prioritizing dwindling supplies. Asia is the most exposed since it relies heavily on imported fuel, much of it shipped through the now-blocked Stra»»»

Paris will choose a new mayor on Sunday, with one unlikely issue dominating campaigns alongside all the partisan acrimony - dogs. Candidates from socialists to conservatives have set out policies to deal with an issue which voters have regularly ranked among their top concerns, a lack of space for »»»

Albania on Tuesday designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards a "terrorist organization" and Iran as a state "supporting terrorism" as the Middle East war raged on. The Balkan nation's ruling Socialist party used its parliamentary majority to adopt a resolution to designate the ideological arm of the I»»»

Dubai: Airlines across the UAE and wider Gulf are steadily rebuilding operations, with flights resuming almost immediately after recent disruptions, signalling early resilience in one of the world’s most connected aviation hubs. An extraordinary 1.4 million passengers have been served through the U»»»

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Tuesday the plight Kosovo-Metohija Serbs had experienced in 2004 should not and must not happen to any nation or social group. In an official statement, Petkovic said that 22 years ago - on March 17, 200»»»

With the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, gas and oil volumes flowing to Europe could drop below 10% amid forecasts of oil prices jumping to about $300 per barrel, Lebanese expert Munir Alaeddin tells Sputnik. "Europeans are in a difficult situation and facing a serious energy crisis, as »»»

Dubai: When Israeli and US strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the outset of the Middle East war, one man quickly stepped into the vacuum: Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani — more powerful, and more visible, than at any point in his decades-long career. Now, even that figure may be gone.»»»

Dubai: Labour violations in the UAE dropped by 13 per cent in 2025, even as authorities significantly expanded inspection drives and enforcement, underscoring the growing impact of AI-powered governance systems on market compliance. Fresh data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation »»»

The UAE reaffirmed its categorical rejection of any justifications put forward by the Iranian government regarding the hostile escalation against countries in the region, stressing that such claims are merely attempts to mislead the international community in an effort to justify its unprovoked and»»»

NATO has raised its missile defense alert to the highest level, and the readiness of air defense and missile defense systems across the Eastern Flank has been significantly strengthened, Acting Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced during the 75th anniversary celebration of the Third Air Base»»»

Markus BöhnischColombia is becoming a rising economic force in South America, yet new US tariffs have strained its traditionally close ties with Washington. The Valle del Cauca region is showing how businesses are adapting. https://p.dw.com/p/5ASV8AdvertisementColombia's top export, coffee, is gene»»»

Dubai: NKEY Architects, the international full-cycle architecture and design company, is building on its Dubai-headquartered growth trajectory with more than 250 active projects across the UAE and over 60 completed to date. As regional attention turns to resilience, continuity, and long-term confid»»»

Bulgaria’s National Building Renovation Plan, submitted to the European Commission at the end of 2025, sets out a long-term strategy to modernize the country’s building stock by 2050, combining energy efficiency, social support, and climate goals through coordinated action across institutions and s»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Bulgaria’s National Building Renovation Plan, submitted to the European Commission at the end of 2025, sets out a long-term strategy to modernize the country’s building stock by 2050, combining energy efficiency, social support, and climate goals through coordinated action across institutions and s»»»