News
VIDEO: Israel hit by missiles, vows to continue strikes until US and Iran reach deal
Israel will continue to protect its interests amid US-Iran peace negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed, as Iranian missiles struck multiple sites across central Israel on March 23.
Chinese refiners eye Iran oil under temporary US waiver
China’s state-owned refiners are reviewing potential purchases of Iranian crude after Washington allowed limited sales of cargoes already loaded on tankers to ease supply pressures from the Middle East conflict.
Japan rice prices dip below key threshold
Rice prices in Japan have fallen below the JPY4,000 ($25.21) mark for the first time in seven months.
Colombia military plane crash kills 69 exposing bases where cows roam runways
Colombia's deadliest military aviation disaster in decades claimed at least 69 lives on March 23 when an Aerospace Force C-130H Hercules crashed seconds after takeoff from Caucayá Airport in Puerto Leguízamo.
The West has split – Stubb
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has warned that relations between the US and Europe are fracturing under Donald Trump’s policies, urging allies to “salvage what you can” of the transatlantic alliance.
Appetite for Turkmen gas could rise in China, Turkey and Europe amid Hormuz crisis
Disruption to Middle East supplies may have concentrated minds. Is Central Asia gas a better bet?
Serbia to extend Russian gas deal through October
Serbia expects to extend its current natural gas supply arrangement with Russia by the end of March, securing deliveries until October under a short-term annex agreement.
Slovenia becomes first European country to cap fuel sales
Government announces 50 litres per person limit for petrol sales, considers measures to prevent "petrol tourism".
Croatia unveils €450mn support package to curb energy costs
Package was announced amid heightened volatility in global energy markets, driven by disruptions linked to fighting in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Ghalibaf denies US talks, accuses Washington of market manipulation
Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf denied any US talks are under way, calling reports "fake news" aimed at manipulating oil markets, as Trump paused threatened strikes on Iranian power plants for five days.
Tashkent overpass wall “built to last century” collapses into road below
Recalling other infrastructure failures, observers ask how it is that Uzbekistan allows such poor construction work to take place.
Peruvian energy minister Alfaro resigns over alleged rape of teenager
Peru's Minister of Energy and Mines, Ángelo Alfaro Lombardi, resigned on Sunday following a public accusation of sexual assault by a woman who alleges she was abused by him when she was 16 years old — an incident she says resulted in a pregnancy
EU-Mercosur trade deal to take effect provisionally from May 1
The European Commission has announced that its trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc will provisionally enter into force on May 1, marking a crucial milestone for a long-negotiated pact.
Iran denies any talks with Trump, says his pause was a retreat forced by military threats
Iran denies any talks with Trump, saying his five-day pause was a forced retreat driven by credible military threats and bond market pressure, not diplomacy. The window expires on March 28.
Middle East conflict has damaged over 40 energy assets - IEA
More than 40 energy assets across nine countries in the Middle East have been “severely or very severely” damaged by the ongoing conflict, raising the risk of prolonged disruption to global energy supplies, according to the IEA.
Trump suspends Iran power plant strikes for five days, citing 'productive' direct talks with Tehran
Trump suspends planned strikes on Iranian power plants for five days, revealing the US and Iran have been in direct talks over a "complete and total resolution" of the Middle East conflict.
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VIDEO: US F-15 fighter jet shot down over Kuwait
A US F-15 fighter jet appeared to be shot down over Kuwait on March 23, though neither US nor Kuwaiti authorities have confirmed the nature of the incident.
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Belarus's Lukashenko offers to mediate between US and Iran, outflanking Moscow
Belarus's Lukashenko offers to mediate between the US and Iran after meeting a Trump envoy.
The West has split – Stubb
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has warned that relations between the US and Europe are fracturing under Donald Trump’s policies, urging allies to “salvage what you can” of the transatlantic alliance.
Iraq's US Treasury holdings surge 79% to $42bn as war raises questions over reserves
Iraq's US Treasury holdings surged 79% to $42bn in 2025, but the war now raises questions over whether Baghdad may need to draw down reserves after losing its main oil export route.